Joint petition of ” International Union of Food, Agriculture, Hotels, Restaurants, Food Services, Tourism, Tobacco and Trade Unions ” (IUF), ” International Trade Union Confederation ” (ITUC), ” UNI Global Union “, and ” International Federation of Journalists ” » (IFJ)
Two long-time workers’ rights activists, Hale Safarzadeh and Alireza Thaghafi , were arrested on March 20, 1400 and taken to Kechoui prison in Karaj to serve a one-year prison sentence. Hale Safarzadeh, a teacher, and Alireza Thaghafi, a writer and mechanical worker, both cooperate with the “Labor Rights Defenders Center” and inform the workers and victims of oppression about their fundamental rights.
These two labor activists, who have been arrested and imprisoned many times over the years, were arrested once again on May 6, 1398, along with another group of workers who were planning for the International Labor Day ceremony across the country. Alireza Thaghafi has heart disease and high blood pressure, but the prison guards have deprived him of medical care.
The arrest of labor rights activists before the Labor Day ceremony in 2018 was a prelude to the bloody suppression of popular demonstrations in November, which covered the whole country. Hundreds of workers were killed by government forces and thousands were arrested.
In this year 1401, repressions against workers’ rights activists have increased since the beginning. Support our call for the immediate and unconditional release of Hale Safarzadeh and Alireza Thaghafi.
16 May 1401
Link to the campaign in English
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Release Imprisoned Worker Rights Defenders
In partnership with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tourism, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), UNI Global Union and the International Federation of Journalists.
Longtime worker rights defenders Haleh Safarzadeh and Alireza Saghafi were arrested on 11 March 2022 and immediately taken to Kachuei Prison in Karaj to serve one-year sentences. Safarhadeh, a teacher, and Saghafi, a writer and auto mechanic, work with the Center for Workers’ Rights (KANOON), informing workers of their fundamental rights and defending victims of repression.
The two, who have been repeatedly jailed and imprisoned over many years, were arrested with other worker rights advocates on 26 April 2019 in the run-up to planned May Day celebrations across Iran. They were tried and convicted later that year on spurious charges of ‘propaganda against the system’ and are now serving their sentences. Saghafi suffers from high blood pressure and heart problems and is being denied the urgent medical treatment he requires.
The 2019 May Day crackdown on civil and labour rights defenders was a prelude to the brutal repression of the mass demonstrations which swept Iran in November that year, in which hundreds of workers were killed and thousands arrested. Repression against rights defenders has already increased significantly in 2022. Please support the call for their immediate and unconditional release.
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