Iran: Urgent appeal to trade unions and human rights organizations around the world

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20080228064603620

Thursday, February 28 2008 @ 06:46 AM PST

A summons for the administration of a flogging and fine sentence has now been issued for Mr Tayyeb Chatani, another of the workers arrested for participating in the May 1st event last year. Mr Chatani is an employee of Par Rees factory, where he is an active shop steward.

Iran: Urgent appeal to trade unions and human rights organizations around the world

A summons for the administration of a flogging and fine sentence has now been issued for Mr Tayyeb Chatani, another of the workers arrested for participating in the May 1st event last year. Mr Chatani is an employee of Par Rees factory, where he is an active shop steward.

Eleven of the workers arrested for taking part in the May 1st event last year in Sanandaj, Iran, were sentenced to 91 days in prison and 10 strikes of the lash. Following widespread protests against these sentences by the workers concerned and the National Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers, the Appeal Court changed the prison sentences to monetary fines, but upheld the sentence of 10 lashes. So far, the lashing and fine sentences have been carried out in the case of three workers by the names of Seddigh Amjadi, Habibollah Kalekaani and Faares Gaviliaan. The only crime of these workers is having participated in the May Day ceremony in Sanandaj.

Following the verdict of the Appeal Court and the administration of the medieval sentences of lashing in the case of three of the workers, the National Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers widely disseminated the news of this incident, and via a letter to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), registered its complaint with the ILO, expressing its strong protest at the medieval sentence of flogging. Also, since the execution of the lashing sentences, public opinion , lawyers and many personalities in Iran have protested at the flogging of these workers.

Nevertheless, the judicial authorities of Iran are persisting with the execution of these sentences, and, as mentioned, have now issued a summons for Tayyeb Chatani.

FULL story at link.