Iran’s Free Union of Workers Protests Continued Detention of International Workers’ Day Arrestees
The Free Union of Workers of Iran issued a statement protesting the continued detention of “Atefeh Rangriz,” “Neda Naji,” “Marzieh Amiri,” and “Keyvan Samimi” among those arrested on International Workers’ Day in Tehran, who were detained along with a number of other protesters.
On Friday, June 14, the Free Union of Workers issued a statement protesting the continued detention of several International Workers’ Day arrestees and called on all international bodies and labor unions worldwide to protest the ongoing detention of these detainees in every possible way.
The statement noted that for decades, workers around the world have commemorated International Workers’ Day, but in Iran, workers are constantly arrested and imprisoned for observing this day. This year, nearly fifty workers, students, and retirees have been arrested and face prison sentences.
Atefeh Rangriz, Neda Naji, Marzieh Amiri, and Keyvan Samimi are among those arrested during International Workers’ Day protests who remain in detention. The detention order for Keyvan Samimi and Marzieh Amiri was extended for one month, the prosecutor has rejected bail terms for Atefeh Rangriz on flimsy pretexts, and the situation of Nada Naji remains unclear.
Part of the statement read: “The Free Union of Workers of Iran warmly shakes the hands of all students and allies of the labor movement and calls on all workers and labor organizations to intensify their protests against the continued detention of these friends, and amplify their voices to society, and we call on all international bodies and labor unions worldwide to protest the continued detention of these detainees in every possible way.”
“Neda Naji,” a women’s rights activist, and “Atefeh Rangriz,” a women’s and workers’ rights activist, were transferred from Qarchak Prison to Evin Prison in Tehran for further investigation following their arrest during International Workers’ Day gatherings. According to available information, on June 12, after the expiration of their 30-day detention period, a 12-day detention order was issued for these individuals.
“Marzieh Amiri,” a journalist and student of social sciences at Tehran University, who went to the detention center to follow up on the situation of International Workers’ Day detainees, was arrested and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Twenty days after Amiri’s arrest, the judiciary spokesperson declared her charges to be “security-related.”
“Keyvan Samimi,” editor-in-chief of Iran Tomorrow magazine, was also arrested during the International Workers’ Day gathering in front of the Parliament building in Tehran and is currently serving his time in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. According to available information, his detention order was extended for one month in mid-June.
Following these arrests, Amnesty International issued a statement on International Workers’ Day calling on the Islamic Republic authorities to immediately release workers and civil activists arrested during strikes and other peaceful protests.
The Persian Twitter page of the U.S. State Department also criticized the detention of Iranian labor activists on International Workers’ Day.
Source: Voice of America
