Writers’ Association Protests Summons of Labor Activists to Security Agencies

The Iranian Writers’ Association issued a statement criticizing the Rouhani government for summoning several labor activists to security agencies in recent days.

The Writers’ Association statement addressed recent strikes by teachers in various Iranian cities as well as protests by truck drivers and trucking companies.

In its statement, the Writers’ Association, referring to the summons of teachers and threats against trucking companies by judicial and security officials, stated: “Attaching security charges to any occupational and civil protest is not a new tactic, but security and judicial agencies are using it on a much wider scale these days.”

The statement, noting that gatherings, sit-ins, and strikes to achieve demands are “normal, customary, and accepted practices in all civilized countries,” wrote that even the Iranian government does not use the actual terms of their actions. It does not say: because you struck, because you held a sit-in and gathered, because you voiced your needs, therefore you are condemned. Instead, it labels them as “disturbing national security,” “corruption on earth,” “warfare,” “disruption of public order,” and so on.

The Iranian Writers’ Association, criticizing the Rouhani government in its statement, wrote: “Whenever a government is incapable of responding to the needs and wishes of the people, it feels insecure from any protest. In fact, it is its own security that is endangered; otherwise, freedom of speech and the right to protest, organize, and assemble, and exercising them would increase society’s security, protect people’s interests, and strengthen their cohesion.”

In this sense, the freedom of teachers, striking drivers, and other so-called “security” prisoners, and the cancellation of all summons and freedom of protest, gathering, and organization would increase security a hundredfold.

Iran has witnessed various political and occupational protests in recent months. In the latest such case, some teachers in various Iranian cities went on strike on October 13 and 14 and refused to go to their classes.

In this strike, however, in addition to the arrest of “Mohammad Reza Ramazanzadeh,” secretary of the coordinating council of teachers’ occupational associations, several teachers in various cities were summoned to the intelligence office.

Truck drivers and trucking companies have also been protesting for several months due to various problems.

Following protests in June and August of this year, truck drivers began striking from early October. The reasons for their strike included fuel price increases and shortages of daily diesel quotas, high commissions from transportation companies, increased insurance costs, and deprivation of retirement benefits.

Nevertheless, Iranian judicial and security officials reacted strongly to these strikes and spoke of applying “severe punishment” to the strikers. Some judicial officials also labeled them as “highway robbery.”

Source: Voice of America