Amnesty International: Release workers' and teachers' rights activists
Amnesty International called for the immediate release of workers and activists who have been arbitrarily detained solely for participating in peaceful protests and strikes or for taking actions that are part of their pursuit of rights such as freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
Amnesty International has issued a statement on the occasion of International Workers' Day, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of workers and other activists who have been arrested for participating in peaceful protests and strikes.
The statement said that, according to the organization’s research, hundreds of workers and workers’ rights defenders have been arrested in Iran since May 1 last year until International Workers’ Day this year. Amnesty International considers these arrests to be part of an organized campaign by the Islamic Republic authorities to suppress public unrest and protests.
The statement said that in the past year, dozens of people have been sentenced to prison and at least 38 activists have been sentenced to flogging. Esmail Bakhshi and Sepideh Qolyan are among the detainees for whom Amnesty International has called for an impartial investigation into their complaints of torture and ill-treatment.
In this statement, Amnesty International, referring to the deepening economic crisis in Iran, including due to the imposition of US sanctions and peaceful protests by workers, accused the Iranian authorities of arresting hundreds of teachers, truck drivers, and factory workers instead of addressing the complaints of workers and employees.
The independent human rights organization has reported the arrest of more than 20 teachers since May of last year, some of whom have been sentenced to prison, flogging, and other punishments. According to Amnesty International’s research, hundreds of labor rights activists have been arbitrarily arrested during this period, with at least 12 of them being held in prison.
In its statement, Amnesty International referred to the peaceful nationwide strikes by truck drivers last year, the protests and strikes by Ahvaz Steel and Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers in recent months, the arbitrary arrests, torture of detainees, and even threats to execute truck drivers, and considered these cases to be clear violations of human rights laws and standards.
The US State Department, citing Amnesty International's announcement criticizing the arrest of labor activists on Labor Day, wrote: "With the costs it [the regime] incurred in Syria, it could have paid the workers' salaries. Iranian workers do not deserve to be arrested on Labor Day."
Yesterday (May 1), according to reports from several labor organizations, dozens of participants in a rally marking International Workers' Day and on the eve of Teachers' Day in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly were detained. According to news published on social media and domestic media, in addition to workers, students and retirees also participated.
Simultaneously with the rally in front of the parliament, official rallies were also held in some Iranian cities, including in front of the Workers' House in Tehran. According to the Free Union of Iranian Workers, security forces also "attacked" the workers' rally in front of the Workers' House.
Amnesty International’s statement states: “The right to strike is guaranteed in Article 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Iran is a party to these international covenants. The right to be protected from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is not only guaranteed in Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but is also recognized as a well-established principle of international law.”
Source: DW
