According to a report by the National Union of Sacked and Unemployed Workers in Iran three labour activists who were arrested and tried following last year's May Day celebrations in Sanandaj have each been lashed 10 times.

The appeal court in Sanandaj, in Iranian Kurdistan, sentenced 11 workers who took part in a May Day event in 2007 to receive 10 lashes and pay a 2 million rials ($214) fine.

Sedigh Amjadi, Fars Goilian and Habibollah Kalkani received 10 lashes each and were made to pay the extortionate fine before they were released. A further eight workers and labour activists from Sanandaj have also been sentenced to be treated in this medieval and barbaric way for trying to commemorate May Day. They are: Khaled Savari, Eghbal Latifi, Yadollah Moradi, Tayeb Mollaee, Mohiuddin Rajabi, Tayeb Chatani, Sedigh Sobhani and Abbas Anadyari. These men, most of whom are members of the Unemployed Union, have been found guilty of "disturbing public order" and "taking part in an illegal gathering".

Sedigh Amjadi's sentence was carried out on 16 February and those of Fars Goilian and Habibollah Kalkani on 18 February. Sheys Amani and Sedigh Karimi, two other members of the Unemployed Union, are awaiting the outcome of their appeals against sentences of two and half years in jail.

Although the whipping of women's right activists stretches back to 1981 and the consolidation of the Islamic regime, this is the first time that labour activists have been sentenced to be lashed. The sentences of the other eight workers and labour activists are expected to be carried out in the next few days. Please send a protest letter (see below) to put pressure on the Iranian regime to release these class war prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
21 February 2008

Model letter 

Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

(enter date) February 2008

Dear Mr President

I write to bring to your attention the sentencing of 11 workers and labour activists in Sanandaj. They were each sentenced to receive 10 lashes and pay a 2 million rials fine for taking part in a May Day event in 2007.

Sedigh Amjadi, Fars Goilian and Habibollah Kalkani have already received 10 lashes each and were made to pay the extortionate fine before they were released. A further eight workers and labour activists from Sanandaj have also received the same sentence. They are: Khaled Savari, Eghbal Latifi, Yadollah Moradi, Tayeb Mollaee, Mohiuddin Rajabi, Tayeb Chatani, Sedigh Sobhani and Abbas Anadyari. Their sentences are expected to be carried out in the next few days.

I strongly protest against this medieval and barbaric way of punishing workers for trying to commemorate May Day and urge you to use your influence to stop these sentences from being carried out and to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of these workers.

I look forward to hearing about your positive intervention in this regard in the international media.

Yours sincerely

(enter your name, trade union etc. position & country)

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Please send your protest letter to:

Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran.
Fax: 98-21-648.06.65
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

Please send a copy of your protest letters to:

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
5 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, Bte 1
1210 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: +32 (0)2 201 5815
E-mail: internetpo@ituc-csi.org

International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Labour Office
4, route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 22
Switzerland
Email: ilo@ilo.org

Source: Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network