Iran says Osanloo to be freed

Scoop - Independent News ^ | July 2, 2010

[nuconvert]

Press Release: International Trade Union Confederation

Iran says Osanloo to be freed – good but not good enough, say ITF and ITUC

The ITF and ITUC today welcomed an Iranian government promise that Mansour Osanloo is to be freed – but stated that there are still 52 other innocent trade unionists who should also be released.

The two organisations were speaking out after discovering that Iran has told the International Labour Organization (ILO) that Osanloo is due for release. The assurance is contained in the ILO’s report* on the complaints made against the country by the ITF and ITUC, and states that “the (ILO) Committee welcomes the efforts by the (Iranian) Minister of Labour and Social Affairs to obtain the granting of a pardon for Mr. Osanloo. Noting further that the Head of the Judiciary has accepted the Minister’s request for such a pardon, the Committee expects that these developments will lead to Mr. Osanloo’s imminent release from prison.”

The ITF and ITUC were quick to welcome the news of the promised “imminent release”, but reminded the Iranian president that their complaints against Iran’s abuses of trade unionists will not be silenced by the long overdue release of one man, however much it is to be looked forward to.

-excerpt-

We wish to see further steps taken to guarantee the safe release of these other imprisoned trade unionists, believed to number at least 52 people, including representatives of the unions at the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), the Haft Tapeh Sugar Plantation, and the Teachers’ Trade Union, as well as journalists and lawyers. A list of these 52 people appears below**. We should like to highlight the cases of Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahbi of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) whose whereabouts have remained unknown for a month now, following their detention by security forces. In particular, the ITF once again condemns the continued imprisonment of Ebrahim Madadi - about whom, the ILO report notes, your government has failed to give any information. The ITF would also like to make clear that while it welcomes Mansour Osanloo’s release, it rejects the description of this as a ‘pardon’, since he has done nothing illegal.

The ITF also wishes to express its horror at reports that Mansour Osanloo’s daughter in law has miscarried following beatings by members of your security forces. If correct then this is an appalling occurrence that demands the investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

-excerpt- see link above for more