Iran: Execution of a Trade Unionist

Iran: Execution of a Trade Unionist

Brussels, 10 May 2010 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC is deeply shocked and has strongly condemned the recent execution of the teacher and trade unionist Farzad Kamangar, together with four other prisoners on Sunday 9 May. According to the information received by the ITUC, Farzad Kamangar was sentenced after a court process that did not meet international or Iranian standards for a fair trial. The ITUC has also denounced the inhumane treatment of Farzad Kamangar’s family, who were not informed before the execution took place.

The ITUC has already written to the president of Iran on several occasions to strongly condemn attacks by the Iranian authorities on independent trade unions in the country and the intensification of repression against the Iranian people in general and trade unionists in particular and to protest against the latest wave of repression that has targeted trade unionists in this country.

“The ITUC is shocked with what happened to Farzad Kamangar. Imprisoned trade unionists must be freed and all other threats of imprisonment against independent trade unionists for their legitimate activities must be lifted,” said Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary.

In a letter to the Iranian authorities http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/10-05-2010_Farzad_Kamangar_-_DRAFT__final_.pdf the ITUC urges the Iranian president to halt any further escalation of trade union repression and human rights abuses against trade union members. The ITUC will complain to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association about this gross violation of the principles of the ILO, and it will call on all of its affiliates across the entire world to denounce this inhumane act.

ENDS

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