To:

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

Colleagues!

We welcome your initiative for international action in solidarity with the workers in Iran and to free Mansoor Ossanlou and Mahmoud Salehi.  Your decision for a day of international action on March 6 will provide worldwide support for the workers in Iran and will give them not only the opportunity to free imprisoned worker leaders Ossanlou and Salehi, but also the power to repel the attacks of the Islamic regime on workers and society in general.  No doubt this international battle will put the workers in Iran in a much better position in order to fight for their demands.  We welcome this day and call upon all the workers and freedom-lovers in Iran and worldwide to join this international struggle actively.

In today’s Iran the struggle of different sections of society are linked through common demands.  Imprisonment is an important oppressive tool of the Islamic Republic to deter these struggles.  You might have already been informed that beside the imprisoned workers more than forty student activists have been put in prison by the Islamic regime.  We will try to turn March 6, the international day of solidarity with the workers in Iran, into a day of widespread protests to free jailed workers, students and all political prisoners.  On the occasion of March 6 we highlight the following:

1. the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mansoor Ossanlou, Mahmoud Salehi, jailed students and all political prisoners.  Mahmoud Salehi’s life is in danger; he should be provided with immediate medical care.

2. the demand for an end to pressures on and threats against worker leaders, teachers, women and activists of various sections of society.  All the cases that the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic regime has opened against these activists should be dropped immediately.

3. the right to organise, the right to strike, freedom of expression and the right to protest.  These are among the most basic rights of workers and all people.  We demand these rights and strive to impose them on the Islamic Republic.

Shahla Daneshfar, Co-ordinator

Bahram Soroush, Public Relations

February 8, 2008

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