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From Amanda Aziz National Chairperson of univercity and college sutudents in Canada
*** Sir, I have read about the continuing repression of over 50 jailed Iranian
students and the torture and killing of one of them In Sanadaj while
incarcerated. I see these developments in relation to the ongoing
repression of labour and women's rights activists in your country. I
want you to know in no uncertain terms that I most strongly condemn what
your regime is doing to these people and will make significant efforts
here in Canada to make their plight known within the labour movement in
this country. The eyes of the world are upon you and your crimes will
not go unanswered. I demand the unconditional release of these and all
other political prisoners in Iran and just compensation for the
atrocities committed against them by your regime. Bruce Allen 31 ِJan, 2008 Send to: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei The President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad The Head of the Judiciary از: بروس آلن (Bruce Allen) به: محمود احمدی نژاد، آیت الله سید علی خامنه ای، آیت الله محمود هاشمی شاهرودی تاریخ: ۳۱ ژانویه ۲۰۰۸ [۱۱ بهمن ۱۳۸۶] جناب،
*** I am writing on behalf of over 22,000 students at the University
of Manitoba regarding the treatment and safety of students in Iran. The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) condemns the actions of Iranian Authorities against Iranian students. UMSU condemns the violent actions taken by Iranian Authorities which includes the kidnappings and torture of the students detained. Further, the detention of students involved in the peaceful public demonstration, is unjustified and reprehensible. The University of Manitoba Students’ Union calls upon the Iranian
Government to release all students detained in recent weeks if they are
prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of the peaceful exercise
of their rights, and for any others to be tried promptly and fairly, in
accordance with international fair trial standards, on recognizably
criminal charges or else released; to make assurances that none of those
arrested are subject to torture or other ill treatment; and to ensure
that these detainees have unfettered access to relatives, legal
representation, and any medical attention they may require. The mistreatment of students for standing up for their rights does
not go unnoticed by the international community, and I urge you to
follow international standards and end the persecution of students and
activists. The whereabouts of the following students needs to be made public and
for them to be released unconditionally to their family and friends: - Mehdi Gerailoo I look forward to you earliest response and immediate action to address the above concerns. Furthermore, I look forward to hearing about the immediate release of the students and all others that have been detained without just cause. Sincerely, *** Dear President Ahmadinejad On behalf of the 55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers I am writing you over concerns about recent repression of students. We know that dozens of politically active students were arrested prior to the December 7 student day. It is our understanding that forty or more students from around Iran are being held at the despicable and notorious Evin prison and other locations.. We have also received reports of torture and cruelty. The authorities appear to be covering their actions by claiming, without evidence, that these students were violent and acquiring weapons. The Ministry of Intelligence has admitted that it fears the circulation of ideas by suggesting that “heretical books and leaflets with a sacrilegious content” were found in the possession of students. It is chilling to observe any society that relies on intelligence agencies to define morality and heresy. The old tactic of crying wolf, labelling communists as operating terror cells and inciting riots is an old discredited tactic that has been used elsewhere. We are familiar with the demonizing of those that have different views. It is also hard to separate the actions of the Islamic Sate with those of the United States in places like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. We hope that your government will not remain on this path. We urge you to immediately and unconditionally release the prisoners as well as the labour activists you are holding and cease this transparent abuse of students and workers. Sincerely, Deborah Bourque CUPW National President Cc: NEC, NURs, Specialists Bcc: David Aram, WCI (d_aram@sumpatico.ca )
Dear President Ahmadinejad, The Ryerson Students' Union, representing all 24,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, is appalled to have learned of the arrest of 47 students and activists leading up to and on the National Day of Students. While we understand that 16 of the original 47 have been released, we are disturbed that their release was only made possible by the payment of extortionate bail amounts. We are particularly horrified to hear accounts of torture and cruel treatment toward the detained students. We feel obliged to condemn your government’s detention of dozens of protesting students, and demand their immediate and unconditional release. The National Day of Students is an important day commemorating three
Iranian students who were shot to death by police while protesting the
visit by then U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon to Tehran in1953.
Students should have the right to attend University, demonstrate and
protest free of fear of political retribution or incarceration. The Ryerson Students' Union, Local 24 of the Canadian Federation of Students, lends our supportive voice to those in Iran calling for the unconditional release of the recently arrested students. Regards, |