All the worker-activists must be released immediately and unconditionally from the prison of the Islamic Republic of Iran !
Dear comrades,
The criminal regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified the repression of all the worker-activists, particularly, of Shahrokh Zamani.
Shahrokh Zamani, a house-painting worker, a labour activist, a member of the “Founding Committee of House-Painting Workers’ Union of Tehran” and a member of the “Follow-up Committee to form Independent Worker Syndicates”, has been on hunger strike since March 8, 2014. Shahrokh was arrested in the city of Tabriz on June 7, 2011 and has been in detention since then. He was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment with the charge of joining opposition groups, and another year with the charge of propaganda against the Islamic regime. The regime of the Islamic Republic has transferred him from a notorious prison to another, Tabriz, Yazd, and Gohardasht and more recently to Ghezelhesar in the city of Karaj.
Shahrokh Zamani, in support of and together with his co-workers and labour activist who were protesting their harsh conditions in Gohardasht prison, went on hunger strike on March 8, 2014. Three days later, on March 11, he was transferred to Ghezelhesar prison, a prison housing only inmates charged with drug-related crimes. He has been on hunger strike for more than 5 weeks and has lost more than 20 kilos. His life is in serious danger and the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not paid any attention to his life-threatening condition.
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) strongly condemns the mistreatment of Shahrokh Zamani and the arrest and imprisonment of the labour activists who struggle for their just and basic rights. Once again, we express our utmost disgust and outrage for the capitalist and unpopular regime of Iran. Workers have the right to fight for their deprived rights and to form their independent organisations. Any attempt to restrain the legitimate activities of the working class must be condemned by all the wage labourers and progressive forces domestically and around the world. Our Party takes the regime of Iran responsible for the well being of Shahrokh Zamani and other activists. The suppression of the masses by the reactionary regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in the interest of both the capitalist exploiters and plunderers of Iran and of the imperialists and warmongers who have worsened the living conditions of the people by their economic sanctions.
The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic is very concern of the formation of independent worker-organisations and of the unity of the workers with other sections of the society. The Islamic regime is trying to suffocate any attempt to build independent and democratic workers' organisations. Following this policy, the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has harassed, tortured and imprisoned Reza Shahabi, Mohammed Jarrahi, Ebrahimzadeh, and other prominent trade union activists for several years.
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) supports the just struggles of the labour-activists for a better working condition and we praise their attempts to form independent trade unions. We call on all fraternal Parties and the Marxist-Leninist Organisations, all worker-activists, and all progressive minded individuals of the world to express solidarity with the struggles of the Iranian worker-activists. The people of the world should be outraged over the imprisonment and treatment of the Iranian masses and labour activists and to demand the regime of Islamic Republic to free Shahrokh Zamani and worker-activists and political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. Only the intensification of the just struggle of the Iranian labourers and of the genuine international support for masses can force the Islamic regime to retreat and to stop the repression of the Iranian people.
Release Shahrokh Zamani and other worker-activists immediately and unconditionally!
Long live the struggles of the Iranian working class!
Down with the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran!
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
April 13, 2014
