Abdolreza GhanbariThis one is to the Iranian authorities who have sentanced a teacher to death after being accused of ‘enmity towards God’.
Your Excellency,
We the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) write to you to condemn the Iranian authorities for upholding the death penalty in the 21st century, a barbaric act that should be discontinued at once.
We insist on an immediate stay of execution for Profeser Abdolreza Ghanbari who’s only crime appears to be that he once belonged to the ITTA Union which was dissolved in 2007.
He stands accused of Moharebeh (enmity towards god) and receiving unsolicited emails from an armed opposition group to which he does not belong but this is clearly a case of victimisation against Trade Unionists by a totalitarian regime who try to keep the Working classes in line with fear and intimidation through arcane state and religious laws.
We are concerned at the ill treatment he has already received, being questioned for 25 days in a row to force him to confess under duress to unproven charges.
Even his solicitor has been sentenced to a six year sentence for ‘propaganda against the regime’ in an attempt to discredited Abdolreza’s defence which seems to be a clear case of ‘propagandha against the people’ and ’emnity towards the working classes’ by the totalitarian regime of Iran with its bourgeoisie law courts and fanatical religious leaders.
Freedom of association and expression are given rights and all people should be free to express their views be they religious, political or otherwise without fear of persecution by the state.
We call for the death sentence to be revoked in Iran, all charges against Trade Unionist to be dropped, international labour standards to be complied with and for respect to be shown for the rights of Iranian Workers , which so far has been lacking.
We, other Unions and activists will continue to protest the death penalty in Iran and elsewhere until it is abolished for good
Andy Smith, International Solidarity Liaison Officer