Mansour Ossanlou kidnapped

Mansour Ossanlou speaking in an ITF conference in London on June 2007

The prominent trade union leader of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkate Vahed), Mansour Ossanlou was severely beaten and kidnapped in Tehran on 10 July by unknown assailants believed to be acting on the behest of the security services.

Eye witness reports, claim Ossanlou was pounced upon by a group of men in plainclothes, who had been tailing the activist in an unmarked grey metallic Peugeot throughout the day. He had been making his way home on the bus after heading an important Union meeting when the attack took place.

The assailants cautioned bystanders to not intervene warning them that Ossanlou was a “thief!” and a “thug!” as they proceeded to brutally beat the 48 year old. They bundled Ossanlou into an awaiting car which was subsequently driven away to a secret location.

Ossanlou’s wife’s attempt to enquire into the whereabouts of her husband at the local police station was rebuffed by the Deputy Information Officer. He refused to verify whether an arrest had taken place on direction of the police, and instead remarked that Ossanlou was a spy working on the orders of foreign powers.

Ossanlou has not been seen since his abduction and despite the communications that were made with the relevant authoritative bodies; no indication was provided as to where he was being held. All had flatly denied that he was in their custody until the afternoon of 12 July when officials finally admitted that Ossanlou is being held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

It is interesting to note that a similar attempt was made by unidentified agents on May Day. This attempt was only thwarted due to the intervention of passers-by and union colleagues who helped free Ossanlou from the clutches of his assailants. The timing of this kidnapping has conveniently taken place only a short while before Sherkate Vahed’s annual conference.

Escalation of Anti-Union Repression

The past few months have laid witness to a new wave of repression against labour activists in Iran. The iron fist of Ahmadinejad’s administration has grown increasingly intolerant towards workers mobilising against poor pay and dire working and living conditions.

This years May Day demonstrations coupled with the ongoing teacher’s strike have shaken-up the establishment, and instead of dialogue the government has resorted to brute force as a means to address this widespread discontent.

Mahmoud Salehi the leader of the Bakery Workers Association of Saquez has become a victim of this backlash. He is currently being denied urgently required medical attention whilst also being denied access to his lawyer. Furthermore, Sheys Amani and Sediq Karami of the Dismissed and Unemployed National Workers Union have only just been released on bail (set at 50 million Tomans, $54,000) after spending 42 days in prison.

The Price of Speaking Out

The embattled trade unionist, Mansour Ossanlou has been the prime target of state intimidation ever since he led the unions struggle for independence in May 2005.

Ossnalou tortured: tongue sliced whilst in prison

The price Ossanlou paid for his involvement was a 7 month prison sentence, without charge, which saw him subjected to torture, beatings, psychological abuse and intimidation as well as near to 4 months in solitary confinement (see IWB issue 9). In November 2006, Ossanlou was once again violently arrested and beaten by plain clothes security officers and detained in Evin prison for a month.

International Solidarity

The latest saga in the ongoing case of Ossanlou has drawn widespread international support. The IFT and ITUC reacted promptly to bring pressure on the Iranian government, writing a joint protest letter to President Ahmadinejad, requesting the ILO to assist in securing the release of Ossanlou as well as pledging to mobilise trade unions internationally to expose the Iranian Government if Ossanlou is not freed immediately.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft commented that, “All of us are behind him now and demand his release and the reining in of the bullies and thugs who are hounding him”. Meanwhile the British TUC has sent a protest letter to the Iranian Ambassador in the UK and has notified the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Additionally, in quite unprecedented moves the BBC and New York Post reacted instantaneously in reporting the kidnapping.

Call for Action

The firm eye of the international trade union movement is focused on Iran. Every scratch, bruise or punch brought upon Ossanlou’s body will not go unnoticed or pass with out condemnation. We call on all our readers, supporters of the Iranian Workers Movement and anyone who believes in the defence of minimum human rights standards to stand by Mansour Ossanlou.

declare their support and solidarity for Mansour Ossanlou.

We call on you to get into contact with your local trade union representative, MP, or any other influential body to press for the release of Ossanlou. The ITF has launched an international campaign to raise support and solidarity (SAID IT ABOVE) for the continued injustice and inhumane treatment Ossanlou has been subjected to. We call on you to pledge your support for this campaign (Link below).

Given the treatment Ossanlou has received at the hands of the Iranian authorities in the past, there is a genuine risk he will face physical and psychological torture or intimidation and possibly even death.

The history of the ‘Islamic’ Republic is plagued with the blood of activists, writers, academics, workers and countless more innocent’s who paid with their lives. Their only so-called crime being to dare to speak out against what they knew to be injustice and oppression.

Silence is no longer an option.

Pledge your Support:

http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/osanloo2.cfm

By Andeesheh Nicko & Roja Bamdad