After 40 days, Jafar Azimzadeh Remains in Prison

It has been forty days since Jafar Azimzadeh, head of the steering committee of Free Union of Iranian Workers, has been in Jail in Iran following his arrest on the eve of May Day organizing a protest rally by Iranian Labor Ministry.

According to reports by Free Union of Iranian Workers, Azimzadeh has been put on pressure to declare dissolution of the Union in prison. The union in a statement, signed by the members of the steering committee, indicating that the union is a voluntary organization and formed through its general assembly, said that “the decisions are made through its membership and elected organs and are not based on any individual’s decision, the individual even being the head of the steering committee.” “The major decisions are made through the general assembly of the union” the statement further said.

The union has said that it will continue its efforts to release Jafar Azimzadeh through contacts with international labor organizations and domestic authoritative organs.

Along this effort, the union has written a letter to a parliamentary commission asking the commission to look into the case of Azimzadeh and the pressures put on the membership of the union.

The union has termed holding Azimzadeh in prison as being kept as “a hostage” in order to stop the activities of the union.

Iran Labor Report