According to a report by the National Union of Sacked and Unemployed Workers in Iran three labour activists who were arrested and tried following last year's May Day celebrations in Sanandaj have each been lashed 10 times.
The appeal court in Sanandaj, in Iranian Kurdistan, sentenced 11 workers who took part in a May Day event in 2007 to receive 10 lashes and pay a 2 million rials ($214) fine.
Sedigh Amjadi, Fars Goilian and Habibollah Kalkani received 10 lashes each and were made to pay the extortionate fine before they were released. A further eight workers and labour activists from Sanandaj have also been sentenced to be treated in this medieval and barbaric way for trying to commemorate May Day. They are: Khaled Savari, Eghbal Latifi, Yadollah Moradi, Tayeb Mollaee, Mohiuddin Rajabi, Tayeb Chatani, Sedigh Sobhani and Abbas Anadyari. These men, most of whom are members of the Unemployed Union, have been found guilty of "disturbing public order" and "taking part in an illegal gathering".
Sedigh Amjadi's sentence was carried out on 16 February and those of Fars Goilian and Habibollah Kalkani on 18 February. Sheys Amani and Sedigh Karimi, two other members of the Unemployed Union, are awaiting the outcome of their appeals against sentences of two and half years in jail.
Although the whipping of women's right activists stretches back to 1981 and the consolidation of the Islamic regime, this is the first time that labour activists have been sentenced to be lashed. The sentences of the other eight workers and labour activists are expected to be carried out in the next few days. Please send a protest letter to put pressure on the Iranian regime to release these class war prisoners immediately and unconditionally.
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
21 February 2008