Mahmoud Salehi rushed to hospital

Mahmoud Salehi, one of the Saghez Seven labour activists who has been in Sanandaj prison (in Iranian Kurdistan) for the past nine months, has been taken to hospital because of kidney problems.

Mr Salehi, the former leader of the Saghez Bakers' Union and a founding member of the Co-ordination Committee for the Formation of Labour Organisations, was re-arrested nine months ago. Three years earlier, he and six other labour activists were arrested for trying to hold a May Day rally in Saghez. The arrests of the Saghez Seven in May 2004 sparked a series of pickets and protests in many countries.

During the past few years Mahmoud Salehi has been in prison many times. His main 'crime' has been setting up an independent trade union for the bakers and activities aimed at founding other labour organisation outside the Iranian regime's control. His health has suffered from all these long prison terms. He has just one kidney and that kidney has stones. His blood pressure is also unstable.

His family and friends have warned the Iranian regime about Mr Salehi's medical and dietary needs many times. Samrand Salehi, his 17-year-old son, said: "He had these problems before he went into prison. But because they don't allow him to eat fruit or any of the things he ate outside [prison]. Now in the prison they are given eggs and rice with lentils day and night, every day they are given these. And this is like poison to him. They are given one [portion] of fruit a week ..."

Mahmoud Salehi's repeated arrests for trade union activities, and ill-treatment in prison, are part of the Iranian regime's desperate attempt to cow the new and resurgent labour movement. The struggle and perseverance of activists like Salehi are an example to whole a new generation entering the movement and will ensure that the government's anti-trade union policies end in failure.

Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
Workers' Action Committee (Iran)
16 December 2007