Protest intensified repression against labour activists - No to whippings and executions!

against the sadistic and savage sentences handed out against Iranian trade unionists for the 'crime' of having participated in a May Day demonstration this year, and two women in particular, Sousan Razani and Shiva Kheirabadi. Sousan was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment and 70 lashes; Shiva to 4 months imprisonment and 15 lashes.
In addition:

Mr. Abdullah Khani was sentenced to 91 days prison and 40 lashes and Mr. Seyed Qaleb Hosseini to 6 months imprisonment and 50 lashes.

Separately, Mr. Khaled Hosseini, a worker activist, was sentenced to 91 days suspended jail and 30 lashes because of his efforts in support of Mahmoud Salehi who was imprisoned at the time.

only because of their participation in 2008 May Day celebration in Sanandaj, the Criminal Court of Sanandaj - branch 101 has sentenced Ms. Sousan Razani to 9 months imprisonment and 70 lashes; Ms. Shiva Kheirabadi to 4 months imprisonment and 15 lashes; Mr. Abdullah Khani to 91 days prison and 40 lashes and Mr. Seyed Qaleb Hosseini to 6 months imprisonment and 50 lashes. In addition, Mr. Khaled Hosseini, a worker activist, was sentenced to 91 days suspended jail and 30 lashes because of his efforts in support of Mahmoud Salehi who was imprisoned at the time.

These are outrageous sentences to pass on any individual for exercising fundamental human rights to participate in what are legitimate trade union activities. The flogging sentences represent cruel and degrading punishment and as such are a further violation of the human rights of those condemned and an affront to international humanitarian law.

Another activist, Mr. Afshin Shams, was arrested in July 2008. Mr. Shams is a labour activist, a member of 'Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers' Organizations', a member of the 'Committee in Defence of Mahmoud Salehi' and a member of 'Caricaturists Society'. There have been other arrests and charges against labour and social activists in Iran as well as dismissal of labour activists, including the recent dismissal verdict against nine members of the bus workers syndicate.

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=416