Vol. 80/No. 24      June 20, 2016

 

Students, workers denounce lashing of miners in Iran

 
The Iran Labor News Agency reported May 25 that 17 workers at the Agh Darreh gold mine in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province had been found guilty by a local court of “preventing people from doing business by disturbing the peace.” They were punished with between 30 and 100 lashes, and some fined the equivalent of $165.

Courts have imposed such beatings on workers before, but this time it was publicized and sparked protests nationally that included student organizations and labor figures.

The charges stemmed from a December 2014 protest by miners against the company’s refusal to renew their contracts, Farmarz Tofighi told the semi-official Fars News Agency May 27. “According to the charter of the International Labor Organization, which Iran is a signatory to, workers have a right to protest and march,” said Tofighi, who was identified as a worker activist.

On May 28 the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company issued a statement that condemned “lashings and fines imposed on protesting workers demanding their rights.” The organization is well known around the country for its militant actions in defense of workers rights.

After the lashings got national publicity, Labor Minister Ali Rabiee summarily fired the ministry’s director in West Azerbaijan. Hassan Sadeghi, a prominent labor figure, told Iran Labor News this could be seen as “low level politicking,” to deflect blame from the ministry.

Alireza Mahjoob, a deputy in the Majles (parliament) who is considered a labor supporter, said he will move to have Rabiee and the interior minister summoned to the Majles for questioning.

Labor News reported June 1 that in an open letter to Rabiee, Hosein Habibi, the secretary of the Coordinating Council of Islamic Shoras [Councils], called on the Judiciary Authority to apologize to the Agh Darreh miners.

On June 7 the same news agency published the names of 52 student organizations across the country that issued a joint statement in solidarity with the miners and demanded the government recognize workers rights.

Another lashing case was reported in late May. More than 30 college students, men and women, were arrested for attending a graduation party in Qazvin, 90 miles northwest of Tehran. The Judiciary Authority asserted that the women were dancing “half naked.” Within 24 hours each student was sentenced and subjected to 99 lashes.

At a press conference in Tehran June 1, Judiciary Authority spokesperson Hojjatol Islam Mohseni Ajei defended the sentencing, and insinuated that “foreign embassies” may be involved in such parties around the country.  
 
 
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