NCRI- Ten political prisoners go on hunger strike on February 16 in protest at Iran’s ‘cruel and tyrannical’ refusal to allow workers to go on strike in defense of their pay and legal rights.
The ten protestors at Gohardasht prison in the town of Karaj said union members had been ‘arrested, imprisoned, fired and whipped’ for daring to stage legitimate strikes.
A statement issued by the hunger strikers said they had a petition of 30,000 names who backed their cause to allow workplace protests.
It read: “We have a 30,000 signature petition which backs our demand to conduct peaceful demonstrations in accordance with our legal rights.
“Going on strike, having a union and staging labor demonstration is a human right all over the world. However, in the suppressive and oppressive situation under the reign of the Iranian Supreme Leader, this legal action has been disregarded.
“Active union members are being arrested, imprisoned, fired and whipped and their job security ruined. This is while workers in Iran in industries such as mining, services, agriculture, oil, gas, petrochemicals and car factories are only paid about a quarter of their wages.
“This is a country where health care, education, public services, recreational and sport facilities are being cut back by the government. Our national wealth is spent on terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and our beloved fellow citizens are being brutally abused and hanged in groups in Tehran, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Sistan and Balouchestan and Azerbaijan. Moreover, our dear countrymen in Liberty are being directly and indirectly murdered.
“This petition is a sign of the struggle of the oppressed people to regain a struggle against this tyrannical and the cruel government.
“Dear fellow workers, the Supreme Leader is a member of the World Labor Organization, yet as a member, he forbids us the right to form a union and hold legitimate protests and strikes.
“Meanwhile, the ruling elite have squandered 60 per cent of the nation’s wealth. The Larijani brothers, who are in control of two of the legislative branches, have robbing and plundered our country’s riches.
“At the same time, millions are suffering from unemployment, hunger and homelessness.
“Although we know with certainty that the Ministry of Interior is not going to agree with our request, we are staging this hunger strike to defend the rights of all workers to legally strike, a right which represents freedom justice.”
