02.07.2008 - Source: Freedom House

Annual survey of political rights and civil liberties 2007: The situation of labor unions and associations ("Freedom in the World 2008") [ID 24903]

"Iranian law does not allow independent labor unions, though workers’ councils are represented in the government-sanctioned Workers’ House, the only legal labor federation. The head of the bus driver association, who was arrested over a bus workers’ strike in 2006, received a five-year prison sentence in 2007 for “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the system.” Union workers used the occasion of International Labor Day in May 2007 to protest and call for the resignation of Labor Minister Mohammed Jahromi.

Protesting workers clashed with security services during their demonstration. Also during the year, educators from the Teacher’s Guild Association staged six protests outside the parliament building to demand that teachers’ salaries be equivalent to those of other civil servants. The government arrested the organizers and at least 50 other protesters, and the media were prohibited from covering the strikes."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Mansouir Ossanlu, head of the Teheran bus drivers' union, was detained in July 2007 after visiting Europe to gather support for the trade union movement in Iran; in October an appeals court upheld a 5-year prison sentenced imposed in February 2007 ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23403]

"Mansour Ossanlu, head of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, was detained in July after visiting Europe to gather support for the independent trade union movement in Iran. Following international protests he received medical treatment for an eye injury reportedly sustained during a dispute with prison officials during an earlier detention. In October an appeals court upheld a five-year prison sentence imposed in February."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Peaceful demonstration forcibly dispersed; 5 members of a Tehran bus drivers' syndicate arrested ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23026]

"The constitution permits assemblies and marches, "provided they do not violate the principles of Islam;" however, in practice the government restricted freedom of assembly and closely monitored gatherings to prevent antigovernment protests. Such gatherings included public entertainment and lectures, student meetings and protests, labor protests, women's gatherings and protests, funeral processions, and Friday prayer gatherings. [...]

[...] On August 9, authorities arrested five members of a Tehran bus drivers' syndicate, along with some family members, who were demonstrating outside detained labor leader Mansur Osanloo's house, calling for the release of Osanloo and labor activist Mahmoud Salehi."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Iranian government limits the freedom of association; 45 members of the Hamedan Teachers' Association arrested ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23027]

"The constitution provides for the establishment of political parties, professional associations, Islamic religious groups, and organizations for recognized religious minorities, provided that such groups do not violate the principles of "freedom, sovereignty, and national unity," or question Islam as the basis of the Islamic Republic; however, the government limited freedom of association in practice.

On April 7, authorities reportedly arrested as many as 45 members of the Hamedan Teachers' Association, some at an association meeting and some at their homes. Judiciary officials stated that the association was a banned organization. Officials confirmed that 30 of the teachers were freed, but 15 remained in detention at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Security forces arrested 45 members of the Hamedan Teachers' Association ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23334]

"On April 7 [2007], security forces arrested 45 members of the Hamedan Teachers' Association. The organization was reportedly banned and judiciary officials said the teachers were arrested because of their continued affiliation with a banned organization."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Former head of the Bakery Workers' Union, Mahmoud Salehi, detained and sentenced to one year in prison and 3 years suspended prison; in prison he has being denied proper treatment for his kidney disease ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23335]

"On April 9, labor activist Mahmoud Salehi, former head of the Saqqez Bakery Workers' Union, was detained by security forces and subsequently sentenced to one year in prison and three years' suspended sentence. He remained in prison and was reportedly in poor health.

On December 11, he was hospitalized for complications related to his being denied proper treatment for chronic kidney disease. Salehi's earlier sentence in 2005 was overturned on appeal. A November 2006 report indicated that Salehi was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for committing crimes against the country's internal security but was not detained until April. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Popular labor leader Mansur Osanloo arrested and detained in Evin Prison ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23337]

"On July 10, unidentified men arrested labor leader Mansur Osanloo and detained him in Evin Prison. He was also repeatedly arrested in 2006. Osanloo, the head of the Syndicate of Bus Drivers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e-Vahed), had been targeted by the government because of his calls for labor rights.

Osanloo's health has suffered in prison, and on October 21, he underwent eye surgery to prevent blindness in his left eye. At year's end, he remained in prison."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

5 labor activists, protesting against the arrest of labor leader Mansur Osanloo, were released after spending 5 months in jail ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23338]

"On August 9, authorities arrested Ebrahim Madadi and four others for protesting the arrest of Osanloo. On December 16, Madadi was released from jail following an appeals court ruling that cleared him of the charge of acting against national security."

Document(s): Open document

22.12.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Amnesty International calls for immediate release of trade union leader who was rushed to hospital after collapsing in prison ("Amnesty calls for release of trade unionist from jail") [ID 22152]

Document(s): Open document

31.10.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Court sentences dissident labour leader to five years in jail, judiciary official says ("Iran jails labor leader for five years: report"), Autor: Reuters [ID 21676]

Document(s): Open document

30.10.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

An appellate court in Tehran has confirmed a five-year jail sentence against jailed union leader Mansur Osanlu on security charges ("Iranian Labor Activists' Prison Sentences Upheld") [ID 21809]

Document(s): Open document

23.10.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Detained President of workers syndicate received medical treatment; already lost sight on one eye after being denied medial treatment; was at risk of becoming totally blind ("Mr. Mansour Osanloo has finally received emergency eye surgery [IRN 005 / 0707 / OBS 077.4]") [ID 21816]

Document(s): Open document

22.10.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Detained president of workers syndicate lost sight on one eye after being denied medical treatment; was detained in Juli 2007 on charges of conspiring against national security ("Mr. Mansour Osanloo, in arbitrary detention, has lost the sight of one eye after being denied urgent medical treatment [IRN 005 / 0707 / OBS 077.3]") [ID 21817]

Document(s): Open document

13.07.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Tehran: Trade unionist Mansour Ossanlu, who had been released in December, was detained by men in plain clothes on 10 July; he is reportedly held in Section 209 of Evin Prison and is believed to be prisoner of conscience ("Further Information on Urgent Action 08/06 (MDE 13/002/2006, 9 January 2006) and follow-ups (MDE 13/094/2006, 17 August 2006; MDE 13/129/2006, 29 November 2006 and MDE 13/011/2007, 31 January 2007) [MDE 13/086/2007]") [ID 21605]

Document(s): Open document

13.07.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Tehran: Iranian authorities are reportedly holding a prominent union leader in Evin prison ("Iranian Union Leader Reportedly Jailed") [ID 21606]

Document(s): Open document

11.07.2007 - Source: BBC News

Tehran: Trade union leader, Mansour Osanlou, was seized by unidentified men from a bus ("Iranian union leader 'abducted'") [ID 21599]

Document(s): Open document

06.07.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Trade union activist Mahmoud Salehi, who has been imprisoned since 9 April, is seriously ill and is allegedly not receiving the specialist medical treatment that he requires; he is believed to be a prisoner of conscience ("Urgent Action 176/07 [MDE 13/082/2007]") [ID 21592]

Document(s): Open document

24.06.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Mounting crackdown on dissidents, including labour leaders, universities, press, women’s rights advocates, former nuclear negotiator and Iranian-Americans ("Iran cracks down on dissent, parading examples in streets") [ID 21457]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Several hundred members of aTehran bus drivers' syndicate detained without charges ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19537]

"On January 28, authorities reportedly arrested several hundred members of a Tehran bus drivers' syndicate, along with some family members, who were demonstrating for labor rights. Family members and some workers were released, but several hundred were reportedly still held in Evin Prison at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Mansour Osanloo, head of syndicate Sherkat-e-Vahed, arrested during a strike in December 2005; protests, calling for his release, were disrupted by the police; members of the syndicate, as well as their family members, were arrested ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20750]

"In December 2005 Sherkat-e-Vahed went on strike to protest nonpayment of wages, poor working conditions, and the arrests of 14 association leaders. Mansour Osanloo, the head of Sherkat-e-Vahed, was arrested at that time, and detained in Evin Prison.

On January 28, Sherkat-e-Vahed members demonstrated, calling for the release of Osanloo and attention to their grievances. Police used force to disrupt the protest and arrested several hundred members of the syndicate, as well as some of their family members, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Family members and some of the workers were released, but at year's end there was no information regarding other reportedly detained workers. On August 9, Osanloo was released on bail but re-arrested on November 19 (see section 6.b.)."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Government bans independent unions; a national organisation known as Workers' House is the sole authorised national labour organisation, primarily as a conduit for government control over workers ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 21114]

"The law provides workers the right to establish unions; however, the government did not permit independent unions. A national organization known as Workers' House was the sole authorized national labor organization. It served primarily as a conduit for government control over workers.

The leadership of Workers' House coordinated activities with Islamic labor councils, which consisted of representatives of the workers and a representative of management in industrial, agricultural, and service organizations of more than 35 employees. These councils also functioned as instruments of government control and frequently blocked layoffs and dismissals."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

No tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings: The example of striking bus drivers in January 2006 ("World Report 2007") [ID 18991]

"The Ahmadinejad government, in a pronounced shift from the policy under former president Mohammed Khatami, has shown no tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings. In January 2006 security forces attacked striking bus drivers in Tehran and detained hundreds. The government refused to recognize the drivers’ independent union or engage in collective bargaining with them."

Document(s): Open document

20.11.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Mansur Osanlu, president of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, reportedly arrested in Tehran on 19 November 2006 by security agents; he had been released from Evin prison on bail three months earlier ("Iran: Prominent Union Leader Arrested In Tehran") [ID 18019]

Document(s): Open document