Rally in Support of Mahmoud Salehi was violently attacked by Security Forces

On April 16, 2007, tens of workers and labour activists, mostly bakery workers of Saqez, staged a peaceful rally in front of Mahmoud Salehi’s workplace, at the Saqez Workers Consumer Cooperative, to defend Salehi’s freedom. However, they were attacked immediately by the security officers as well as plain clothe agents and some were arrested. Workers were attacked by batons and gas sprays and many got injured.   Two of Saqez labour activists (also arrested on May Day 2004), Jalal Hosseini and Mohammad Abdipour, were summoned to the prosecutor’s office to prevent them from attending the protest gathering. Mohammad Abdipour was kept in detention at the prosecutor’s office until the end of the event and Hosseini was warned that he could not attend the rally under no circumstances because he has received suspended sentences. There is also news that Mahmoud Salehi’s 17 year old son, Samarand Salehi, was arrested during the rally. The security forces also closed the Cooperative.

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International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran

Background Information: www.workers-iran.org

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