Only the names have been changed, to protect the guilty.
Oppression is rampant around the world. How much longer will we
continue to do our Master's bidding, sending drones and murder when
support of the working classes is so desperately needed? When we look
past the people's names, and the variety of oppressive governments,
the people producing the world's wealth are being treated the same.
Back when I was still green around the gills, I believed that all we
needed to do was to go into the nations of the world and promote labor
unions. Silly me! I also once believed that education would bring
world peace! It took me time to figure out that most "education" was
designed to promote and advance the existing Ruling Class. And as for
organizing the Workers of the World? Not something that any right
thinking despot would want happening on His watch.
Carl Jarvis
On 6/19/16, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://themilitant.com/2016/8024/802457.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 80/No. 24 June 20, 2016
Students, workers denounce lashing of miners in Iran
BY NAOMI CRAINE
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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