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To all trade unions, workers’ parties and organisations
In protest against the apprehension and torture of workers in Iran
The Islamic Republic authorities have been harassing Esmail Bakhshi and his family to renounce his open letter regarding his arrest, 25 days of apprehension and torture by the security forces. In his letter to Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence in Iran, Esmail Bakhshi has sought a public interview with the Minister, to give an explanation about his arrest, apprehension and torture. In the letter, Esmail Bakhshi has stated he was arrested and then severely beaten to such an extent that he could not move around in his cell for 72 hours. After two month since his arrest, he still suffers from excoriating pains namely from broken ribs and kidney problems, as well as hand tremors following the psychological trauma that he has been subjected to. Certainly, Esmail Bakhshi is not the first and nor the last one who has been subjected to such suppressive acts by the authorities in Iran. The Islamic Republic’s records of home-raids, arrests, torture and executions are well-documented over the last four decades. What is different now, however, is the change in the political situation in Iran, following the mass outpour in the streets across the country just about 13 months ago. Protests that have shown most vividly, the extent of mass rejection of the Islamic Republic in its entirety. During the last year, there has been a growing wave of protests across the country, most notably, the recent strike actions in Haft Tapeh and Ahwaz Steel Works, which have been dominating the news scene in Iran. It is based on such a background that Esmail Bakhshi’s call for a public interview with the Minister has found support in all quarters. This is a call of not just one worker, but one which has found resonance among all workers and freedom-seeking people in Iran, demanding and end to the denial of their basic rights. This is a call that the Islamic Republic authorities cannot ignore and have to respond to. Such a call, however, needs to be echoed and supported by all workers and workers’ trade unions, organisations and parties. The working class in Iran urges their fellow workers to use all their available means to put pressure on the Islamic Republic internationally, to end their attempts to silence this call. The Islamic Republic must be condemned, and forced to end their harassment of Esmail Bakhshi and his family. Enough is enough. Long live international solidarity
On behalf of the Hekmatist party (Official Line) – Organisation Abroad 6 January 2019
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