HRANA-The Syndicate Workers of Tehran Bus Company released a statement demanding the immediate release of imprisoned labor association board member Reza Shahabi.

According to the statement Reza Shahabi was arrested on June 12, 2009. He has had three phone conversations with his family since his arrest however they have not heard from him in over two weeks. The Syndicate Workers of Tehran Bus Company report that repeated inquiries by Reza Shahabi’s family and lawyer have gone unanswered by the prosecutors office and the revolutionary court. There is no word regarding the fate of Reza Shahabi at this time.

HRANA- Mohammad Mostafaei, lawyer and children’s rights acvitist, was summoned by the second branch of the prosecutor’s office in Evin Prison this morning.

Mohammad Mostafaei explained the reasons for the summons on his website. He was questioned about the nature of his assistance to child offenders currently on death row. Additionally, he was questioned about a bank account used to pay blood money to the victim’s families.

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HRANA- Security forces are exerting pressure on bazaar business owners and shopkeepers to end their strike.
Security and intelligence forces in the city of Tabriz began contacting bazaar shopkeepers in an effort to prevent the strike from spreading throughout the Grand Bazaar of Tabriz.

According to Daneshjoo News, over the last three days as the entire bazaar remained
on strike, security and intelligence forces have begun a campaign of intimidation.
It is worthy to note that over the past several days plain clothed agents have gone to the homes of several trade guild leaders threatening of consequences if they continue their strike.
After the start of strikes in Bazaar Tehran, Bazaar Tabriz joined the strike in solidarity with Tehran and to protest the widespread arrest of activists in the province of Azarbijan.

HRANA- Reports describe an atmosphere of high security in Tehran’s Bazaar today as the strike spread to Tabriz’s Grand Bazaar.

In Tabriz, Bazaar Amir, the Jewelry Bazaar, Amir Kabir Bazaar, and Bazaar Noor are all on strike. Although the strike started in the preceding days within only certain sectors of the Bazaar it has now spread to include almost every store and business. The strike in Tehran’s Bazaar continues under a heavy security atmosphere. Additionally, there are unconfirmed reports that strikes have begun in Isfahan’s Bazaar.

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HRANA- Workers from Sanandaj’s Javeh dam have once again gone on strike as of yesterday July 10, 2010. Workers of the dam have gone on strike several times in recent months over non payment of their wages dating back more than five months.

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HRANA – Bazaar traders went on strike today in an effort to delay the government from imposing higher taxes.

According to Jahan, the jewelry and fabric bazaar was essentially closed this morning. Bazaar store owners were protesting the increased taxes. In October 2008 bazaar traders went on a week-long strike over a newly introduced value added tax and returned to work only after the government backed down.

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HRANA – Founder of the Syndicate Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Mansour Osanloo, was summoned to the fifth branch of Karaj’s revolutionary court.
Circumstances surrounding Mr. Osanloo’s court appearance last Wednesday are not clear at this time.  However, in recent weeks  Mr. Osanloo was accused of “contact with groups working against the government” resulting in his transfer to the solitary ward of Karaj’s Rajae Shahr Prison.

Radio Farda reports that after the arrest of Mansour Osanloo in July 2007, the court charged him with working against the security of the nation and he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Additionally, it is reported that Reza Shahabi [member of the Syndicate Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company] who was arrested on June 12, 2010, was able to contact his family in a brief telephone call.
There is still no word on the fate of Saeed Torabian, member of the worker’s syndicate board of directors who was arrested on June 9, 2010.

HRANA – Khosrow Bukani, labor activist and executive for the Coordinating Committee for the Establishment of Labor Organizations, was sentenced to a two year prison term.

He was notified of his sentence by the revolutionary court in Orumieh this June. He was sentenced to two years in prison based on unsubstantiated charges and for his membership in the labor committee.

Continue reading “Two Years Prison Term for Labor Activist Khosrow Bukani”

HRANA- As of Saturday June 19, 2010, dozens of workers building the Javeh repository dam in Sanandaj have gone on strike.
HRANA reporters have been informed that the workers are protesting months of unpaid wages. Officials state that the purpose for the construction of the damn [which began in April 2009] is to provide water to the surrounding plains and land used for agriculture.

Continue reading “Strike by Javeh Dam Workers in Sanadaj”