{"id":310,"date":"2016-06-20T02:33:44","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T01:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/codir.net\/?p=310"},"modified":"2016-06-20T02:33:44","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T01:33:44","slug":"solidarity-group-expresses-concern-for-hunger-striker-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/codir.net\/?p=310","title":{"rendered":"Solidarity group expresses concern for hunger striker in Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

19th<\/sup> June 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Press Release<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Immediate Use<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solidarity organisation, the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People\u2019s Rights (CODIR), has expressed grave concern about the deteriorating health of Iranian political prisoner, Jafar Azimzadeh, who has been on hunger strike for over fifty days.<\/p>\n

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Mr. Azimzadeh has lost a considerable amount of weight, his blood pressure has dropped and he is having vision problems.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Tehran bus drivers\u2019 union, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) called for Mr. Azimzadeh\u2019s release from prison and warned the public that his health had been greatly affected by his strike.<\/p>\n

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Tehran\u2019s prosecutor’s office demanded that he stop the hunger strike after he was unable to walk from his cell to the visitor\u2019s hall to see his wife, on 17th<\/sup> May and even offered the chance of long-term leave from prison, for fear of him becoming a \u2018martyr\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Mr. Azimzadeh rejected the offer and replied in no uncertain terms, stating,<\/p>\n

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“I did not go on hunger strike in order to be permitted to have prison leave. \u00a0In the letter that I had written prior to beginning my hunger strike, I set out my demands clearly, and I expect them to be fulfilled. \u00a0The first step to fulfilling these demands is to halt the implementation of the [current] verdicts and reevaluate our file rejecting the accusation of acting against national security. \u00a0I will, therefore, continue with my indefinite hunger strike”.<\/p>\n

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Mr. Azimzadeh went on hunger strike on 29th<\/sup> April.\u00a0 He was arrested last November following peaceful and lawful trade union demonstrations and is now serving a six-year sentence. \u00a0He began his protest after being refused the right to properly defend himself in court.<\/p>\n

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Charges against Azimzadeh include, the formation of the Free Union of Iranian Workers; the formation of the National Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers, in cooperation with the Committee of Labour Unions; gathering in Laleh Park in 2009 on International Workers\u2019 Day; and the planning and management of workers\u2019 protests in 2014.<\/p>\n

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CODIR Assistant General Secretary, Jamshid Ahmadi, stressed the concern felt by trade unionists around the world for the fate of those imprisoned in Iran.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe international trade union movement has sent clear messages of solidarity to those languishing in Iran\u2019s prisons ensuring that the eyes of the world are upon the regime.\u00a0 The continued detention of these trade unionists reflects the fate of many fighting for freedom inside Iran,\u201d said Mr Ahmadi, \u201cJafar Azimzadeh in particular has taken a stand which we fear will result in irreversible health problems.\u00a0 This is for merely engaging in activities which would be regarded as standard rights in any real democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The CODIR May Day appeal, on behalf of \u00a0imprisoned teachers and \u00a036 independent journalists, including leading figures in the media, who have been incarcerated on spurious charges, gained widespread international support.<\/p>\n

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CODIR points out that the government of Hassan Rouhani has failed to take measures to ease pressure on trade union activists and human rights campaigners in the country.\u00a0 On the contrary, all evidence points to the fact that the Iranian regime is not showing any signs of moving in the direction of enacting crucial ILO conventions 87 and 98.<\/p>\n

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CODIR, which has campaigned for over 30 years to highlight trade union and human rights abuses in Iran, will continue to campaign for the release of unjustly imprisoned trade unionists and to repeal the unjust and brutal sentencing laws in Iran.<\/p>\n

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Human rights have not been on the agenda with the Iranian regime in the discussions around its nuclear programme, which resulted in sanctions being lifted earlier this year.\u00a0 CODIR has expressed concern that this may be taken as carte blanche by the regime to act as it pleases on the domestic front, as long as it fulfils its international obligations.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCODIR will continue its campaigning for trade union and democratic rights in Iran,\u201d continued Jamshid Ahmadi.\u00a0 \u201cWe welcome the lifting of sanctions and reduction of tensions between Iran and the rest of the world and in particular the US and the EU.\u00a0 However this should not be at the expense of liberty for Iranian trade unionists, democrats and human rights activists.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As CODIR has emphasised previously, human rights violations are part of a coordinated policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to maximise pressure upon human rights and trades union activists, their colleagues and family members, in order to pressurise the opposition movement in Iran.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Note for Editors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact Information:-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Postal Address:
\nB.M.CODIR
\nLondon
\nWC1N 3XX
\nUK
\nWebsite: www.codir.net<\/a>
\nE-mail: codir_info@btinternet.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Further information for Editors<\/strong><\/p>\n

CODIR is the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People\u2019s Rights.\u00a0 It has been established since 1981 and has consistently campaigned to expose human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran.<\/p>\n

CODIR has worked closely with the trade union movement in the UK, the peace movement, all major political parties and Amnesty International to press the case for an end to torture in Iran\u2019s prisons.<\/p>\n

CODIR has published Iran Today, its quarterly journal, since 1981, explaining the latest developments in Iran and the most effective way that the British public opinion could demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Iran.<\/p>\n

In recent years CODIR has worked closely with Stop the War Coalition and has been vocal against any form of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the nation.<\/p>\n

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