Iran: We condemn the arrest of the Steering Committee of the Vahed Bus Company of Tehran and Suburbs

At 6am on 22 December 2005 a number of Information Ministry personnel acting under orders from the Tehran prosecutor, a judge named Mortazavi, produced a search warrant at the home of Mr Mansour Ossanlou (the leader of the Steering Committee of the Vahed Bus Company Trade Union). After carrying out a search they arrested Mr Ossanlou and took him to an undisclosed place.

ما دستگيری رهبران سنديکای اتوبوس رانی را محکوم Ù…ÛŒ‌کنيم!

At 6am on 22 December 2005 a number of Information Ministry personnel acting under orders from the Tehran prosecutor, a judge named Mortazavi, produced a search warrant at the home of Mr Mansour Ossanlou (the leader of the Steering Committee of the Vahed Bus Company Trade Union). After carrying out a search they arrested Mr Ossanlou and took him to an undisclosed place. At the same time other members of the Steering Committee were also arrested and are still in custody.

We strongly condemn this anti-trade union and anti-working class act by the Iranian authorities who have yet again targeted this pioneering trade union. Not satisfied with using their thugs from the Islamic Labour Council to beat up these trade unionists and smash their offices, the regime is using all official and 'legal' means at its disposal to stop the unyielding drive by the Vahed workers to build an independent union.

The attack on 9 May, when they tried to cut out Mr Ossanlou's tongue, did not deter him or his workmates. This is yet another move by the regime that will be defeated by mobilising international workers' solidarity for the Vahed Company workers.

Workers' Action Committee (Iran) and Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
23 December 2005

We received this news from other members of the Vahed Bus Company Trade Union today.

Ossanlou
Mansour Ossanlou