By Country / Iran
NGO Concerned Over Violence Against Iranian Workers
May 13, 2005
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Washington, 13 May 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has written to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to express concern over recent violations of workers' rights, Radio Farda reported on 12 May, citing the ICFTU's website.
The ICFTU expressed concern in its letter over the arrest and disappearance of a state car factory worker, Parviz Salarvand, his "allegedly brutal" interrogation in a factory basement, and the fact that he "has not been heard of for 25 days."
The ICFTU has also asked Khatami to order an inquiry into an attack in Tehran on 9 May on a meeting of a bus company union activists. The attack was carried out by 300 members of the state-affiliated trade union, the House of Labor, and others from the Vahed bus firm, ICFTU said. They reportedly smashed the meeting place as state security agents watched and filmed their attack, while one assailant tried to cut the tongue and neck of Mansur Ossanlu, one of the founding members of the bus company union.