Teamsters Call for Immediate Release of Jailed Iranian Union Leaders

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-09-2007/0004642926&EDATE=

Teamsters Call for Immediate Release of Jailed Iranian Union Leaders

Letter from Teamsters President Jim Hoffa Delivered to Iranian Diplomatic
Mission

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two imprisoned union
leaders must be freed immediately, Teamsters General President James P.
Hoffa said in a letter delivered today to Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad.
The letter seeking freedom for Mahmoud Salehi and Mansour Osanloo was
hand-delivered at Iran's diplomatic mission by Teamsters' representatives.
"We are deeply concerned for the safety of Mr. Osanloo and Mr. Salehi,"
Hoffa said. "Iran's Ministry of Labor has repeatedly reassured the
international union community that Iran is committed to workers' rights,
but instead we have seen an increasing repression of workers and their
unions in the past months."
"The world is watching to see if Iran will stand by its commitments or
continue its persecution of labor activists," Hoffa said.
Hoffa joined labor and human rights leaders in at least 30 countries
around the world in a Day of Action on behalf of the two jailed activists.
Their health is believed to be in danger as the weeks of their imprisonment
tick by.
Osanloo, president of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs
(Vahed) Bus Company, is being held in Iran's notorious Evin prison after a
gangster-style arrest on July 10. Witnesses say he was beaten severely.
Osanloo has a chronic heart condition and a serious eye condition that
requires immediate surgery. He has no access to medical or legal assistance
and no contact with his family.

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