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DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

(Feb 3, 2006)

DemocracyAlert: Hundreds of Iranian Bus Drivers Arrested for Planning Strike

The Iranian government has imprisoned hundreds of bus drivers, who are members of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), for planning a strike on January 28 to protest the detention of their union President Mansoor Osanloo and to demand recognition of their union by the government. Osanloo and other members of the union's executive board were arrested on December 22, 2005. While the Police have released other members, Osanloo remains detained.

The union is appealing for support from the Iranian people and the international labor movement to:

• Release Osanloo and the remaining prisoners;
  
• Recognize the union;
  
• Respect workers’ collective bargaining rights; and
  
• Return all fired drivers to work unconditionally.

Please send letters of support to:

Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadjinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98-21-6648.06.65 or + 98 21 649 5880
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

Ambassador Mohammad Reza Alborzi
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Institutions in Geneva
Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28
1209 Geneva, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 733 02 03
E-mail: mission.iran@ties.itu.int

For more information about this incident and the Sherkat-e Vahed, go to:

www.solidaritycenter.org/content.asp?contentid=557 (Solidarity Center)

www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/31/iran12581.htm (Human Rights Watch)