2 September, 2014IndustriALL Global Union is calling on the Iranian President to release nine miners arrested on 19 August for striking at the Bafgh Iron Ore Mine in Yazd, Iran.
Over 5000 miners have downed tools in support of the detained workers who who were arrested for taking part in a 40 day strike at the mine earlier this year.
IndustriALL is also alarmed that there is an arrest warrant for a further nine miners.
In his letter to the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, IndustriALL’s general secretary Jyrki Raina said:
“We are utterly dismayed at the unlawful arrest of scores of miners and the escalation of the conflict by sending the riot police to the mine in response to the legitimate strike called by the workers on account of earlier illegal arrests on 19 August.
“It is important to note that workers have been detained because of their opposition to the government’s insistence in privatizing the company, and, as consequence, deteriorating the working conditions of the miners… In addition, all arrested workers should be immediately and unconditionally released.”
The miners, who have been on strike since the arrests, are also demanding that 15 per cent of revenue from the mine should be invested in the Yazd region.
The striking miners have received unprecedented support from the citizens of Bafgh who joined miners and their families for a large-scale sit-in outside the governor’s office.
IndustriALL has also condemned the use of riot police to break up peaceful demonstrations by on 20 August in response to miners’ protests.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports state that one of the arrested miners has been released last night (1 September).