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date: Tuesday 23 December 2008

embargo: For immediate release

TUC and Amnesty International launch campaign to defend Iranian teacher on death row

The TUC has today (Tuesday) joined Amnesty International in a campaign to defend Iranian teacher and union activist Farzad Kamangar, who has been sentenced to death for his political and union activities in Iran. The case against his sentence has also been backed by global teacher union federation Education International (EI).

Farzad Kamangar was arrested in Tehran around July 2006 and was sentenced to death on 25 February 2008, after being convicted of 'moharebeh' (or enmity towards God). This is a charge usually only levelled against those accused of taking up arms against the state. The trial took place in secret, lasted only a few minutes, and failed to meet Iranian and international standards of fairness.

When the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Committee on Freedom of Association considered Farzad Kamangar's case earlier this year, they called for his sentence to be overturned immediately, and for claims that he had been tortured to be fully investigated.

The Committee said: 'The Committee urges the Government to immediately stay the execution of Farzad Kamangar's death sentence, annul his conviction and secure his release from detention.

'It also requests the Government to undertake an independent inquiry into the allegations of torture inflicted upon Mr Kamangar during his detention and, if proven true, to compensate him for any damages suffered as a result of the said treatment.'

The TUC is urging union members in the UK to protest by sending a message to the leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei and the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Iran's record on the repression of union members is making it a pariah state. However, in spite of such violent oppression from the state, trade unionism in Iran continues to grow because of the bravery of people like Farzad Kamangar

'The TUC and British union members will continue to show solidarity with our colleagues in Iran who are routinely sacked, imprisoned and tortured simply for doing what unionist members all over the world should be free to do.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- For more information and to take action, go to www.tuc.org.uk/urgentactionirankamangar

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (500 words) issued 23 Dec 2008