TUC protests at teacher trade unionist arrest in Iran

TUC letters to the President of Iran and the UK Foreign Secretary:

Dear President

Request for the immediate release of Mr Esmail Abdi, General Secretary of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association

On behalf of the six million trade unionists in the UK, the TUC protest at the arrest of Mr Esmail Abdi, a leader of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA), following his attempt to attend the 7th Education International (EI) World Congress in Ottawa, Canada later this month.

Mr Peyman Nodinian, another representative of the ITTA who was to attend the EI World Congress has also been prevented from travelling.

The arrest of Mr Abdi is an infringement of several international human right conventions, including those protecting the freedom of expression and the right to travel. In particular, by imprisoning a trade union leader without good cause, and preventing him from taking part in the work of the international teacher trade union movement, you are breaching the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation – especially that relating to freedom of association – which you are duty bound to uphold by virtue of your country’s ILO membership.

I urge the Government of Iran to facilitate Mr Abdi's immediate release and to secure the right of Iranian teacher unionists to travel to attend union meetings.

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O’GRADY

General Secretary

Dear Foreign Secretary

Arrest of Esmail Abdi, a leader of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association

The TUC is very concerned about the recent arrest of Esmail Abdi, a leader of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA), following his attempt to obtain a visa to attend the 7th Education International (EI) World Congress in Ottawa – the gathering for global teachers’ unions - later this month.

We have written to the Iranian authorities to protest about Mr Abdi’s arrest as well as their decision to prevent Mr Peyman Nodinian, another representative of the ITTA, from attending the EI World Congress.

The arrest of Mr Abdi is an infringement of various international human right conventions, including those protecting the freedom of expression, as well as the right to travel, and in particular the ILO core convention of freedom of association. The Iranian regime, as I am sure you will be aware, makes a habit of imprisoning trade unionists seeking fairness at work for their members.

I urge you to raise these concerns with the Iranian authorities and as a matter of urgency to encourage them to facilitate Mr Abdi's immediate release and to secure the right of Iranian teacher unionists to travel to attend union meetings.

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O’GRADY

General Secretary