PRESS RELEASE: United States set to increase the drive to war
Peace and human rights organizations across the world are today urging the United States government not to pass a resolution which they say will increase the chances of war with Iran. The resolution before the US House of Representatives (H.Res.568) ostensibly deals with the views of the House on "preventing the Government of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability". Campaigners however claim that the framing of the resolution will significantly lower the threshold for going to war; undermine diplomacy; and take peaceful options off the negotiating table. In the UK CODIR (Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People's Rights) is concerned that the vote on the resolution is taking place just a week before the US and Iran resume negotiations that many in the pro-war camp want to sabotage. CODIR claims that the resolution effectively calls for a military attack on Iran when it obtains a "nuclear weapons capability" - an undefined term that, by some interpretations, could already apply to Iran, not to mention Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands, and any country with a civilian nuclear program.
...more Share
Iran must quash human rights lawyer's conviction ahead of prison term
A nine-year jail term for a prominent human rights lawyer is another nail in the coffin for freedom of expression and association in Iran and should be quashed immediately, Amnesty International warned. Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, who is a co-founder of Iran's Centre for Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), was sentenced in July last year after being convicted of charges including "membership of an association [the CHRD] seeking the soft overthrow of the government" and "spreading propaganda against the system through interviews with foreign media". Told verbally to report to the authorities on Saturday, the organization fears he is at imminent risk of imprisonment as a prisoner of conscience. ...more Share
World Trade Unions in Solidarity with Iranian Workers
As the people of Iran mark 1st May, International Workers' Day, the celebration of which is banned in their country, trade union organisations across the world have expressed their solidarity with Iranian workers and trade unionists. On the eve of May Day, world trade union leaders have expressed their solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian workers and trade unionists by endorsing a May Day statement. The statement highlights how workers in Iran are now confronting the unprecedented collapse of the economy and the brutal repression of a regime targeting organised labour. With inflation officially running at more than 20% and rising, with official unemployment at almost 15%, in a country with no welfare system, there is mass hardship. Any attempt by workers' to protest is met with suppression and punitive measures. ...more Share
Press release - Solidarity with the working people of Iran on May Day 2012
On the occasion of International Workers Day, 1st May 2012, when workers across the globe will take to the streets in solidarity, there has been a particular call to remember the plight of workers in Iran. CODIR (Committee for the Defence of Iranian People's Rights) is drawing attention to the fact that Iranian workers are unable to organise legally into effective trades unions; suffer poor pay and working conditions as a result, in spite of the wealth of the country; and are often imprisoned and tortured for their beliefs. CODIR points to the twin threat to Iranian workers of the monetarist economic policies of the government, which have led to widespread factory closures and unemployment, and the international sanctions imposed by the EU and the United States which exacerbate further the position for the working people of the country. ...more Share
CODIR rejoices the release of trade unionist Madadi from prison
The ITF has learnt that Ebrahim Madadi, vice-president of the ITF-affiliated Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, has been released from imprisonment. First arrested in August 2007 and released in December 2007, Madadi was again detained in December 2008. Set free in December 2011 he was rearrested a short while later. He was accused of putting national security at risk. Welcoming Madadi's release, ITF general secretary David Cockroft stated: "Ebrahim has been released, as expected, at the end of a three and a half year sentence whose justice he has always challenged. I am sure that the ongoing representations to the government of Iran made by his supporters worldwide have helped ensure this latest action, which we trust will not be followed, as it has in the past, by further police harassment and imprisonment." ...more Share
'Release Reza Shahabi' Says CODIR
Reza Shahabi sentenced to six years imprisonment and torture and five years of silence. Reza Shahabi, after being incarcerated and persecuted for more than 22 months, has now been sentenced to 6 years imprisonment, by Judge Salavati of the Branch 15 of Tehran's "Islamic Revolutionary Court".
This includes a year's prison sentence on charges of "propaganda activities against the system" and five years in prison on false charges of "conspiracy with the intention of acting against national security".
The false accusations under which Shahabi has been sentenced demonstrate the anti-labour nature of the judicial system. Reza Shahabi's only crime is defending the rights of workers and his colleagues. Given the very serious situation, even the prison official's coroner has prompted protests and warnings; every day of incarceration for Reza Shahabi is nothing but physical torture. Also in this Judgment, Reza Shahabi, a worker, the Board member and Treasurer of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Vahed Workers, has been sentenced to prohibition of activities for five years, which only means an attempt in silencing this active and noble human being.
...more Share
CODIR appeals to the people of Canada, and the world to oppose the war with Iran
Press release - Solidarity organisation condemns the rush to war
The conditions and the pace at which the Islamic Republic of Iran is being made to negotiate over its nuclear energy programme means the likelihood of conflict in the region being escalated to a fullscale war footing will increase, according to the Committee for Defence of the Iranian People's Rights (CODIR).
In a statement issued in advance of the up and coming P5+1 meeting of the permanent UN Security Council members and Germany, on 15th April, CODIR has condemned the comments of US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, last Saturday. Mrs Clinton stated, after attending a security conference in Saudi Arabia , that, "We're going in with one intention: to resolve the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. Our policy is one of prevention, not containment. We are determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "We enter into these talks with a sober perspective about Iran's intentions. It is incumbent upon Iran to demonstrate by its actions that it is a willing partner and to participate in these negotiations with an effort to obtain concrete results." CODIR are concerned that the Secretary of State is in danger of being seen to be too closely associated with the Israeli and Saudi Arabian regimes for any of her statements on behalf of the US government to be taken serioulsy in Tehran. ...more Share
A time for full solidarity
It might be "realpolitik," but "my enemy's enemy is my friend" is often a poor guiding principle for the labour movement and the left when seeking allies. This is certainly the case when it comes to the Iranian government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which is in direct line of descent from those who arrested, tortured and murdered thousands of Iranian communists, radicals and democrats.
Because US and British imperialism, together with the odious Netanyahu government in Tel Aviv, are planning military action to install a more compliant regime, that is no reason to prettify the reactionary regime in Tehran. This is especially so when today's Islamist authorities continue to carry out the grisly work begun under the late Ayatollah Khomeini from 1982.
Their latest intended victim is Professor Abdolreza Ghanbari, a 44-year-old lecturer at Payam e Nour university, who was arrested at work after anti-government demonstrations in December 2009. ...more Share
World rallies to save life of jailed lecturer
British-based campaigning organisation Codir urged greater efforts today to save the life of lecturer trade unionist Abdolreza Ghanbari. Codir (the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People's Rights) assistant general secretary Jamshid Ahmadi paid tribute to the scale of the international struggle to stay the hangman's hand. The International Trade Union Confederation has undertaken to mobilise its efforts to petition the Iranian government, as has Education International, the global umbrella for teachers' and lecturers' unions. ...more Share
Press Release: Worldwide pressure brings hope for teacher in Iran
A campaign to save the life of an Iranian teacher, Abdolreza Ghanbari, initiated by the Committee for the Defence of Iranian People's Rights (CODIR) has brought international pressure to bear upon the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Abdolreza Ghanbari is awaiting execution after his final appeal against his sentence was rejected. Ghanbari, was arrested at his workplace after anti-government demonstrations took place on 27th December 2009 to mark the Ashoura religious commemorations. Held in Evin Prison since his arrest, Ghanbari was tortured, ill-treated and denied access to a lawyer. Ghanbari was tried unfairly before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on 30th January 2010 and sentenced to death for 'moharebeh' (enmity against God) for alleged links with the banned opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). The sentence was upheld on appeal, and his request for a pardon from the Amnesty and Clemency Commission was rejected at the end of February 2012. The campaign launched by CODIR on the 5th March 2012 has won the backing of many human rights and trade union organisations including Amnesty International, Labour Start, UNISON, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the University and College Union ( UCU ) in the UK, the Canadian Teachers' Federation and the global union, Education International. CODIR Assistant General Secretary, Jamshid Ahmadi, has been encouraged by the response to the campaign so far but has urged more trades union and human rights groups urgently to back the campaign....more Share
One Iranian lawyer's fight to save juveniles from execution - animation
As part of Amnesty International's 2012 death penalty campaign the Guardian and animators from Sherbet tell the extraordinary story of Mohammad Mostafaei, a lawyer who has saved 20 of the 40 juveniles he has defended from execution in Iran. Actor Paul Bettany speaks the lawyer's words
CLEMENCY DENIED FOR IRANIAN MAN ON DEATH ROW: ABDOLREZA GHANBARI
An Iranian teacher who was convicted of m oharebeh (enmity against God) and sentenced to death has had his request for pardon rejected. He is at risk of imminent execution. The teacher, Abdolreza Ghanbari , was arrested at his workplace after anti-government demonstrations took place on 27 December 2009 to mark the Ashoura religious commemorations, at the end of six months of protests following the disputed presidential election of 2009. Held in Evin Prison since his arrest, where he was reportedly tortured or otherwise ill-treated and denied access to a lawyer. Abdolreza Ghanbari was tried unfairly before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on 30 January 2010 and sentenced to death for moharebeh (enmity against God) for alleged links with the banned opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). The sentence was upheld on appeal, and his request for a pardon from the Amnesty and Clemency Commission was rejected at the end of February 2012. Once his death sentence has been approved by the Head of the Judiciary, it will be sent for implementation. ...more Share
UNISON: Letter to Ayatollah Khamenei concerning Adolreza Ghanbari
On behalf of UNISON, Britain's largest trade union representing 1.4 million public service workers, I am writing to you with regard to Mr Abdolreza Ghanbari who is currently being held in Evin Prison under sentence of death. Mr Ghanbari was arrested on the 27th December 2009 following demonstrations against the regime in which he did not even take part. His wife, daughter and witnesses have made it clear that Mr Ghanbari was at home during the time of the demonstrations but they have been denied the chance to present their evidence, as Mr Ghanbari was sentenced by Tehran's revolutionary court charged with "waging war against God." We understand that a request for pardon made to the Commission of Justice in Tehran was rejected this week meaning that the path is now clear for the state to proceed with Mr Ghanbari's execution. ...more Share
Home
Contact us CODIR says... CODIR in Action
CODIR against the War CODIR Canada About Us Archive
