His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, IRAN

Fax:  0098-21-649-5880

Dear Mr. Present.

RE: Abduction of Mansour Osanloo

On behalf of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), representing 2 million workers in Australia, we write to join our voices to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to strongly condemn the abduction of Mansour Osanloo, the President of the Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed (Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company).

We have been informed by the Sherkate Vahed that its President, Mansour Osanloo was abducted by unidentified assailants as he was leaving a Vahed Company bus near his home at around 7pm on 10 July.  Witnesses on the bus stated that they beat him severely, and continued to beat him as they took him away in a metallic grey Peugeot to an undisclosed location. Mr. Osanloo had apparently been followed all day by the unmarked Peugeot car. Such vehicles are well known as being associated with the Iranian Security Forces. 

We understand that his family and his union colleagues do not know the identity of the assailants, but they believe that a direct order has been issued by your Labour Minister, demanding the immediate seizure of Mr Osanloo.  We further understand that Mr Osanloo’s wife and family members went to the 128th Branch Police Station in Narmak near their home.  The Deputy Information Officer at the police station made unwarranted accusations, telling them that Mr Osanloo was a spy who received money from abroad, but the police would not acknowledge whether they had arrested or abducted him. 

During the week of 18 June 2007 I was a part of the leadership of the ITUC that welcomed Mr. Osanloo at meetings Brussels, where he met with leaders of road transport trade unions worldwide and the members of the ITUC General Council. Trade union leaders from all regions of the world pledged their support to the Sherkat-e-Vahed trade union and Mr. Osanloo himself.

The workers in Australia are now very deeply concerned for the safety of Mr. Osanloo. Given the past history of Mr. Osanloo’s treatment by the security forces there is strong reason to believe that they are indeed responsible for this attack, which we believe is directly linked to his trade union activities.

As a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), we ask that the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect and honour the ILO core principles, including the principle of freedom of association as your country is legally bound to and as the Ministry of Labour has repeatedly reassured the ITUC (then-ICFTU) and the ITF that it is committed to workers’ rights and dialogue with the international trade union movement. 

We therefore urge your government to take every possible to step to ensure the safety of Mr. Osanloo and do all in your power to secure his immediate release, as well as identifying those responsible. 

In view of the seriousness of this matter and as long as your Government fails to abide by internationally recognised trade union and other fundamental workers’ rights, as well as by all the obligations deriving from its membership in the International Labour Organisation, the Australian trade unionists will continue to protest against this unacceptable repression. 

The Australian Council of Trade Unions requests your reply to this matter.

Yours sincerely
Sharan Burrow
PRESIDENT

Cc: Mr. Mohammad Bagher ABOLFATH BEIGI DEZFOULI, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Australia
 His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
 Mr. Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Robert McClelland, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
 ITUC T& HR Dept
 David Cockroft, ITF
 Paddy Crumlin, MUA
 Robert Hayden, Rail, Tram & Bus Union Australia