Letter from Iranian political prisoner Golrokh Iraei for May Day

Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei, prominent Iranian political prisoner in Evin Prison, wrote a letter to mark the International Workers’ Day. “It is impossible to get through these difficult times without workers,” she said in the letter.

News Center- Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei, prominent Iranian political prisoner in Evin Prison, wrote a letter to mark the International Workers’ Day, May Day. Drawing attention to the resistance of the workers in Iran, she recalled in her letter that thousands of workers were laid off on the eve of the International Workers’ Day.

‘Workers’ struggle to make a living is ignored’

“Workers have no safety at workplaces and their struggle to make a living is ignored. When workers strike and raise their voices by using their union rights against the existing negative working conditions, they face violence. In recent years, there is an attempt to silence and isolate prominent workers and their supporters by using all kinds of intimidation, threats, torture and long prison sentences. The system tries to destroy labor movements by forming parallel movements of labor activists. The aim of the system is to make the voices of protesters and strikers not be heard,” she wrote in her letter. 

‘It is impossible to get through these difficult times without workers’

 The letter said, “The leaders of countries have meetings with workers on the International Workers’ Day; however, the pain experienced by the workers is ignored. The lack of job security is imposed by the system and the workers struggle with the concern of livelihood. The lack of financial support for the strikers is the most important factor that makes the protests inactive and prevents others from joining the protesters, who can start nationwide strikes. In such times, workers need financial support to make their voices heard. The workers' strike will definitely disable the worn wheels of the economy and this will be a heavy blow to the dictatorship. Fundraising to support workers during a strike and supporting the protests of workers is the first step in shaping nationwide strikes. It is impossible to get through these difficult times without workers.”