Brussels, 03/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - A conference on the theme of “Human rights, journalists and unions in Iran - A new state of emergency” took place at the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday 2 February. This conference brought together Barbara Lochbihler, President of the Iranian delegation to the EP, Aidan White, Secretary General to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Jaap Wienen, Deputy Secretary General to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Drewery Dyke, Amnesty International Researcher on Iran. This meeting took place in a very tense situation in Iran, following the controversial elections of June 2009, which produced a wave of demonstrations and severe repression.
The four speakers had just finished holding a meeting with experts from different NGOs concerning the situation in Iran. This meeting confirmed the urgent need of coming to the assistance of those being repressed under this regime. Aidan White underlined the sadness of seeing so many of their fellow journalists imprisoned. He announced that he had received a message from the director of the Iranian journalist's association, which had been closed down by the government because it deemed it illegal. The secretary-general insists on the fact that it is crucial that democrats in Iran can exercise their freedom without being subject to any violence.
Jaap Wienen explained that the problem was not just one involving journalists. He said that one journalist had just been condemned to death and in addition to these opponents, workers were now protesting against the authorities. He described the example of fire-fighters who were forced to aim their water hoses at demonstrators but refused to carry out the order. He pointed out that in 1975 Iran had ratified the international pact on economic, social and cultural rights and that according to article 8 of this pact, the country is committed to allowing everyone the right to join a union. This right is obviously being flouted by the Iranian state. He concluded by referring to the case of a teacher being given the death penalty. They attempted to put pressure on in order to obtain the teacher's release but so far they have been unable to obtain any result because charges made against the prisoner have not been made known. This teacher, as well as many other activists, took strike action to obtain their wages, which had not been paid for a long time.
Drewery Dyke indicated that prisoners sometimes do not see a lawyer for months. He also underlined the Iranian government's hypocrisy , which had just drafted a report, to be examined by the United Nations on 15 February, in which it claims that the people of its country have the right to see a lawyer.
Barbara Lochbihler closed the conference by explaining that she hoped that the EU would do everything possible to re-establish normality in the country and expressed a wish that EU member states will grant visas more easily to people experiencing difficulties. (V.L.B./transl.fl)