On 22nd December 2018, three of the arrested steelworkers in Ahvaz in Khuzestan province, Iran, were freed: Majid Jenadeleh, Ali Aghbi, and Arash Mohamadpour. 29 more steelworkers are still in custody. Steelworkers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz and the families of the arrested workers demand their immediate and unconditional release.
A team that included the prosecutor of Khuzestan province, the provincial governor’s political and security deputy, the general director of Khuzestan’s Ministry of Intelligence and a group of intelligence security forces came to the factory and announced that the arrested workers would not be released any time soon and warned the workers about further protests.
A judge told the solicitor of the arrested steelworkers that the Ministry of Intelligence has the authority over the cases. However, the provincial governor announced that 20 workers are going to be released and that the rest would also be freed.
Workers regard the contradictory statements of the officials as a result of their disagreements and worries about further protests.
The steelworkers have received more international support. The TUC has released a statement in support of the workers and condemned the oppression of workers, activists and students in Iran. Valter Sanches, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, which has over 50 million members in 140 countries, has also written to President Rouhani condemning the arrests and demanding the release of the workers.
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