Prominent Union Leader Faces Trial in Iran

Pravaneh, the wife of imprisoned activist Mansour Osanloo, celebrated his husband’s 48th birthday last Friday with nervousness, as Osanloo’s court appearance was scheduled for the day after.

Finally, on Saturday morning, the president of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company appeared at branch 14 of the Tehran revolutionary court. Osanloo, who has spend the last 8 months in jail for his union activities, believes that he is being charged for his role in organizing workers and standing up for their rights, which is a legal right of his as a citizen.

It was Osanloo’s resistance and persistence in defending his ideals that motivated several of his coworkers to accompany his wife and two children in their protest in front of the court’s main branch on Moalem Street. Many of Osanloo’s coworkers have lost their jobs following widespread arrests last fall.

The protestors, who were being watched by curious pedestrians, held signs asking for a public trial for Osanloo, as well as the removal of restrictions facing union activists. In response to passing pedestrians who asked about Osanloo’s charges, the protestors said that Osanloo was being charged for pursuing his legal rights in organizing union workers and defending their interests.

Osanloo was accompanied by his two lawyers, Drs. Yousef Molai and Khorshidi. Even his closest family members were barred from entering the courthouse. No reporters were allowed into the courtroom either, although it was officially announced that Osanloo was being charged for acting against national security.

One of Osanloo’s lawyers, Yousef Molai protested Osanloo’s secret hearing and said, “In cases like this, the norm is to have a public trial, unless the judge provides convincing reasons to the contrary. But we saw that this was a secret trial, with no reasons having been announced either.”

Molai believed that not having a public trial would damage his client’s case, saying, “The revolutionary court’s particular environment does not give the defendant the opportunity or open space to freely defend himself.”

After his appearance, Osanloo protested the court’s procedures, though noting that the judge had barred him from discussing the particulars of the case. Osanloo believes that the regime’s leadership is planning to get a verdict as soon as possible: “I am so amazed that the judge was able to go through a 1300-page pleading in one day.” “Much of this case,” continued Osanloo, “is about people’s interpretation. Can one interpret criticizing the House of Labor as undermining the regime?” In the end, Osanloo voiced concerns over the hurried handling of his case.