To ICFTU and all trade unions and international human rights organisations

12 May 2004

I am pleased to inform you that the labour activists arrested on May Day in Saghez, Iran have all been released today 12^th May.

In a statement, the Kurdistan organisation of our party said that relatives, friends and large groups of people rushed joyously to welcome the freed men, namely Mahmood Salehi, Borhan Divangard, Hadi Tanoumand, Mohammad Abdipoor, Esmail Khodkam and Mohsen Hakimi.. Another detainee, Jalal Hosseini, was released yesterday.

On behalf of all in the Worker-communist Party of Iran, I would like to thank you for your warm and swift response to the international campaign for the release of May Day 7. There is no doubt that were it not for your support, we would not have been able to win such a quick victory. This victory is at the same time an acknowledgement of May Day, which the Islamic Republic of Iran has for years tried in vain to obliterate from Iran’s calendar.

Workers and people in Iran are waging a determined struggle to pull down this regime in order to build a human, free, modern and prosperous society. We need your support along this road. Time and again you have shown that you are by the side of workers in Iran.

Regards,

Kazem Nikkhah

Secretary,

Worker-communist Party of Iran –

Organisation Abroad