The Iranian government continues to repress labor activists and deprive workers of their most basic rights. Although Iran is one of the oldest members of the International Labor Organization, independent trade unionsremain illegal. This week, three activist teachers were arrested and interrogated in an apparent attempt to stop teachers and other workers from demonstrating on International Workers’ Day (May Day). Below is a message of solidarity to all persecuted Iranian workers signed by Columbia Universityscholar Hamid Dabashi and 23 other prominent academics, including In These Times contributors Noam Chomsky and Slavoj Zizek.
—Jeremy Gantz, Working In These Times editor
