On the eve of the second anniversary of the nationwide protests in 1401 and the Mehssa movement, the death sentences issued against women in the courts of the Islamic Republic surprised everyone. Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, is one of the women who has been sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion”. Mrs. Mohammadi is a former member of the “Coordination Committee for Supporting the Formation of Labor Organizations”; membership in this organization is one of the charges against this labor activist, which is mentioned in the indictment against her. The monthly magazine “Khat-e-Solh” conducted an interview with Mahmoud Salehi, one of the founders of the “Coordination Committee for Supporting the Formation of Labor Organizations”, to question the nature of this labor organization and the reason for the death sentence issued against Sharifeh Mohammadi.

Mahmoud Salehi is a former labor activist and political prisoner who has been arrested and imprisoned several times over the years for his labor

What have been the activities of the members in the coordination committee and what goals are they pursuing?The Coordination Committee is a public workers’ organization. Its duty is to help establish workers’ organizations in Iran, as there were no workers’ organizations before. After the revolution, only a few organizations, such as the Islamic Labor Council, the Islamic Labor Association, and the Workers’ House, were allowed to operate. Therefore, Iranian workers felt the need to come together and help organize and raise awareness to form workers’ organizations in their workplaces, which was the goal of this committee. I was one of the founders of the Coordination Committee. The founders of this committee were four people: Mohsen Hakimi, Behrouz Khabaz, Bahram Dezaki, and myself.

During the many activities you have had in recent years, what obstacles and difficulties have you faced?Naturally, when we create an organization and form a group that the authorities do not allow to obtain a license illegally, it is clear that we will face many obstacles. From the beginning of our activities, we were constantly harassed and summoned, and every day we were attacked. We have been threatened many times, but we continued our activities.

The coordinating committee has a constitution. We believed that at the time of forming any group, there should be a framework in place so that its members do not act independently. The members who joined these organizations also acted according to this constitution. However, they did not accept our activities. Whenever we wanted to hold a general assembly, we faced more confrontations from security forces. We were not allowed to hold our general assembly in a public place, so we had to do it in an unofficial place so that the government would not find out about our presence. The reason for this was to not disrupt the process of holding our general assembly and to ensure that it would take

According to the news published about Mrs. Sharifeh Mohammadi, her activist activities have been carried out in the most civil manner possible. The verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht also confirms that Mrs. Mohammadi has not committed any violent acts and no cold or hot weapons have been taken from her during any of her activities. When you received the news of the death sentence being issued with the charge of rebellion against Sharifeh Mohammadi, what was your reaction?On the first day that the execution order was issued for Sharifeh Mohammadi, I declared that I should also be arrested. If Sharifeh is accused of being a member of the criminal coordination committee, then I am also a criminal, because I was the founder of this committee. The coordination committee was not formed in secret for illegal activities. It was formed publicly, had a public website, and its members were known. As one of the founders of this committee, I have had numerous meetings and discussions with officials such as the governor, the provincial governor, the inspectorate, and the Ministry of Intelligence regarding the committee and its status. For example, as a representative of the coordination committee, I have attended meetings and participated in discussions for the May 1st ceremony (International Workers’ Day). Therefore, this committee was not formed in secret for its members to be included in this order. In my opinion, either this judge had a personal issue with Sharifeh Mohammadi or

You mentioned in your sessions with official government organizations. These sessions meant that the coordination committee recognized you as the founder and representative of the committee, right?Yes, I was participating in these meetings as a member of the coordination committee. The members requested in the sixth general assembly to ask the Ministry of Labor for registration. I was responsible for following up on this matter. We requested and officially submitted the names of our members to the Ministry of Labor and the International Labor Organization and registered our request. 

Was Mrs. Sharifeh Mohammadi a formal member of the coordination committee?Yes

Will issuing such an order for a labor activist narrow the field for activities like yours?No! Actually, it widens the space. Because we exist, we are in the streets, markets, and society. Are we just one or two people to make a difference? The point is that labor activists have a position and a role among the people. Iran is also undergoing transformation. The protests on the streets have no leader. The only ones who can give direction to these protests are labor activists. These are the same activists who fight every day.

Do you think issuing such a decree is related to the increase in protests and labor activities? Are these types of decrees issued to put pressure on labor activists?Yes! This order has been issued to put pressure and say: Workers! Don’t make any mistakes. But they can’t intimidate us. Many of them have come with their own words to do something and couldn’t. Now they can’t do anything.

Do you think this order was issued to pressure labor activists or to pressure women?This is a member. In our charter, there is no discussion of men and women. In our charter, being a member is important and we do not care about the gender of our members. The duty of the coordination committee is exactly the issue of organization. Security forces have also concluded that this committee has written about organization and helping with organization. Protests are also a form of organization. The issuers of these orders want to create fear in society. They want to tell us not to make any mistakes. Don’t do anything. Don’t participate in protests and gatherings. I myself was present at the funeral of “Mahsa Amini”. Later, security forces attacked our house. They broke the windows and my bride was injured. I asked why did you do such a thing? I didn’t do anything. They said you were present at Mahsa’s funeral, and this means you gave legitimacy to that gathering. The issue is creating fear and the fear of authority from these individuals. They are

Does it mean fear in order to take away this social authority from the labor movement?Yes! But they can’t.

You mentioned organization in your discussion. The question is whether the pressure on the coordination committee is due to the power of organization or normal labor activities?Our society is hungry and unemployed, and the conditions are such that wherever you raise your head in this society, you encounter organization. For example, on the street next to the water organization, women are sitting and protesting for water. Well, it is your duty to go and organize. Or for example, you see people gathering for electricity problems. It is your duty to organize. The system and the ruling relationships also know this and increase pressure on you not to do this. Not to organize. This means that the protests on the street will be without a leader.

Do you consider the reactions of labor organizations and public opinion to this unjust decree appropriate?There are many objections to this ruling. In society, both inside and outside the country, among organizations and labor activists, among teachers and environmental activists, and any force that is opposed to the current situation. Everyone has protested against this ruling and considers it a “terrifying ruling”. These protests will only increase. The working class will never leave its members alone. We have not done so until now, and we will not do so in the future. We will do everything in our power to overturn this ruling. The judge who issued this ruling should be prosecuted and apologize to the honorable family of Sharifeh Mohammadi. This ruling is illegal. Even according to the laws of the judicial branch, this ruling is not legal. Therefore, a 100% apology must be made to Sharifeh Mohammadi.

And if you think about the unspoken points…?The members of the coordination committee must determine what they want to do. Currently, the Bahnam Committee for the Defense of Sharifeh Mohammadi has been formed. However, the coordination committee must take direct action and organize its members to gather on the streets.

Does it mean that in your opinion, the only solution is gatherings and presence on the streets?Yes! Everything ends on the street. We have no illusions about anywhere else. Any protest must be done on the street and with strength.

Thank you for the time you have given to the monthly magazine of the peace line.