IRANIAN activists denounced the arbitrary May Day arrest of Tehran trades unionists today and called for their immediate release.

According to reports received by the Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (Codir) security forces in Iran arrested at least 23 trade unionists participating in peaceful May Day events in Tehran. 

Those arrested included leaders of the Tehran bus workers' union the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company — including union vice-president Ibrahim Madadi.

The activists were among dozens of workers aiming to stage a protest outside the labour ministry and at another location in western Tehran. 

The committee noted that the country's president had called for the “establishment of civil society organisations” at the same time as the activists were being attacked, beaten up and detained by security forces for the apparent “crime” of distributing flowers and sweets to colleagues.

President Hassan Rouhani glibly told a May Day rally that “workers should be able to get their messages across to officials by forming their own free associations” and that “the government should not interfere in these unions and associations.”

But Codir pointed out that the government, whether under Mr Rouhani or his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had a shameful record of opposition to trade unions.

It said that in addition to the raid and arrest of trade unionists the government had banned the traditional May Day march. 

The Tudeh Party of Iran added its voice to protests over the arrests and called for the release of the trade unionists.