Open Letter to Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden, Regarding the Islamic Republic's Terrorism
Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt:
In January this year, Mr. Babak Shadidi, an Iranian-born Swedish citizen and a former member of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, revealed a plot to assassinate a number of the leaders of that party. The plot was planned in Sweden and was intended to be carried out in Germany. Babak Shadidi, who had planned to play a role in this plot, had a change of heart: he informed the party and the Swedish police, and disclosed the conspiracy. He has subsequently received numerous death threats.
Although a considerable amount of information and leads were provided to the police regarding this case, no serious attempt was made to apprehend the conspirators. It must be emphasized that one of the two agents of the Islamic Republic, who took Babak Shadidi blindfolded to a house on the outskirts of Stockholm to explain the details of the plot, has been identified.
While the Swedish police have passively neglected this case, on June 20th, Babak Shadidi was attacked by agents of the Islamic Republic while entering his home and was severely injured inside the house. He was then immediately flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment.
Mr. Prime Minister!
You are certainly aware of the Islamic Republic's terrorism. This regime’s existence has its foundations in terror and thuggery. The terrorists reigning in Tehran have organized hundreds of assassinations of their opponents outside Iran. There are a number of leading figures in the regime who are sought by Interpol for direct involvement in organizing terrorist activities abroad. The plot to assassinate the leaders of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, which was conducted from Sweden, as well as the Köln kidnapping for 12 days of Dariush Shokouf, the director of “Iran, Prison” (a film about the rapes and torture of the political prisoners), are two links in this chain of assassinations and terror.
The people of Iran have shaken the foundations of the Islamic Republic regime, and the world is now aware of its criminal and dangerous nature. Today, even United Nations judges* are talking about the necessity of indicting the top figures of this regime on charges of genocide. The time of governments remaining silent and appeasing this murderous, terrorist regime has long passed.
Yet, the Islamic regime, out of desperation, continues its efforts in various ways to spread fear and silence the opposition outside of Iran.
Hence, we would like to draw your attention to this issue. We expect that you not allow Swedish soil become a safe haven for Islamic Republic’s terrorism against its opposition. So far, different interests have led to silence in the face of the Islamic Republic's terrorist actions. We will continue to spread public awareness against this policy of silence and condemn it. We demand first of all that you not ignore these terrorist acts by the Islamic Republic with the excuse of “national interest” and “diplomacy.” Secondly, we demand that this particular case be thoroughly investigated and the public informed of the findings.
Neither the Iranian people nor Swedish public opinion will accept that you allow Islamic terrorism do it pleases in Sweden. It is your obligation to protect the lives and safety of the Islamic Republic's opposition in Sweden. In closing, we would like to emphasize that Babak Shadidi continues to be victimized by the Islamic Republic of Iran and must be protected.
With regards,
Abdollah Asadi, Secretary General, Solidarity-Confederation of Iranian refugees
Kima Pazuki, Human rights activist
Mahin Alipur, Head of the Campaign to Defend Women's Rights in Iran
Karim Shah-Mohammadi, Head of the Children First Foundation, Sweden
Asad Nodinian, Responssible for Cmmunist combatant site
Afsane Wahdat, head of Ex-Muslim organization Sweden
Khalil Keyvan, secretary the Worker-communist Party of Iran, Abroad Organization
To respond to this letter, please contact: Afsane Vahdat
0046702468454Tel:
E-mail: afsanehvahdat@yahoo.se
Copy to: European Parliament
July 19, 2010
* Geoffrey Robertson's report on crimes committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran for among others genocide is here.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Sunday, 18 July 2010
WPI statement on Zahedan bombings in Iran
Friday 16 July 2010
Two suicide bombings outside a mosque in Zahedan yesterday have left scores dead and hundreds wounded. As well as the two suicide bombers and members of the Pasdaran Army, casualties included many ordinary people. The bombings have led to fears among the people and have allowed the Islamic regime to step up its militarisation of the city and of the whole region. The group Jundullah has claimed responsibility, publishing photos of two young people said to be the bombers. The group said the bombings were in retaliation for the recent execution of the group’s leader Abdolmalek Rigi, as well as in support of the “Sunni people”.
This is, however, yet another instance of the war of Islamic terrorists: between, on the one hand, Iran’s Islamic regime, which cannot last even a single day without execution and terrorisation of the people, and, on the other, the Alqaeda-like Jundullah. People, whether stamped as “Shia” or “Sunni”, are the victim of these crimes. They have no interest in this brutal conflict between the Islamic regime and the vile political Islamic forces.
The Worker-communist Party of Iran strongly condemns these crimes, Islamic terrorism as a whole and the massacre of innocent people. WPI calls on the people, regardless of the fake identities that have been manufactured for them, to step up their efforts, hand in hand, for the ousting of the regime, which is itself the source of Islamic terrorism and the system of murder, repression and impoverishment of the people, for a secular, non-ethnic and humanist political system.
Down with the Islamic Republic of Iran
Neither ethnic, nor religious, but a humanist state
For a socialist republic
Worker-communist Party of Iran
Two suicide bombings outside a mosque in Zahedan yesterday have left scores dead and hundreds wounded. As well as the two suicide bombers and members of the Pasdaran Army, casualties included many ordinary people. The bombings have led to fears among the people and have allowed the Islamic regime to step up its militarisation of the city and of the whole region. The group Jundullah has claimed responsibility, publishing photos of two young people said to be the bombers. The group said the bombings were in retaliation for the recent execution of the group’s leader Abdolmalek Rigi, as well as in support of the “Sunni people”.
This is, however, yet another instance of the war of Islamic terrorists: between, on the one hand, Iran’s Islamic regime, which cannot last even a single day without execution and terrorisation of the people, and, on the other, the Alqaeda-like Jundullah. People, whether stamped as “Shia” or “Sunni”, are the victim of these crimes. They have no interest in this brutal conflict between the Islamic regime and the vile political Islamic forces.
The Worker-communist Party of Iran strongly condemns these crimes, Islamic terrorism as a whole and the massacre of innocent people. WPI calls on the people, regardless of the fake identities that have been manufactured for them, to step up their efforts, hand in hand, for the ousting of the regime, which is itself the source of Islamic terrorism and the system of murder, repression and impoverishment of the people, for a secular, non-ethnic and humanist political system.
Down with the Islamic Republic of Iran
Neither ethnic, nor religious, but a humanist state
For a socialist republic
Worker-communist Party of Iran
Monday, 12 July 2010
18 Tir and anti-execution protest in London
WPI UK went to the IRI's embassy in London on Friday 9 July (18 Tir) to protest on the anniversary of the student uprising in 1999 and against executions and stoning in Iran.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Keep the pressure on until we end stoning and save Sakine
Mina Ahadi’s rebuttal of the press release issued by the embassy of the Islamic
8 July 2010
With regards to the 8 July 2010 press release issued by the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London on the stoning sentence of Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani:
1. The Islamic Republic of
2. Still the press release is a clear confirmation of the barbaric act of stoning saying only that the regime rarely carries out such sentences! The International Committee Against Executions and Stoning has a list of 13 people languishing for years in prison awaiting death by stoning. The real numbers are much higher.
3. The embassy’s press release says Sakine will not be stoned but it does not say what fate awaits her. They may execute her instead. The regime has retreated from stoning on a number of occasions in the past but has executed the accused instead. The execution of Abdulla Farivar in Sari prison for the alleged crime of sex outside of marriage is a case in point. Therefore, Sakine’s life is still in danger.
4. The aim of the campaign to save Sakine Ashtiani Mohammadi is for an official rescinding of her stoning and execution sentence and her unconditional release. Sex outside of marriage and the sexual relations of adults is their private affair. It is not a crime and must never be prosecuted.
5. The Islamic Republic of
6. Even this limited retreat is a success for Sakine and her children Sajjad and Faride as well as all the activists of the campaign against executions and stoning and decent people everywhere. Our campaign has shown that we can force the regime to back down. The embassy’s press release will not stop us from intensifying our powerful campaign. The retreat, however limited, has shown that the regime is under pressure.
I congratulate all those who have joined and supported our campaign for this limited success. I ask however that you step up your efforts for Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani, Mohammad Reza Hadadi (juvenile offender awaiting imminent execution), Zeinab Jalalian (sentenced to death for ‘enmity against God’) and others awaiting execution and stoning. Our pressure is working. We must intensify it until we secure a victory for the people of
International Committee against Stoning and Execution
Mina Ahadi
8 July 2010
Notes:
1. For more information, contact:
Mina Ahadi
Telephone: 00491775692413
www.notonemoreexecution.wordpress.com
2. The
In the Name of God
PRESS RELEASE
Considering the statements made by the Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt on an Iranian national, Mrs Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, and her execution, hereby this mission denies the false news aired in this respect and notifies the Ministry that according to information from the relevant judicial authorities in
It should be added that the stoning punishment has not been cited in the draft Islamic Penal Code being deliberated in the Iranian Parliament.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran highly recommends that news and reports should not be taken for granted and considered a reliable source of information for official statements or misjudgements.
Press Section
July 8, 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
WPI protests in support of Sakine & 18 Tir
This week, two important dates are coming up. The first one is the International Day against Stoning on Sunday 11 July. The other is the anniversary of the student uprising in Iran in 1999 this Friday 9 July (18 Tir).
WPI branches in various countries have organised around these dates to protest against Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani's death sentence by stoning in Iran and in memory of the student uprising.
Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani has been in prisone since 2005 and was convicted in 2006 for adultery and received 99 lashes. However she has subsequently been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. For more information on her case go here
Oslo, Norway
Thursday 8 July
4pm
Outside Parliament building
Gothenburg, Sweden
Thursday 8 July
5pm
Brunnsparken
Frankfurt, Germany
Thursday 8 July
7pm
Hauptwache
(organised together with the Communist Party of Iran)
London, UK
Friday 9 July
5-9pm
opposite the IRI embassy, 16 Prince's Gate SW7 1PT
Contact: Jalil Jalili +44 7950924434
Ottawa, Canada
Friday 9 July
12-2pm
Iranian embassy
Vancouver, Canada
Saturday 10 July
3-5pm
Art Gallery/Georgia
(organised together with International Federation of Iranian Refugees)
WPI branches in various countries have organised around these dates to protest against Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani's death sentence by stoning in Iran and in memory of the student uprising.
Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani has been in prisone since 2005 and was convicted in 2006 for adultery and received 99 lashes. However she has subsequently been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. For more information on her case go here
Oslo, Norway
Thursday 8 July
4pm
Outside Parliament building
Gothenburg, Sweden
Thursday 8 July
5pm
Brunnsparken
Frankfurt, Germany
Thursday 8 July
7pm
Hauptwache
(organised together with the Communist Party of Iran)
London, UK
Friday 9 July
5-9pm
opposite the IRI embassy, 16 Prince's Gate SW7 1PT
Contact: Jalil Jalili +44 7950924434
Ottawa, Canada
Friday 9 July
12-2pm
Iranian embassy
Vancouver, Canada
Saturday 10 July
3-5pm
Art Gallery/Georgia
(organised together with International Federation of Iranian Refugees)
Friday, 25 June 2010
Message from workers in Iran to 2nd ITUC World Congress, Vancouver, Canada
Greetings to all the friends and colleagues taking part in the ITUC Congress
Dear Friends,
We are very sad that no representative from Iran can be there with you to convey the solidarity of Iranian workers with your Congress and to discuss face to face the issues of the workers’ movement in Iran. However, although we are far away, we feel next to you. We wish you and the world workers’ movement a productive and successful week.
Colleagues,
In nearly a decade you have been supporting us and have been aware of our pressing problems. And now we wish to let you know that at this moment the workers’ movement in Iran is going through one of its most difficult periods.
The Iranian government, throughout its life, has not only disregarded international conventions on fundamental worker rights, but over the past year, has used the current political situation in Iran to organise an even greater offensive on workers’ most basic rights and the few existing workers’ organisations in Iran.
Our colleagues Mr Saeed Torabian and Mr Reza Shahabi have been arrested in broad daylight by intelligence ministry officers on spurious charges. They were arrested in their workplaces and in their homes in front of their families, who after nearly two weeks remain unaware of their fate. In addition, over the past few weeks Mr Alireza Akhavan and Mr Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh have been arrested. Their whereabouts are also unknown.
Mr Mansoor Ossanlou and Mr Ebrahim Madadi have been in prison for the last three years for building a trade union, and during this time, they have not been granted any leave, have been denied medical care and have been kept in dangerous prisons.
Members of the executive committee of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Union have been jailed for months and have even been fired from their jobs for union activities. The execution of Farzad Kamangar, arbitrary arrests, harassment and the sentencing of the worker activists to prison terms and lashes have created a most worrying situation for them and for the most basic form of union activity.
Not only our teacher colleagues, but also their families and their loved ones, are suffering from these problems. Many of them are either already in prison or on the way there.
Friends and colleagues,
This year at the ILO conference not only was the Iranian government not reprimanded, but was taken off the ‘special list’. We know that you are using all your resources and are trying to ensure that the workers’ movement in Iran is not sacrificed for the economic and political dealings of the states.
We salute your efforts so far and request and expect that you take even further steps in solidarity with the workers in Iran so as to reverse the conditions that have been imposed on them.
In achieving their human demands, workers have no other means but their class solidarity. While reaffirming the international solidarity of the working class, we shake your hands and send you our warmest greetings for your ongoing congress.
In solidarity,
Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company – Syndicate of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers – Free Union of Iranian Workers – Committee to Relaunch the Syndicate of Metal and Mechanical Workers – Trade Association of Kermanshah Electrical and Metal Workers
----
Translated by the International Labour Solidarity Committee of the
Worker-communist Party of Iran
http://worker-communistpartyofiran.blogspot.com/
wpi.workers.iran@gmail.com
Dear Friends,
We are very sad that no representative from Iran can be there with you to convey the solidarity of Iranian workers with your Congress and to discuss face to face the issues of the workers’ movement in Iran. However, although we are far away, we feel next to you. We wish you and the world workers’ movement a productive and successful week.
Colleagues,
In nearly a decade you have been supporting us and have been aware of our pressing problems. And now we wish to let you know that at this moment the workers’ movement in Iran is going through one of its most difficult periods.
The Iranian government, throughout its life, has not only disregarded international conventions on fundamental worker rights, but over the past year, has used the current political situation in Iran to organise an even greater offensive on workers’ most basic rights and the few existing workers’ organisations in Iran.
Our colleagues Mr Saeed Torabian and Mr Reza Shahabi have been arrested in broad daylight by intelligence ministry officers on spurious charges. They were arrested in their workplaces and in their homes in front of their families, who after nearly two weeks remain unaware of their fate. In addition, over the past few weeks Mr Alireza Akhavan and Mr Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh have been arrested. Their whereabouts are also unknown.
Mr Mansoor Ossanlou and Mr Ebrahim Madadi have been in prison for the last three years for building a trade union, and during this time, they have not been granted any leave, have been denied medical care and have been kept in dangerous prisons.
Members of the executive committee of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Union have been jailed for months and have even been fired from their jobs for union activities. The execution of Farzad Kamangar, arbitrary arrests, harassment and the sentencing of the worker activists to prison terms and lashes have created a most worrying situation for them and for the most basic form of union activity.
Not only our teacher colleagues, but also their families and their loved ones, are suffering from these problems. Many of them are either already in prison or on the way there.
Friends and colleagues,
This year at the ILO conference not only was the Iranian government not reprimanded, but was taken off the ‘special list’. We know that you are using all your resources and are trying to ensure that the workers’ movement in Iran is not sacrificed for the economic and political dealings of the states.
We salute your efforts so far and request and expect that you take even further steps in solidarity with the workers in Iran so as to reverse the conditions that have been imposed on them.
In achieving their human demands, workers have no other means but their class solidarity. While reaffirming the international solidarity of the working class, we shake your hands and send you our warmest greetings for your ongoing congress.
In solidarity,
Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company – Syndicate of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers – Free Union of Iranian Workers – Committee to Relaunch the Syndicate of Metal and Mechanical Workers – Trade Association of Kermanshah Electrical and Metal Workers
----
Translated by the International Labour Solidarity Committee of the
Worker-communist Party of Iran
http://worker-communistpartyofiran.blogspot.com/
wpi.workers.iran@gmail.com
Friday, 18 June 2010
Imprisoned workers, teachers, and all political prisoners should be freed immediately
Worker activists have recently come under intensified pressure from the regime, and several additional worker activists have been arrested and imprisoned. These arrests serve as indicators of the regime's fear of workers entering the scene. They serve both to confront activists' efforts to organize workers and to intimidate the whole society. But the head of the regime should know that today, every factory is a stronghold for strike and struggle, and in each factory, tens of worker activists rise to unite and organize their fellow workers. We assure the heads of the regime that arrests, harassment, and persecution of worker activists will not obstruct the process of unifying and organizing workers.
Saeed Torabian, an official of Vahed Syndicate, was arrested on June 9. On June 12, Reza Shahabi, a member of the board of directors of the Vahed Syndicate, was arrested. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a pipe worker at Shourabad pipe manufacturing in Shahr-e Rey, a member of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers' Organizations, and a children's rights activist, was also arrested on June 12 and subjected to intense beating; it is believed that two of his ribs are broken. In the past few days, security forces have unsuccessfully sought Habib Rezapour, an active member of Vahed Syndicate, at his home. Alireza Akhawan, a co-worker of the Foundation of Defenders of Workers Rights, was arrested on June 3rd. Pezhman Rahimi, an active worker from the Khuzestan region, was arrested on April 17, charged with disturbing the peace, and sentenced by the General Court of Ahvaz to a year's imprisonment and 40 lashes. Rahimi had previously been accused of agitating Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane workers and the Pipe Manufacturing Workers of Ahvaz and sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
Information agents and Pasdars from Kamyaran and the villages of Gashki and Gazerkhani arrested Kaveh Golmhammadi, a worker activist and member of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers' Organizations, along with his 18 year old brother Kianoush Gholmohammadi, on Thursday June 3rd. Both are students. From 9am to 6pm , they were detained in the police station in Ghazarkhani, where they were subjected to pressure and harassment. The regime's thugs have threatened Kaveh Golmohammadi, demanding that he stop his activities; they have also tried to access information from his mobile phone.
In addition to these cases, six leaders of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers, Ali Nejati, Fereidoon Nikofar, Ghorban Alipour, Mohammad Heidari and Reza Rakhshan were fired from their jobs for trying to organize workers. Each has been arrested before and spent time in prison. Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi, from Vahed Syndicate's leadership, have been imprisoned for an extended period of time. Osanloo in particular has been continuously harassed, pressured, and conspired against by the regime.
A number of teachers also have been imprisoned, among them, Abdol Reza Ghanbari( who has been sentenced to death) Seyed Hashem Khastar, Rasoul Bodaghi,, Abdollah Momeni, Mahmood Bheshti Langerudi, Ali Akbar Baghani, Mohammad Davari, Ali Reza Hashemi, Hosein Bastani -Nezhad, and Gorban Ahmadi.
This provides only the broad outlines of the Islamic Republic's oppression against workers, teachers, workers leaders, and activists, and against the arisen masses. But each incident first and foremost is an indicator of the fact that there is an ongoing vast mobilization of workers and teachers towards organizing. The Islamic Republic's fear is grounded in their knowledge that once workers and teachers have been mobilized, no degree of suppression, arrests or lay-offs can stop peoples' revolution.
The party calls upon all workers and workers' organizations, all teachers and students, university students of the whole country, organizations advocating women's rights, and revolutionary youth to intensify their struggle, confront these arrests, and demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of all workers, teachers and political prisoners, including the 22nd Khordad (June 12) arrestees.
All case files should be discarded, workers and teachers who have been laid off should be reinstated, and compensation of lost wages should be issued for those who spent time in prison or were laid off. Protests against these arrests by workers' organizations inside Iran, as well as by international organizations, have begun and are now in need of becoming more widespread and developing into larger coordinated actions. The party calls upon all international organizations, institutions, and concerned humanitarian individuals to join this struggle.
The struggle to free worker activists, teacher activists, and all political prisoners is an important pillar to overthrow the Islamic Republic. We should everywhere, in all gatherings, resolutions, and petitions, loudly declare these demands.
Worker-communist Party of Iran
June 14, 2010
Saeed Torabian, an official of Vahed Syndicate, was arrested on June 9. On June 12, Reza Shahabi, a member of the board of directors of the Vahed Syndicate, was arrested. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a pipe worker at Shourabad pipe manufacturing in Shahr-e Rey, a member of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers' Organizations, and a children's rights activist, was also arrested on June 12 and subjected to intense beating; it is believed that two of his ribs are broken. In the past few days, security forces have unsuccessfully sought Habib Rezapour, an active member of Vahed Syndicate, at his home. Alireza Akhawan, a co-worker of the Foundation of Defenders of Workers Rights, was arrested on June 3rd. Pezhman Rahimi, an active worker from the Khuzestan region, was arrested on April 17, charged with disturbing the peace, and sentenced by the General Court of Ahvaz to a year's imprisonment and 40 lashes. Rahimi had previously been accused of agitating Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane workers and the Pipe Manufacturing Workers of Ahvaz and sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
Information agents and Pasdars from Kamyaran and the villages of Gashki and Gazerkhani arrested Kaveh Golmhammadi, a worker activist and member of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers' Organizations, along with his 18 year old brother Kianoush Gholmohammadi, on Thursday June 3rd. Both are students. From 9am to 6pm , they were detained in the police station in Ghazarkhani, where they were subjected to pressure and harassment. The regime's thugs have threatened Kaveh Golmohammadi, demanding that he stop his activities; they have also tried to access information from his mobile phone.
In addition to these cases, six leaders of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers, Ali Nejati, Fereidoon Nikofar, Ghorban Alipour, Mohammad Heidari and Reza Rakhshan were fired from their jobs for trying to organize workers. Each has been arrested before and spent time in prison. Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi, from Vahed Syndicate's leadership, have been imprisoned for an extended period of time. Osanloo in particular has been continuously harassed, pressured, and conspired against by the regime.
A number of teachers also have been imprisoned, among them, Abdol Reza Ghanbari( who has been sentenced to death) Seyed Hashem Khastar, Rasoul Bodaghi,, Abdollah Momeni, Mahmood Bheshti Langerudi, Ali Akbar Baghani, Mohammad Davari, Ali Reza Hashemi, Hosein Bastani -Nezhad, and Gorban Ahmadi.
This provides only the broad outlines of the Islamic Republic's oppression against workers, teachers, workers leaders, and activists, and against the arisen masses. But each incident first and foremost is an indicator of the fact that there is an ongoing vast mobilization of workers and teachers towards organizing. The Islamic Republic's fear is grounded in their knowledge that once workers and teachers have been mobilized, no degree of suppression, arrests or lay-offs can stop peoples' revolution.
The party calls upon all workers and workers' organizations, all teachers and students, university students of the whole country, organizations advocating women's rights, and revolutionary youth to intensify their struggle, confront these arrests, and demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of all workers, teachers and political prisoners, including the 22nd Khordad (June 12) arrestees.
All case files should be discarded, workers and teachers who have been laid off should be reinstated, and compensation of lost wages should be issued for those who spent time in prison or were laid off. Protests against these arrests by workers' organizations inside Iran, as well as by international organizations, have begun and are now in need of becoming more widespread and developing into larger coordinated actions. The party calls upon all international organizations, institutions, and concerned humanitarian individuals to join this struggle.
The struggle to free worker activists, teacher activists, and all political prisoners is an important pillar to overthrow the Islamic Republic. We should everywhere, in all gatherings, resolutions, and petitions, loudly declare these demands.
Worker-communist Party of Iran
June 14, 2010
Sunday, 13 June 2010
12 June protest in London in front of Iranian embassy
WPI UK were in front of the Iranian embassy in London yesterday marking the first year of the uprising of the people of Iran against the Islamic regime of Iran.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
20 June 1981 - 20 June 2009
The upcoming anniversary of Neda Agha-Soltan's murder on 20 June 2009 in Tehran by the Islamic regime's forces brings to mind 20 June 1981 when the Islamic regime in Iran manifested its power through a coup d'etat.
June 20, 1981: One of the Greatest Crimes of the 20th Century
Interview with Mansoor Hekmat
Radio International: The common perception is that the Islamic Republic is a result of the 1979 revolution. You have stated, however, that like most revolutions, the 1979 Iranian revolution was ultimately defeated by brutal suppression. Explain this.
Mansoor Hekmat: Any independent observer who examines that history will see that the people rose against a dictatorial Monarchy and its secret police, prisons and torture. (Those who have not experienced that period first hand should seriously review that history.) In that society, there was no freedom of expression, press and organisation. Trade union and Socialist activities were non-existent. There was no freedom of political activity. It was a despotic one-man rule, reliant on the police, army and intelligence service. There was staggering economic inequality, with widespread poverty alongside enormous wealth. People rose against these and for equality and freedom from political suppression and economic exploitation. This is known as the 1979 (1357) revolution.
When it became evident that the Shah’s regime was incapable of suppressing this revolutionary movement, the Islamic movement begins to rear its head. This reactionary movement, which belonged to the past and existed in a corner of Iranian society, was against civilisation, social modernisation, women’s right and development. One of this movement’s personalities, Khomeini, who was in exile in Iraq, was taken to Paris and placed under the spotlight. From then on, Western governments and media widely promoted this Islamic movement as the alternative that could and should replace the Shah’s government. Finally, General Robert Huyser, the United States government’s Special Envoy went to Iran, spoke with the army and secured their allegiance to Khomeini. A large segment of the traditional and national opposition of the time, such as the National Front, the Tudeh Party, etc. declared their allegiance to the Islamic movement. As a result, the Islamic current was pushed to the forefront of the anti-Monarchy movement. Contrary to the wishes of the Islamic current, the people rose up (known as the uprising of 22 Bahman, 11 February 1979) and eventually defeat the Shah’s army in a military confrontation. This process resulted in the formation of a government under the leadership and control of the Islamic current.
The two and a half years during 11 February 1979 (22 Bahman 1357) and 20 June 1981 (30 Khordad 1360) was still not strictly speaking, however, an Islamic rule. It was a period of relative open political activity, which the state was incapable of suppressing on a widespread scale, despite the existence of thugs and Islamicism. At that time, Khalkhali [infamous as the hanging judge] was the regime’s executioner but even so, the regime did not have the power to completely suppress and neutralise the increasing people’s movement. Political parties were flourishing; books of Marx and Lenin were sold everywhere; Communist organisations published papers; labour councils were established; various women’s organisations were formed and the wave of protests continued to escalate, until an Islamic, counter-revolutionary coup d’état took place on 20 June 1981 (30 Khordad 1360). They attacked and executed 300 to 500 people a day in Evin prison and all over the country; they closed down newspapers and crushed the opposition. This was what enabled the Islamic Republic to exist today. The point of the Islamic Republic’s establishment was 20 June 1981 (30 Khordad), not 11 February 1979 (22 Bahman). 11 February (22 Bahman) was the people’s revolution. During 8 September 1978 (17 Shahrivar 1357, the day that the Shah’s army massacred demonstrators at Jaleh Square in Tehran) until 20 June 1981, Right wing forces and governments attempted to obstruct the people’s revolution. 20 June 1981 is the eventual juncture that the suppression took place.
The Islamic government’s execution list was basically taken from the list of those who had been imprisoned during the Monarchy. A person who had been sentenced to two-month’s imprisonment by the Shah’s government was executed by the Islamic regime. They attacked and killed the very same people the Shah’s regime wanted to but couldn’t.
Radio International: The Islamic Republic suppressed the revolution that the Shah’s regime failed to do; in fact, it took revenge from the people who had revolted against the Shah. How could it do this? Before 20 June 1981, there were Left-wing newspapers; demonstrations took place and despite arrests and street fighting with thugs, there was freedom. What was it about 20 June (30 Khordad) that established the Islamic government and defeated the revolutionary movement?
Mansoor Hekmat: It was a violent coup d’état that succeeded as a result of widespread executions and murders. It was not like today where they shut down 16 newspapers run by their friends (‘insiders’) and the accused go to court and are still called Mr so and so. They poured onto the streets and arrested anyone who did not look like a Muslim. If someone had salt and pepper in his/her pockets, they accused him/her of planning to throw it in the eyes of the Revolutionary Guards. They arrested anyone who had recited a poem, who was known to be a Socialist or supporter of women’s rights, anyone who was not veiled and anyone who looked Left wing and executed them that same night. Statistics, documents and witnesses proving these atrocities are ample. There will come a day when the people of Iran and the world will observe the trials of those who committed these crimes. On that day, the world will weep for the hundreds of thousands of victims of 20 June (30 Khordad 1360) and after and particularly 1988 (1367).
This was one of the greatest crimes of the 20th Century, comparable to Nazi Germany, the genocide in Indonesia and Rwanda, and much more brutal than what took place in Chile. It is one of the most important catastrophes and human tragedies of the 20th Century. They attacked, suppressed, killed and buried in unmarked graves, innumerable people. They massacred many of the best, the most passionate and progressive people in order to remain in power.
Radio International: The Islamic Republic’s leaders who are now in rival factions, namely the Right and 2nd Khordad [also known as the Reformists] factions were at the time responsible for this suppression. To name a few 2nd Khordad personalities, for example, Behzad Nabavi was the government’s spokesman, Hajarian was one of the architects of the terrifying intelligence service and Khatami himself was in government at that time. How did they emerge unified after the 20 June (30 Khordad) suppression but are now fighting amongst themselves?
Mansoor Hekmat: Factions were present in the Islamic Republic then, but they were not the same factions we see today. For example, the Mojahedin-e- Enghelab-e- Eslami, the Islamic Republic Party and Khat-e- Imam’s (Imam’s Line) grouping were at the forefront of the government. The Freedom Movement, which is now part of the 2nd Khordad, was one of the victims of the Khat-e- Imam grouping, which also in part now belong to the 2nd Khordad. At the time, the government was in the hands of the Khat-e- Imam grouping – I mean the cabinet. This phenomenon of 2nd Khordad, which was created later, comprises many who were leaders of the suppression at the time. Many of those who are now students of Voltaire, have become democrats and call themselves journalists, were Revolutionary Guards, interrogators, torturers and were responsible for people’s executions. Consequently, 30 Khordad (20 June) is a common experience for both factions. 2nd Khordad are as responsible for the 30 Khordad (20 June) suppression as Lajvardi, Gilani, Khomeini and Khamenei. This was their government. Khomeini, whose name should be recorded in history as a reactionary executioner and criminal against humanity, headed this effort, following by the lot of them.
I think that it is extremely important for the people of Iran to review that history and these people over the past twenty plus years and be aware, in particular, of the nature of the differences between them today.
At the time of 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June 1981), they had no differences on the issue of maintaining the Islamic regime by mass killing and murder. That is what they did. Now, also, they are trying to do the same under different circumstances. They want to maintain the Islamic state vis-à-vis the people.
Radio International: Could it, therefore, be said that the 2nd Khordad regrets its 30 Khordad (20 June) policy and thinks that it should have acted differently?
Mansoor Hekmat: Not at all. The 2nd Khordad personalities will proudly tell you that they are the very same 30th Khordad (20th June) personalities. They do not regret 30 Khordad (20 June). Of course, later on, during their trials they will do so – but not now. Right now, they will not do anything to undermine their ‘insider’ status. 30 Khordad (20 June) is the ultimate criterion that separates the ‘insiders’ from everyone else. ‘Insiders’ are those who defended the ‘system’ vis-à-vis its opponents. 30 Khordad (20 June) is a most defining moment; it is the Islamic Republic’s birth date. Any of them who opposes 30 Khordad (20 June) will be stepping out of the circle of ‘insiders.’
Sooner or later – and much sooner than they think – free public trials to investigate their crimes against humanity will begin. They are not the sorts of people who can take their money and go to Los Angeles. Many of them will face people’s courts. One of the areas to be dealt with will be 30 Khordad (20 June), what any of them know about that period and their role during it, as well as public exposure to help reduce society’s suffering from that period.
Radio International: The Worker-communist Party of Iran has launched a campaign on 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June) to expose its realities and in commemoration of those whose lives were lost. What are the WPI’s aims in this campaign?
Mansoor Hekmat: 60-70% of the population does not remember 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June 1981), but it is an important moment in the formation of the Islamic Republic. We want to remind today’s generation in Iran and the world that the Islamic Republic, which is in power today, is the result of a massive crime against humanity. This must firstly be remembered, recorded, stated, exposed and not forgotten.
Secondly, these people are still on the scene. The same people who organised the murders and killings of 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June 1981) onwards are still the politicians of this country. They are still members of parliament, they are in the cabinet, and they are leaders and heads of the judiciary, army and Revolutionary Guards. The struggle against them continues. Their criminal charges are still unsettled, including the charges surrounding the crimes of 30 Khordad (20 June). This is one of the arenas of struggle against the Islamic government, its foundations, its personalities from Khomeini, Beheshti to Khatami, Khamenei, Rafsanjani, Gilani and all those who played a role in this process. It is part of our battle against the Islamic Republic.
Translated: by Maryam Namazie and Fariborz Pooya;
First Published: in Persian by Radio “International” in June 2000.
June 20, 1981: One of the Greatest Crimes of the 20th Century
Interview with Mansoor Hekmat
Radio International: The common perception is that the Islamic Republic is a result of the 1979 revolution. You have stated, however, that like most revolutions, the 1979 Iranian revolution was ultimately defeated by brutal suppression. Explain this.
Mansoor Hekmat: Any independent observer who examines that history will see that the people rose against a dictatorial Monarchy and its secret police, prisons and torture. (Those who have not experienced that period first hand should seriously review that history.) In that society, there was no freedom of expression, press and organisation. Trade union and Socialist activities were non-existent. There was no freedom of political activity. It was a despotic one-man rule, reliant on the police, army and intelligence service. There was staggering economic inequality, with widespread poverty alongside enormous wealth. People rose against these and for equality and freedom from political suppression and economic exploitation. This is known as the 1979 (1357) revolution.
When it became evident that the Shah’s regime was incapable of suppressing this revolutionary movement, the Islamic movement begins to rear its head. This reactionary movement, which belonged to the past and existed in a corner of Iranian society, was against civilisation, social modernisation, women’s right and development. One of this movement’s personalities, Khomeini, who was in exile in Iraq, was taken to Paris and placed under the spotlight. From then on, Western governments and media widely promoted this Islamic movement as the alternative that could and should replace the Shah’s government. Finally, General Robert Huyser, the United States government’s Special Envoy went to Iran, spoke with the army and secured their allegiance to Khomeini. A large segment of the traditional and national opposition of the time, such as the National Front, the Tudeh Party, etc. declared their allegiance to the Islamic movement. As a result, the Islamic current was pushed to the forefront of the anti-Monarchy movement. Contrary to the wishes of the Islamic current, the people rose up (known as the uprising of 22 Bahman, 11 February 1979) and eventually defeat the Shah’s army in a military confrontation. This process resulted in the formation of a government under the leadership and control of the Islamic current.
The two and a half years during 11 February 1979 (22 Bahman 1357) and 20 June 1981 (30 Khordad 1360) was still not strictly speaking, however, an Islamic rule. It was a period of relative open political activity, which the state was incapable of suppressing on a widespread scale, despite the existence of thugs and Islamicism. At that time, Khalkhali [infamous as the hanging judge] was the regime’s executioner but even so, the regime did not have the power to completely suppress and neutralise the increasing people’s movement. Political parties were flourishing; books of Marx and Lenin were sold everywhere; Communist organisations published papers; labour councils were established; various women’s organisations were formed and the wave of protests continued to escalate, until an Islamic, counter-revolutionary coup d’état took place on 20 June 1981 (30 Khordad 1360). They attacked and executed 300 to 500 people a day in Evin prison and all over the country; they closed down newspapers and crushed the opposition. This was what enabled the Islamic Republic to exist today. The point of the Islamic Republic’s establishment was 20 June 1981 (30 Khordad), not 11 February 1979 (22 Bahman). 11 February (22 Bahman) was the people’s revolution. During 8 September 1978 (17 Shahrivar 1357, the day that the Shah’s army massacred demonstrators at Jaleh Square in Tehran) until 20 June 1981, Right wing forces and governments attempted to obstruct the people’s revolution. 20 June 1981 is the eventual juncture that the suppression took place.
The Islamic government’s execution list was basically taken from the list of those who had been imprisoned during the Monarchy. A person who had been sentenced to two-month’s imprisonment by the Shah’s government was executed by the Islamic regime. They attacked and killed the very same people the Shah’s regime wanted to but couldn’t.
Radio International: The Islamic Republic suppressed the revolution that the Shah’s regime failed to do; in fact, it took revenge from the people who had revolted against the Shah. How could it do this? Before 20 June 1981, there were Left-wing newspapers; demonstrations took place and despite arrests and street fighting with thugs, there was freedom. What was it about 20 June (30 Khordad) that established the Islamic government and defeated the revolutionary movement?
Mansoor Hekmat: It was a violent coup d’état that succeeded as a result of widespread executions and murders. It was not like today where they shut down 16 newspapers run by their friends (‘insiders’) and the accused go to court and are still called Mr so and so. They poured onto the streets and arrested anyone who did not look like a Muslim. If someone had salt and pepper in his/her pockets, they accused him/her of planning to throw it in the eyes of the Revolutionary Guards. They arrested anyone who had recited a poem, who was known to be a Socialist or supporter of women’s rights, anyone who was not veiled and anyone who looked Left wing and executed them that same night. Statistics, documents and witnesses proving these atrocities are ample. There will come a day when the people of Iran and the world will observe the trials of those who committed these crimes. On that day, the world will weep for the hundreds of thousands of victims of 20 June (30 Khordad 1360) and after and particularly 1988 (1367).
This was one of the greatest crimes of the 20th Century, comparable to Nazi Germany, the genocide in Indonesia and Rwanda, and much more brutal than what took place in Chile. It is one of the most important catastrophes and human tragedies of the 20th Century. They attacked, suppressed, killed and buried in unmarked graves, innumerable people. They massacred many of the best, the most passionate and progressive people in order to remain in power.
Radio International: The Islamic Republic’s leaders who are now in rival factions, namely the Right and 2nd Khordad [also known as the Reformists] factions were at the time responsible for this suppression. To name a few 2nd Khordad personalities, for example, Behzad Nabavi was the government’s spokesman, Hajarian was one of the architects of the terrifying intelligence service and Khatami himself was in government at that time. How did they emerge unified after the 20 June (30 Khordad) suppression but are now fighting amongst themselves?
Mansoor Hekmat: Factions were present in the Islamic Republic then, but they were not the same factions we see today. For example, the Mojahedin-e- Enghelab-e- Eslami, the Islamic Republic Party and Khat-e- Imam’s (Imam’s Line) grouping were at the forefront of the government. The Freedom Movement, which is now part of the 2nd Khordad, was one of the victims of the Khat-e- Imam grouping, which also in part now belong to the 2nd Khordad. At the time, the government was in the hands of the Khat-e- Imam grouping – I mean the cabinet. This phenomenon of 2nd Khordad, which was created later, comprises many who were leaders of the suppression at the time. Many of those who are now students of Voltaire, have become democrats and call themselves journalists, were Revolutionary Guards, interrogators, torturers and were responsible for people’s executions. Consequently, 30 Khordad (20 June) is a common experience for both factions. 2nd Khordad are as responsible for the 30 Khordad (20 June) suppression as Lajvardi, Gilani, Khomeini and Khamenei. This was their government. Khomeini, whose name should be recorded in history as a reactionary executioner and criminal against humanity, headed this effort, following by the lot of them.
I think that it is extremely important for the people of Iran to review that history and these people over the past twenty plus years and be aware, in particular, of the nature of the differences between them today.
At the time of 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June 1981), they had no differences on the issue of maintaining the Islamic regime by mass killing and murder. That is what they did. Now, also, they are trying to do the same under different circumstances. They want to maintain the Islamic state vis-à-vis the people.
Radio International: Could it, therefore, be said that the 2nd Khordad regrets its 30 Khordad (20 June) policy and thinks that it should have acted differently?
Mansoor Hekmat: Not at all. The 2nd Khordad personalities will proudly tell you that they are the very same 30th Khordad (20th June) personalities. They do not regret 30 Khordad (20 June). Of course, later on, during their trials they will do so – but not now. Right now, they will not do anything to undermine their ‘insider’ status. 30 Khordad (20 June) is the ultimate criterion that separates the ‘insiders’ from everyone else. ‘Insiders’ are those who defended the ‘system’ vis-à-vis its opponents. 30 Khordad (20 June) is a most defining moment; it is the Islamic Republic’s birth date. Any of them who opposes 30 Khordad (20 June) will be stepping out of the circle of ‘insiders.’
Sooner or later – and much sooner than they think – free public trials to investigate their crimes against humanity will begin. They are not the sorts of people who can take their money and go to Los Angeles. Many of them will face people’s courts. One of the areas to be dealt with will be 30 Khordad (20 June), what any of them know about that period and their role during it, as well as public exposure to help reduce society’s suffering from that period.
Radio International: The Worker-communist Party of Iran has launched a campaign on 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June) to expose its realities and in commemoration of those whose lives were lost. What are the WPI’s aims in this campaign?
Mansoor Hekmat: 60-70% of the population does not remember 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June 1981), but it is an important moment in the formation of the Islamic Republic. We want to remind today’s generation in Iran and the world that the Islamic Republic, which is in power today, is the result of a massive crime against humanity. This must firstly be remembered, recorded, stated, exposed and not forgotten.
Secondly, these people are still on the scene. The same people who organised the murders and killings of 30 Khordad 1360 (20 June 1981) onwards are still the politicians of this country. They are still members of parliament, they are in the cabinet, and they are leaders and heads of the judiciary, army and Revolutionary Guards. The struggle against them continues. Their criminal charges are still unsettled, including the charges surrounding the crimes of 30 Khordad (20 June). This is one of the arenas of struggle against the Islamic government, its foundations, its personalities from Khomeini, Beheshti to Khatami, Khamenei, Rafsanjani, Gilani and all those who played a role in this process. It is part of our battle against the Islamic Republic.
Translated: by Maryam Namazie and Fariborz Pooya;
First Published: in Persian by Radio “International” in June 2000.
WPI protest at the ILO conference: ‘Iran’s regime out of ILO!’
Delegates applaud the action
7 June 2010
Members of the Worker-communist Party of Iran staged a powerful protest at the opening session of the International Labour Conference last Wednesday in Geneva, calling for the expulsion of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the ILO.
The protest specifically drew attention to the recent brutal execution of dissident teacher and human rights activist Farzad Kamangar and four other political prisoners.
Raising pictures of Farzad Kamangar, which carried the words: ‘Murdered, Iran out of ILO!’, as well as posters of jailed workers Osanloo and Madadi, six WPI protesters climbed onto the main stage at the sounding of the opening bell. The action, which lasted for around two minutes, was greeted by applauds from the delegates. (See footage here) Later, a banner reading ‘A regime which executes trade unionists and political prisoners should not be in the ILO. Iran out of ILO!’ was unfurled by a WPI member from the press gallery. (See footage here)
This was the fourth action of its kind at the ILO’s annual conferences by the Worker-communist Party of Iran in the past few years. This year the ILO had gone to great lengths, with extra security measures, to keep protesters out of the UN compound. It is ironic, and a scandal for the ILO, that meanwhile a regime which murders trade unionists and political prisoners is let in as an official guest with full credentials.
Trade unions from across the world, and specifically the global union Education International, had been campaigning for years for the release of Farzad Kamangar, and vehemently condemned his execution in early May. It was no surprise, therefore, that the delegates should break into loud applause the moment Farzad’s pictures went up on the stage. It is remarkable, and indeed unprecedented, that the participants and protesters at a conference find themselves on the same side, while the organisers are isolated and shamed, along with the group that is the object of the protest.
Later, a rally was held at the nearby Place des Nations in protest at the attendance of the regime of Iran at the conference.
The campaign for the expulsion of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the ILO continues. Already a number of locals of the French CGT union have taken up the call in the form of a petition that is circulating among the union branches. The disgust and anger felt by the world’s trade unions towards the regime of Iran for its callous murder of Farzad Kamangar and the horrific abuse of human rights should translate into a clear call for the expulsion of this regime from the ILO.
The International Labour Conference in Geneva is in session until 18 June. We urge trade unions from across the world and specifically their delegates participating at the conference to protest against the attendance of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to boycott that regime’s delegation. Above all, we urge them to take up the call and join the campaign for the expulsion of the regime of Iran from the ILO. A UN body purporting to promote global labour rights and welfare is no place for a regime which murders trade unionists and represses a people.
International Labour Solidarity Committee of the Worker-communist Party of Iran
wpi.workers.iran@gmail.com http://worker-communistpartyofiran.blogspot.com/ http://www.kargaran.org/
7 June 2010
Members of the Worker-communist Party of Iran staged a powerful protest at the opening session of the International Labour Conference last Wednesday in Geneva, calling for the expulsion of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the ILO.
The protest specifically drew attention to the recent brutal execution of dissident teacher and human rights activist Farzad Kamangar and four other political prisoners.
Raising pictures of Farzad Kamangar, which carried the words: ‘Murdered, Iran out of ILO!’, as well as posters of jailed workers Osanloo and Madadi, six WPI protesters climbed onto the main stage at the sounding of the opening bell. The action, which lasted for around two minutes, was greeted by applauds from the delegates. (See footage here) Later, a banner reading ‘A regime which executes trade unionists and political prisoners should not be in the ILO. Iran out of ILO!’ was unfurled by a WPI member from the press gallery. (See footage here)
This was the fourth action of its kind at the ILO’s annual conferences by the Worker-communist Party of Iran in the past few years. This year the ILO had gone to great lengths, with extra security measures, to keep protesters out of the UN compound. It is ironic, and a scandal for the ILO, that meanwhile a regime which murders trade unionists and political prisoners is let in as an official guest with full credentials.
Trade unions from across the world, and specifically the global union Education International, had been campaigning for years for the release of Farzad Kamangar, and vehemently condemned his execution in early May. It was no surprise, therefore, that the delegates should break into loud applause the moment Farzad’s pictures went up on the stage. It is remarkable, and indeed unprecedented, that the participants and protesters at a conference find themselves on the same side, while the organisers are isolated and shamed, along with the group that is the object of the protest.
Later, a rally was held at the nearby Place des Nations in protest at the attendance of the regime of Iran at the conference.
The campaign for the expulsion of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the ILO continues. Already a number of locals of the French CGT union have taken up the call in the form of a petition that is circulating among the union branches. The disgust and anger felt by the world’s trade unions towards the regime of Iran for its callous murder of Farzad Kamangar and the horrific abuse of human rights should translate into a clear call for the expulsion of this regime from the ILO.
The International Labour Conference in Geneva is in session until 18 June. We urge trade unions from across the world and specifically their delegates participating at the conference to protest against the attendance of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to boycott that regime’s delegation. Above all, we urge them to take up the call and join the campaign for the expulsion of the regime of Iran from the ILO. A UN body purporting to promote global labour rights and welfare is no place for a regime which murders trade unionists and represses a people.
International Labour Solidarity Committee of the Worker-communist Party of Iran
wpi.workers.iran@gmail.com http://worker-communistpartyofiran.blogspot.com/ http://www.kargaran.org/
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Successful protest against the Islamic regime of Iran at the ILO
The International Labour Solidarity Committee of the Worker-communist Party of Iran held a protest against the presence of the Islamic regime of Iran at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva on June 2.
The below are some of the coverage of the protest:
Pictures of the Day The Wall Street Journal
India Times
Day Life
US Today
The below are some of the coverage of the protest:
Pictures of the Day The Wall Street Journal
India Times
Day Life
US Today
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
The Crimes of the Fascist Regime of Israel against People of Gaza should be Condemned!
The attack of Israeli commandos on the ships that were carrying peace activists and aid to the people of Gaza evoked anger and hatred in humanitarian and progressive people of the world. The attack took place in international waters without any notice; according to some sources at least ten people and according to other sources some twenty people lost their lives and several got wounded due to this attack. This is an obvious and atrocious crime that is not only in contrast with the most basic humanitarian and civilized standards, but also overtly violates international laws and regulations; every political party, movement, state, and international organization that claims to be defending basic human rights should openly and strongly condemn this attack. People of the world and left-wing and progressive political organizations should pressure governments and international institutions in all countries to build up pressure on and condemning the Israeli government that has committed such atrocious crimes against the Palestinian people several times. The world should not tolerate such a crime.
Terrorist activities of political Islamic forces in the region and around the world do not justify crimes of the Israeli regime. The Israeli regime has used Hamas’ coming into power as an alibi in order to economically sanction the people of the Gaza Strip since June 2007. The siege, on the one hand, has devastated the lives of more than one and a half million innocent people, while, on the other hand, has provided Islamic terrorist forces such as Hamas with the ground for growing and strengthening their influence. We have always declared that Islamic terrorism and the state terrorism of Israel are two sides of the same coin; the tragedy of Gaza is just another example of the bloody confrontation between these two reactionary poles. The people of Palestine, as always, have been paying the price for this confrontation.
The solution for Palestinian people is cutting the hands of the fascist Israeli regime and the reactionary forces of political Islam off their lives and forming an independent and secular Palestinian state. Standing against fascist and antihuman policies of the Israeli government and protesting the silence and policies of Western states in support of crimes of this regime is the first step toward a humane resolution of the problem of people of Palestine who have been deprived of their basic rights.
The Worker-communist Party of Iran strongly condemns the Israeli regime and its criminal policies against the Palestinian people and calls upon all progressive and humanitarian forces, organizations and parties around the world to protest the fascist regime of Israel unanimously and unequivocally.
Worker-communist Party of Iran
June 1, 2010
Terrorist activities of political Islamic forces in the region and around the world do not justify crimes of the Israeli regime. The Israeli regime has used Hamas’ coming into power as an alibi in order to economically sanction the people of the Gaza Strip since June 2007. The siege, on the one hand, has devastated the lives of more than one and a half million innocent people, while, on the other hand, has provided Islamic terrorist forces such as Hamas with the ground for growing and strengthening their influence. We have always declared that Islamic terrorism and the state terrorism of Israel are two sides of the same coin; the tragedy of Gaza is just another example of the bloody confrontation between these two reactionary poles. The people of Palestine, as always, have been paying the price for this confrontation.
The solution for Palestinian people is cutting the hands of the fascist Israeli regime and the reactionary forces of political Islam off their lives and forming an independent and secular Palestinian state. Standing against fascist and antihuman policies of the Israeli government and protesting the silence and policies of Western states in support of crimes of this regime is the first step toward a humane resolution of the problem of people of Palestine who have been deprived of their basic rights.
The Worker-communist Party of Iran strongly condemns the Israeli regime and its criminal policies against the Palestinian people and calls upon all progressive and humanitarian forces, organizations and parties around the world to protest the fascist regime of Israel unanimously and unequivocally.
Worker-communist Party of Iran
June 1, 2010
Monday, 31 May 2010
French unions call for ban of Islamic regime in ILO
This is a declaration from the CGT Local Federation of Epinal (translated from French)
Solidarity with Iranian unionists and workers
Iranian state, out of ILO!!
It has been almost one year since Iranian workers and people are fighting the dictatorial regime. Thousands of protesters and activists were arrested and very often tortured. They fight for the fall of the regime but also for winning their unions’ rights. This impulse gave birth to underground or semi-legal unions like Public Transportation Union of Tehran. The Iranian Authorities want to break this democratic impulse.
On Sunday May 9th, the Islamic Iranian authorities executed 5 activists : Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alam-Houli and Mehdi Eslamian but also Farzad Kamangar, previous spokesman of Union of technical teachers of Kurdistan, member of the Human Rights Defense League. These activists suffered under a most savage torture and their trials were a farce. Their execution is used by the regime to set an example, but this bloody strategy did not work.
On May 13th, several underground workers' organizations called for a strike in Iranian Kurdistan to protest against executions and prevent the murder of twenty other activists in danger. This call for strike was a great success in the towns of the province, despite the siege established by the authorities. The regime's security forces tried to prevent protests, hence there were several hours of confrontations in some towns. Many companies, schools and universities were closed in the province. The majority of merchants joined this call.
This mobilization shows that workers and the majority of Iranian people contest the legitimacy and violence of the regime.
International solidarity
But the battle for respecting democratic and union freedoms should not only rest on our Iranian comrades. We believe that French and international unions should join this fight and thus show a true internationalist behaviour.
On June 2nd, the conference of the International Labor Organization will open in Geneva. Several Iranian workers' organizations have asked for many years, that the ILO ban Iran from its list of states taking part in this international institution.
How can we accept that a state that does not respect any union freedom, a state that kills, rapes and tortures union activists can take part in the work of the ILO?
We unionist organizations, ask our unionist representatives at ILO to demand that the dictatorial Iranian state be excluded from this international organization.
First workers organisation who signed this appeal :
Union Départementale CGT des Vosges
Union Locale CGT de Chinon, Union Locale CGT de Saint-Dié des Vosges, Union Locale CGT de Mirecourt, Union Locale CGT d’Epinal
Syndicats : CGT Streit France (Thaon les Vosges), CGT Carrefour Jeuxey , Local Construction CGT 31, CGT Tyco Electronics France SAS (usine de Chapareillan), Syndicat Alternatif des Instituteurs et Professeurs des Ecoles de la Réunion (SAIPER 974), CGT-ADDSEA (Doubs);
Tendance Intersyndicale Emancipation
And French text:
Solidarité avec les syndicalistes et les travailleurs iraniens
Etat iranien, hors de l’OIT !!
Depuis bientôt un an, les travailleurs et la majorité du peuple iranien se battent contre le régime dictatorial. Des milliers de manifestants et de militants ont été arrêtés et bien souvent torturés. Ils luttent pour la chute du régime mais aussi pour obtenir des droits syndicaux. Cet élan donne naissance à des syndicats clandestins ou semi-légaux comme celui des Transports Publics de Téhéran.
Les autorités veulent donc briser cet élan démocratique
Le dimanche 9 mai, les autorités islamiques en Iran ont exécuté 5 militants : Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alam-Houli et Mehdi Eslamian mais aussi Farzad Kamangar ancien porte parole du syndicat des enseignants du technique du Kurdistan, membre de la Ligue de Défense des Droits de l’Homme.
Ces militants ont subi la torture la plus sauvage et ont été jugés dans des conditions caricaturales.
Leur exécution est utilisée par leur régime comme un exemple. Pour autant cette stratégie sanguinaire n’a pas fonctionné.
Le 13 mai plusieurs organisations ouvrières clandestines ont appelé à la grève au Kurdistan iranien pour protester contre ces exécutions et empêcher l’assassinat d’une vingtaine d’autres militants menacés.
Cet appel à la grève a remporté un large succès dans les villes de la province, malgré l’état de siège instauré par les autorités. Les forces de l’ordre de la dictature ont essayé d’empêcher les manifestations, d’où des affrontements de plusieurs heures dans certaines villes. De nombreuses entreprises, écoles et universités étaient fermées dans la province. La majorité des commerçants se sont joints à cet appel
Cette mobilisation démontre que les travailleurs et la majorité du peuple iranien contestent la légitimité et la violence du régime en place.
Solidarité internationale
Mais la bataille pour la respect des libertés démocratiques et syndicales ne doit pas uniquement reposer sur nos camarades iraniens. Nous estimons que les organisations syndicales françaises et internationales doivent se joindre à ce combat et montrer ainsi une véritable démarche internationaliste.
Le 2 juin s’ouvrira à Genève une conférence de l’Organisation Internationale du Travail. Plusieurs organisations ouvrières iraniennes demandent depuis des années à l’OIT d’exclure l’Iran de la liste des Etats participants à cette institution internationale.
Comment accepter qu’un Etat qui ne respecte aucune liberté syndicale, qui assassine, viole et torture les militants syndicaux, puisse participer aux travaux de l’OIT ?
Nous, organisations syndicales, demandons à nos représentants syndicaux à l’OIT d’exiger l’exclusion de l’Etat dictatorial iranien de cette institution internationale
Organisations syndicales signataires (sections syndicales, syndicats, UL,…) :
Solidarity with Iranian unionists and workers
Iranian state, out of ILO!!
It has been almost one year since Iranian workers and people are fighting the dictatorial regime. Thousands of protesters and activists were arrested and very often tortured. They fight for the fall of the regime but also for winning their unions’ rights. This impulse gave birth to underground or semi-legal unions like Public Transportation Union of Tehran. The Iranian Authorities want to break this democratic impulse.
On Sunday May 9th, the Islamic Iranian authorities executed 5 activists : Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alam-Houli and Mehdi Eslamian but also Farzad Kamangar, previous spokesman of Union of technical teachers of Kurdistan, member of the Human Rights Defense League. These activists suffered under a most savage torture and their trials were a farce. Their execution is used by the regime to set an example, but this bloody strategy did not work.
On May 13th, several underground workers' organizations called for a strike in Iranian Kurdistan to protest against executions and prevent the murder of twenty other activists in danger. This call for strike was a great success in the towns of the province, despite the siege established by the authorities. The regime's security forces tried to prevent protests, hence there were several hours of confrontations in some towns. Many companies, schools and universities were closed in the province. The majority of merchants joined this call.
This mobilization shows that workers and the majority of Iranian people contest the legitimacy and violence of the regime.
International solidarity
But the battle for respecting democratic and union freedoms should not only rest on our Iranian comrades. We believe that French and international unions should join this fight and thus show a true internationalist behaviour.
On June 2nd, the conference of the International Labor Organization will open in Geneva. Several Iranian workers' organizations have asked for many years, that the ILO ban Iran from its list of states taking part in this international institution.
How can we accept that a state that does not respect any union freedom, a state that kills, rapes and tortures union activists can take part in the work of the ILO?
We unionist organizations, ask our unionist representatives at ILO to demand that the dictatorial Iranian state be excluded from this international organization.
First workers organisation who signed this appeal :
Union Départementale CGT des Vosges
Union Locale CGT de Chinon, Union Locale CGT de Saint-Dié des Vosges, Union Locale CGT de Mirecourt, Union Locale CGT d’Epinal
Syndicats : CGT Streit France (Thaon les Vosges), CGT Carrefour Jeuxey , Local Construction CGT 31, CGT Tyco Electronics France SAS (usine de Chapareillan), Syndicat Alternatif des Instituteurs et Professeurs des Ecoles de la Réunion (SAIPER 974), CGT-ADDSEA (Doubs);
Tendance Intersyndicale Emancipation
And French text:
Solidarité avec les syndicalistes et les travailleurs iraniens
Etat iranien, hors de l’OIT !!
Depuis bientôt un an, les travailleurs et la majorité du peuple iranien se battent contre le régime dictatorial. Des milliers de manifestants et de militants ont été arrêtés et bien souvent torturés. Ils luttent pour la chute du régime mais aussi pour obtenir des droits syndicaux. Cet élan donne naissance à des syndicats clandestins ou semi-légaux comme celui des Transports Publics de Téhéran.
Les autorités veulent donc briser cet élan démocratique
Le dimanche 9 mai, les autorités islamiques en Iran ont exécuté 5 militants : Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alam-Houli et Mehdi Eslamian mais aussi Farzad Kamangar ancien porte parole du syndicat des enseignants du technique du Kurdistan, membre de la Ligue de Défense des Droits de l’Homme.
Ces militants ont subi la torture la plus sauvage et ont été jugés dans des conditions caricaturales.
Leur exécution est utilisée par leur régime comme un exemple. Pour autant cette stratégie sanguinaire n’a pas fonctionné.
Le 13 mai plusieurs organisations ouvrières clandestines ont appelé à la grève au Kurdistan iranien pour protester contre ces exécutions et empêcher l’assassinat d’une vingtaine d’autres militants menacés.
Cet appel à la grève a remporté un large succès dans les villes de la province, malgré l’état de siège instauré par les autorités. Les forces de l’ordre de la dictature ont essayé d’empêcher les manifestations, d’où des affrontements de plusieurs heures dans certaines villes. De nombreuses entreprises, écoles et universités étaient fermées dans la province. La majorité des commerçants se sont joints à cet appel
Cette mobilisation démontre que les travailleurs et la majorité du peuple iranien contestent la légitimité et la violence du régime en place.
Solidarité internationale
Mais la bataille pour la respect des libertés démocratiques et syndicales ne doit pas uniquement reposer sur nos camarades iraniens. Nous estimons que les organisations syndicales françaises et internationales doivent se joindre à ce combat et montrer ainsi une véritable démarche internationaliste.
Le 2 juin s’ouvrira à Genève une conférence de l’Organisation Internationale du Travail. Plusieurs organisations ouvrières iraniennes demandent depuis des années à l’OIT d’exclure l’Iran de la liste des Etats participants à cette institution internationale.
Comment accepter qu’un Etat qui ne respecte aucune liberté syndicale, qui assassine, viole et torture les militants syndicaux, puisse participer aux travaux de l’OIT ?
Nous, organisations syndicales, demandons à nos représentants syndicaux à l’OIT d’exiger l’exclusion de l’Etat dictatorial iranien de cette institution internationale
Organisations syndicales signataires (sections syndicales, syndicats, UL,…) :
What are Farzad Kamangar's executioners doing in the ILO?
Farzad Kamangar, dissident teacher and human rights activist, was brutally executed in early May by the regime in Iran, along with four other political prisoners. The world’s trade unions had long been campaigning for his release, and have vehemently condemned the executions.People want to know: What are these executioners doing in the ILO? Why does the ILO keep inviting them to its annual conferences year after year?
It’s time to put a stop to this tacit complicity with the regime in Iran. The ILO conference is no place for executioners! This regime should be thrown out of the ILO and the world community.
Show your solidarity with the workers and people of Iran:
• Boycott the regime of Iran’s delegation at the ILO conference!
• Help kick this regime out of ILO!
Join the rally outside the conference centre (Place des Nations) on Wednesday 2nd June at 1pm
Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI)
- International Labour Solidarity Committee
wpi.workers.iran@gmail.com http://worker-communistpartyofiran.blogspot.com/
http://iran-out-of-ilo.blogspot.com/ www.kargaran.org
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Protest of mothers in Germany against executions in Iran
A group of mothers and women from Cologne, Germany is holding a 'No to executions!' protest tomorrow Monday 31 May and Tuesday 1 June in Düsseldorf in reaction to the execution of five political activists in Iran two weeks ago. The group wants to spread the message of Farzad Kamangar's mother Daye Saltaneh who in a statement spoke of her hope that other mother's will not lose their children and who asked that people speak out against executions.
Place:
Landesparlament (Regional State Parliament)
Platz des Landtags 1
40221 Düsseldorf
Place:
Landesparlament (Regional State Parliament)
Platz des Landtags 1
40221 Düsseldorf
Friday, 28 May 2010
Join June 2 rally for the expulsion of the Islamic regime of Iran from ILO
Join the Rally in Geneva
In solidarity with workers and people of Iran and for the expulsion of the Islamic regime of Iran from the ILO
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) will hold its annual International Labour Conference in Geneva from 2 to 18 June. Like previous years, a delegation representing the Islamic Republic of Iran and representatives of regime-made organisations (Islamic councils) will participate in this assembly. Those who are responsible for the persecution, torture and execution of worker leaders, teachers, students, women and children should not be allowed to join the ILO. The Islamic regime in Iran should be expelled from the ILO for its flagrant violation of human rights and its denial of a human life to workers and the people in Iran.
Join this really to support the struggle of workers and people in Iran, to demand the expulsion of the Islamic regime of Iran from the ILO, and to call for the release of all jailed workers and political prisoners in Iran
Wednesday, 2 June 2010, 1pm
Geneva, in front of the ILO Conference Centre, Palais des Nations
Free all jailed workers and political prisoners!
Islamic regime of Iran out of ILO!
Worker-communist Party of Iran-Organisation Abroad
25 May 2010
In solidarity with workers and people of Iran and for the expulsion of the Islamic regime of Iran from the ILO
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) will hold its annual International Labour Conference in Geneva from 2 to 18 June. Like previous years, a delegation representing the Islamic Republic of Iran and representatives of regime-made organisations (Islamic councils) will participate in this assembly. Those who are responsible for the persecution, torture and execution of worker leaders, teachers, students, women and children should not be allowed to join the ILO. The Islamic regime in Iran should be expelled from the ILO for its flagrant violation of human rights and its denial of a human life to workers and the people in Iran.
Join this really to support the struggle of workers and people in Iran, to demand the expulsion of the Islamic regime of Iran from the ILO, and to call for the release of all jailed workers and political prisoners in Iran
Wednesday, 2 June 2010, 1pm
Geneva, in front of the ILO Conference Centre, Palais des Nations
Free all jailed workers and political prisoners!
Islamic regime of Iran out of ILO!
Worker-communist Party of Iran-Organisation Abroad
25 May 2010
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Hamid Taqvaee's message to the people of Afghanistan
‘You are leading a path which we hope many others will follow’
Hamid Taqvaee’s message to people of Afghanistan on their protest against executions in Iran
Your powerful protest against the Islamic regime of Iran deserves the highest appreciation. Accept my warmest greetings and respect.
The protest in Kabul last week against the execution of Afghan immigrants in Iran, and the subsequent protest in Jalalabad against the execution of 5 political activists*, accompanied by hard-hitting slogans against the criminals in power in Iran, setting their posters on fire and attacking the Islamic Republic’s consulate, was a fantastic and unprecedented act of solidarity in the struggle of the people in the region and the whole world.
You showed that struggle against tyranny is borderless. Through your slogans “Khamenei, murderer of people in Iran” and “Down with tyranny, both in Tehran and Kabul”, you placed yourselves beside the people of Iran, and within the ranks of struggle of the people of the world against tyranny and reaction. You protested against the execution of those loved ones who, as a woman protester in Jalalabad told the reporters, “fought for the freedom of their country and the whole world.” In this global struggle, people of Iran and Afghanistan, people of the entire region and of the whole world are pursuing a common goal. This is a struggle against execution and repression, a struggle to overthrow tyranny and discrimination and inequality. These are the goals and aspirations of the people of the world; something for which the people in Iran have been waging a fierce struggle over the past year against the criminals ruling in Iran.
With your protests against the executions and the Islamic regime of executions in Iran, you most effectively and powerfully declared your solidarity with the revolutionary movement in Iran.
You are leading a path which we hope many others all over the world will follow, and with our entire capacity we will encourage them to do so.
Once again I salute you and look forward to ever stronger unity and solidarity in the ranks of the freedom-loving people of the world to overthrow tyranny “both in Tehran and Kabul,” as well as in the entire region and the whole world.
For victory!
Hamid Taghvaee
General Secretary of the Worker-communist Party of Iran
14 May 2010
Hamid Taqvaee’s message to people of Afghanistan on their protest against executions in Iran
Your powerful protest against the Islamic regime of Iran deserves the highest appreciation. Accept my warmest greetings and respect.
The protest in Kabul last week against the execution of Afghan immigrants in Iran, and the subsequent protest in Jalalabad against the execution of 5 political activists*, accompanied by hard-hitting slogans against the criminals in power in Iran, setting their posters on fire and attacking the Islamic Republic’s consulate, was a fantastic and unprecedented act of solidarity in the struggle of the people in the region and the whole world.
You showed that struggle against tyranny is borderless. Through your slogans “Khamenei, murderer of people in Iran” and “Down with tyranny, both in Tehran and Kabul”, you placed yourselves beside the people of Iran, and within the ranks of struggle of the people of the world against tyranny and reaction. You protested against the execution of those loved ones who, as a woman protester in Jalalabad told the reporters, “fought for the freedom of their country and the whole world.” In this global struggle, people of Iran and Afghanistan, people of the entire region and of the whole world are pursuing a common goal. This is a struggle against execution and repression, a struggle to overthrow tyranny and discrimination and inequality. These are the goals and aspirations of the people of the world; something for which the people in Iran have been waging a fierce struggle over the past year against the criminals ruling in Iran.
With your protests against the executions and the Islamic regime of executions in Iran, you most effectively and powerfully declared your solidarity with the revolutionary movement in Iran.
You are leading a path which we hope many others all over the world will follow, and with our entire capacity we will encourage them to do so.
Once again I salute you and look forward to ever stronger unity and solidarity in the ranks of the freedom-loving people of the world to overthrow tyranny “both in Tehran and Kabul,” as well as in the entire region and the whole world.
For victory!
Hamid Taghvaee
General Secretary of the Worker-communist Party of Iran
14 May 2010
May 1 in Iran: A Great Step Forward
On May 1st of this year in
The ruling murderers too, aware of the significance of this year’s May Day, had prepared all their hellish medley of forces to prevent the spread of demonstrations and protests on that day. Security forces, Basij and “plainclothes” murderers as well as herds of other kinds of thugs were dispatched to the streets. They created an unprecedented military atmosphere in
Our party has, since the very start of the current movement, constantly and with full power strived for, and emphasized on, the necessity to deepen and radicalize the content of its protests and demands, the need to create open organizations and institutions in order to declare the demands of various sections of the society through them as well as through individual activists. In general, our party’s constant endeavour, since the very beginning of the movement, has been aimed at the need for increasing clarity, articulation and organization of various dimensions of the revolution. A significant condition for the revolution to advance in that direction is entering into the arena of the workers’ movement at the forefront of the protesting masses, bearing the standard of the workers’ protests and demands on a broad social scale. May1st of this year was an important and decisive step in this direction. The 15-point resolution issued by 10 workers’ organizations on the occasion of May Day, both for the content of its comprehensive, radical demands, and as an action per se, is a significant indicator of that progress.
In that resolution workers have issued their indictment against “the capitalist system of
These are all, indeed, the demands, objectives and ideals of the masses of people who have risen against the entirety of the existing anti-human conditions. They form the workers’ full-fledged banner of the quest for freedom and equality, hoisted from the heart of the current revolutionary movement to clearly show the society how to seize at the very root and throw the gauntlet to the Islamic state in its entirety; so that the society would hear and recognize its revolutionary and deeply humane alternative from the workers, as opposed to the right opposition and the efforts of the regime’s “green” faction to distort the people’s demands for freedom and equality to fit within “the framework of the constitution” or “Islamic human rights” or democracy of the New-World-Order or the “human rights harbingered by Cyrus- the-great”. The masses of people have been challenging the regime for more than 10 months by chanting “down with the dictator” and “down with the principle of theocratic supremacy,” while the workers’ resolution translates, defines and articulates these “structure-breaking” slogans [, as both factions of the regime call them,] in the language of crystal clear humane, freedom-loving and equality-seeking demands.
Furthermore, all the said facts indicate that on May 1st of this year the workers’ movement not only entered the arena in defiance of the regime but also in practical distinction from, and critique of, all the right forces. May 1 showed that, unlike all the forces that try to limit the protests and demonstrations within the framework of the constitutional of the regime, it is only the workers who demand and defend unconditional rights to strike, protest, organization and association - for all the people. May 1 announced that, unlike Iranian/Arian-monger nationalist tendencies, workers oppose any kind of discrimination against any worker, including those of other nationalities who live and work in
Our party has long since emphasized the fact that the left and its critique of the existing social condition in
May 1 also shows the way to other institutions, organizations and activists in the other protest movements, especially the women’s freedom movement and the student movement: unite and organize; declare your demands and objections under the signature of your organizations, institutions, and NGOs of various kinds; issue messages, resolutions and calls to action; declare your solidarity with other protest movements, and organize combined protest actions with them. The current revolutionary movement is in need of organizing and clarifying itself through ever clearer articulation of the demands and the protests of the workers and masses by the masses themselves; and May Day presents the society as a whole with a clear, practical and facilitating guideline for advancing these causes.
Hamid Taqvaee
First published in Anternasional (International) weekly, No. 347, May 7, 2010
Sunday, 16 May 2010
London rally against execution of political activists in Iran
Several protests took place over the weekend against the executions of 5 polititcal activists last Sunday, 9 May. In London on Saturday the WPI and 7 other groups and campaigns organised a rally starting at Trafalgar Square at 1pm. Different speakers talked about the executions, the situation of political activists and prisoners in Iran. At 2.30 around 120 people marched for two and a half hours towards the IRI embassy where the protest continued. The protesters continuously shouted slogans whilst marching. Some of the slogans were: Free all political prisoners now! Stop the murder, stop the torture! Down with the Islamic regime of Iran! Stop victimizing women in Iran!
On Trafalgar Square
Getting ready to march
Marching
In front of the IRI embassy
On Trafalgar Square
Getting ready to march
Marching
In front of the IRI embassy
Friday, 14 May 2010
General Strike in Kurdistan!
A big step forward for the people of Iran’s revolution against the Islamic Republic!
Today, people in Sanandaj, Mahabad, Bokan, Kamyaran, Miaandoaab, Oshnavieh, Nowsood, Piranshahr, Saghez, Baaneh, Divaandareh, Dehgalaan, Naghadeh, Sardasht, Javaanrood, Ravaansar, Rabat and all other cities and towns in Kurdistan carried out a successful general strike, despite undeclared province-wide martial law and all other measures the regime had resorted to. Almost all schools, universities and 80% of shopping centers and workplaces were closed. The Islamic Regime found itself, clearer than ever, surrounded by the ocean of people’s hatred! This strike was not just a powerful, magnificent response to the recent cruel execution of 5 political activists. It was not just a crucial step in defeating the regime’s policies of execution and terrorization of the people. It was an act with far-reaching consequences that will radically change the balance of political power against the regime. In a word, it was a significant step forward in the revolution of the people against the Islamic regime and for freedom and equality.
The general strike in Kurdistan on May 13th, 2010, will be remembered as an historic act, and as an historic day, in the process of the Kurdish people’s struggle in the Iranian revolution. People took part in the strike in their millions and broke the wall of the ever-more-severe repression in Kurdistan, thus pushing the Iranian revolution one significant step forward. It will raise the spirits of the people all across Iran and greatly intensify the regime’s desperation and hopelessness. After May 13th, the people in Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and so on, will feel much stronger in their fight against the Islamic regime!
The mass strike in Kurdistan will also radicalize the current revolution in Iran even further, and swing it more to the left. Kurdistan has always remained the “fortress of the revolution” of 1979. The people in Kurdistan have always said “no” to the murderous Islamic regime. The broadest masses have always shown the deepest hatred towards the regime and all its factions. Now that the people have actively set foot in the arena of political struggle, they show a fact ever more vividly, that is, what goes on in Iran is not a movement to “reform” the regime but a revolution to bury it in its entirety. Meanwhile the “revolutionary Kurdistan”, in general, and the “red Sanandaj”, in particular, have been the stronghold of organized left, revolutionism and communism since the 1979 revolution. The idea of a general strike in Kurdistan per se, the fact that it was called by the communists, the fact that it gained the support of all political forces in Kurdistan, and the fact that it took such huge dimensions in practice, provide yet another air-tight proof that the Iranian revolution turns more and more to the left as it goes further and further ahead.
The general strike of May 13th in Kurdistan showed something else too. It took place following the extensive, vigorous protests by the Iranians living abroad against the execution of five political prisoners in Iran. These protests were supported by the people within Iran. It all goes to prove, once more, that all the people in Iran share the same destiny in their struggle for liberation. The general strike by the people in Kurdistan was a manifestation of our slogan: ‘“No!” to ethnic state! “No!” to religious state! “Yes” to humanist state!’ Right, nationalist forces, as well as the regime itself, i.e., all the forces that seek to divide the people along ethnic and/or religious lines, received a fierce blow in the general strike in Kurdistan.
Finally, the general strike in Kurdistan was a great step forward also in that it promoted the tactics and forms of struggle, and thus contributed to the clearer articulation of the current revolution. It added, in practice, besides street demonstrations, “general strike” to the tactics of revolutionary struggle. At the present moment the adoption of this tactic is an absolute necessity for the revolution to advance. There is no doubt that today’s move by the heroic people in Kurdistan will set a pattern for the revolution across Iran.
The Worker-communist Party salutes the people in Kurdistan and congratulates all freedom-loving people, all the communists and the various political parties who made today’s strike a success.
Down with the Islamic regime of Iran!
Humanist revolution for a humanist state!
For a socialist republic!
Worker-Communist Party of Iran
May 13, 2010
Today, people in Sanandaj, Mahabad, Bokan, Kamyaran, Miaandoaab, Oshnavieh, Nowsood, Piranshahr, Saghez, Baaneh, Divaandareh, Dehgalaan, Naghadeh, Sardasht, Javaanrood, Ravaansar, Rabat and all other cities and towns in Kurdistan carried out a successful general strike, despite undeclared province-wide martial law and all other measures the regime had resorted to. Almost all schools, universities and 80% of shopping centers and workplaces were closed. The Islamic Regime found itself, clearer than ever, surrounded by the ocean of people’s hatred! This strike was not just a powerful, magnificent response to the recent cruel execution of 5 political activists. It was not just a crucial step in defeating the regime’s policies of execution and terrorization of the people. It was an act with far-reaching consequences that will radically change the balance of political power against the regime. In a word, it was a significant step forward in the revolution of the people against the Islamic regime and for freedom and equality.
The general strike in Kurdistan on May 13th, 2010, will be remembered as an historic act, and as an historic day, in the process of the Kurdish people’s struggle in the Iranian revolution. People took part in the strike in their millions and broke the wall of the ever-more-severe repression in Kurdistan, thus pushing the Iranian revolution one significant step forward. It will raise the spirits of the people all across Iran and greatly intensify the regime’s desperation and hopelessness. After May 13th, the people in Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and so on, will feel much stronger in their fight against the Islamic regime!
The mass strike in Kurdistan will also radicalize the current revolution in Iran even further, and swing it more to the left. Kurdistan has always remained the “fortress of the revolution” of 1979. The people in Kurdistan have always said “no” to the murderous Islamic regime. The broadest masses have always shown the deepest hatred towards the regime and all its factions. Now that the people have actively set foot in the arena of political struggle, they show a fact ever more vividly, that is, what goes on in Iran is not a movement to “reform” the regime but a revolution to bury it in its entirety. Meanwhile the “revolutionary Kurdistan”, in general, and the “red Sanandaj”, in particular, have been the stronghold of organized left, revolutionism and communism since the 1979 revolution. The idea of a general strike in Kurdistan per se, the fact that it was called by the communists, the fact that it gained the support of all political forces in Kurdistan, and the fact that it took such huge dimensions in practice, provide yet another air-tight proof that the Iranian revolution turns more and more to the left as it goes further and further ahead.
The general strike of May 13th in Kurdistan showed something else too. It took place following the extensive, vigorous protests by the Iranians living abroad against the execution of five political prisoners in Iran. These protests were supported by the people within Iran. It all goes to prove, once more, that all the people in Iran share the same destiny in their struggle for liberation. The general strike by the people in Kurdistan was a manifestation of our slogan: ‘“No!” to ethnic state! “No!” to religious state! “Yes” to humanist state!’ Right, nationalist forces, as well as the regime itself, i.e., all the forces that seek to divide the people along ethnic and/or religious lines, received a fierce blow in the general strike in Kurdistan.
Finally, the general strike in Kurdistan was a great step forward also in that it promoted the tactics and forms of struggle, and thus contributed to the clearer articulation of the current revolution. It added, in practice, besides street demonstrations, “general strike” to the tactics of revolutionary struggle. At the present moment the adoption of this tactic is an absolute necessity for the revolution to advance. There is no doubt that today’s move by the heroic people in Kurdistan will set a pattern for the revolution across Iran.
The Worker-communist Party salutes the people in Kurdistan and congratulates all freedom-loving people, all the communists and the various political parties who made today’s strike a success.
Down with the Islamic regime of Iran!
Humanist revolution for a humanist state!
For a socialist republic!
Worker-Communist Party of Iran
May 13, 2010
Soldiers at Farzad Kamangar's family home
Some of the soldiers that have been sent to Kamyaran, Farzad Kamangar's city, for the general strike yesterday are currently surrounding the family's home and filming and photographing anyone leaving or entering the house.
Source: Kurdistan Committee of WPI
Source: Kurdistan Committee of WPI
Kurds from Turkey at Iran's border to join strike 13 May
Here is a clip of how a demonstration of a few hundred Kurdish people from Turkey marched to the Turkey/Iran border trying to cross over to join the strike in the Kurdish province in Iran yesterday 13 May.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Protest in Afghanistan against execution of 45 Afghans in Iran
Today a fifth protest was held in Afghanistan against the recent execution of 45 Afghans in Iran. People burnt picture of Ahmadinejad and others held a picture of Farzad Kamangar and his mother.
Attack on IRI embassy in Denmark today
There are also reports that protesters attacked the IRI embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
Sanandaj, Kurdistan today May 13
People and shopowners in Sanandaj following the call out for a general strike in Kurdistan in response to the execution of 5 political activists on Sunday in Tehran, 4 of them Kurdish.
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