This resolution was adopted at the 7th congress of Worker-communist Party of Iran earlier in December 2009
1- The movement that began June 2009 in Iran, and goes on strongly as ever, is a revolution aimed at bringing down the Islamic Republic to reach freedom, equality and welfare for all. As far as its genuine content and the objective circumstances that have given rise to it are concerned, the present revolution has its origin in the class opposition between the bourgeoisie and the working class, and can be victorious only by ending the former’s political and economic domination.
2- The formation of the current revolution per se is indicative of the working-class horizon, or alternative, enjoying the upper hand over right-wing scenarios such as “reconstruction”, “gradual transformation”, “regime change”, and other nationalist-ethnic-religious alternatives. The formation of the revolution confirms and firmly establishes the working-class perspective with respect to the most fundamental transformation of the status quo. It also bears out the fact that revolution is the most desirable as well as viable way to destroy the regime of Islamic Republic and liberate the whole society from political and economic domination of the bourgeoisie. The formulation and publicization of the said perspective as well as ceaseless practice for its realization by the workers’ class-political representative, i.e., Worker-communist Party of Iran, has itself been instrumental in the formation of the current revolution.
3- The formation of revolution in Iran opens an active and effective front for beating back such reactionary movements as political Islam, the militarism of the Western’s bourgeoisie, and the corresponding socio-political theories like cultural relativism, multi-culturalism, and so on. The Iranian revolution turns the human being and the universal humanist values into the focal point of the class struggle between the world proletariat and the world bourgeoisie, and thus presents the honorable, civilized people of the world with a bright, promising perspective. The current revolution enjoys therefore a high capacity for enlisting the support of the world working class as well as the public opinion of the freedom-loving people across the globe.
4- The working class is the only class that is both willing and able to bring the present revolution to victory. For, on the one hand, the emancipation of the working class from exploitation and the domination of the bourgeoisie is objectively, actually, pending the emancipation of the whole society from the prevailing poverty, suppression, discrimination, oppression, and repression. On the other hand, the people’s demands, their ideals, namely women’s liberation, emancipation from the clutches of religion, cultural emancipation, modernity, unconditional political and social freedoms, eradication of poverty and securing welfare for all are represented only by the working-class perspective, [reflected in] the working class [party-political] program. The demands and ideals of the citizens at large are, for all practical intents and purposes, achievable only through the realization of the socialist objectives, the socialist program, of the working class. In the process of the present revolution the working class can, and should, rally onder its standard the great majority of the citizens, overthrow Islamic Republic, and realize [the slogan] “freedom, equality, welfare”.
5- The working class can position itself at the head of the current revolution only through its political party. Advancement, deepening, radicalization and the eventual victory of the revolution is pending the people embracing the party of the working class as the representative of the masses’ critique, their dissatisfaction with, and their objections to, the status quo, as well as accepting it as the leader of the mass struggle for the overthrow of Islamic Republic. Such a party should, firstly, represent the political and social objectives of the revolution, and make its presence felt in the field of the fight over the political power, and, secondly, be accepted as the leader by the society. Under the political circumstances in Iran, Worker-communist Party of Iran enjoys the said characteristics, and possesses the necessary capabilities to obtain the position of the leader of the revolution.
6- Worker-communist Party of Iran fights with all its might to advance, strengthen, organize, lead and bring to victory the present revolution. The Party calls on all activists in the workers’ movement and all revolutionaries in the student and women’s liberation movements, as well as in all other protest movements of other sections of the society to get actively involved on the basis of the Party’s policies, and to join its ranks.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
The preconditions of the victory of the current revolution, and the determination of the future system of government
This was a resolution that was adopted at the 7th congress of Worker-communist Party of Iran earlier in December 2009
1- The real, objective content of the present movement, as far as its political objective is concerned, is the overthrow of Islamic Republic. As far as its social ideals are concerned, the real, objective content of the present movement is liberation from poverty, exploitation and class discrimination; emancipation of women; Cultural Emancipation of the youth; modernism and secularism; abolition of torture and execution; annihilation of repression and oppression - in a word, the realization of freedom, equality and welfare for all. The current movement, as far as its objective goals, its real content, is concerned, is a radical left revolution, that is, a humanist revolution for a humanist society.
2- The overthrow of Islamic Republic signifies total destruction of the state machinery together with all centers of power, from the House of the Supreme Leader to the circles around Imams and Ayatollahs everywhere, to the medley of state, Mafia-like Foundations and Organizations; annihilation of all organs of suppression composed of each and every intelligence organization, prison, court and torture site together with all security, military, paramilitary and police forces; revocation of the Constitutional and all other laws of the Islamic Republic. The revolution will be victorious only if it persists and focuses on the overthrow of the regime of Islamic Republic in this genuine, all-round sense.
3- Under the present circumstances the advancement and [eventual] victory of the revolution is, first and foremost, pending the widening and deepening of its humanist content, its humanist tendency, as well as the rallying of masses around a leading force that represents the deep-rooted protest at, or critique of, the existing order from the stand point of unconditional freedom, equitability, and humanity. The revolution has to obtain the leadership, the political organization, necessary for the overthrow of Islamic Republic and its replacement by the direct rule of the people.
4- As far as the form of the struggle is concerned, a significant precondition for the revolution to advance and be victorious is that it becomes more and more clearly defined and firmly materialized. It should go beyond mass demonstrations - various layers and sections of the society should articulate their objections in their own name, in various fields, and in various forms. The current form of advancement of the revolution, that is, recurrent mass demonstrations, should become more and more firmly based on ever-extending, standing organizations of different sections of the society in order to benefit from centralized, nation-wide political and practical leadership.
The central components of the above-mentioned delineation are as follows:
I- Ever more sections of the working class join the struggle; the working-class movement challenges the state; workers’ protests, meetings, strikes, and rallies develop further; veritable workers’ organizations, including workers’ councils, be established.
II- Various sections of society carry out their protest, their struggle, in their own social line-up and with their own social identity. Workers, women, students, intellectuals, teachers, office workers, physicians, nurses, families of political prisoners and those of the martyrs, and all other discontented strata of the population be organized in various institutions, e.g., societies, committees, unions, associations, councils, and so on, and appear at the scene of struggle with their own radical declarations, manifestos, calls of various sorts, announcements, and so on.
III- Local organizations, such as covert cells, overt societies and councils, local committees, etc., form in order to organize and lead the struggle at regional and neighborhood levels.
IV- Committees for the organization and co-ordination of strikes and demonstrations form at factories, universities, schools, offices, and hospitals.
In view of the above, Worker-communist Party of Iran
a- declares its resolve to form the political and practical leadership of the revolution, and calls upon all the revolutionaries and masses of people who desire the overthrow of Islamic Republic and the radical transformation of the present order to unite around the Party’s policies and slogans, as well as to join its ranks.
b- calls upon all opposition forces to support the struggles of the masses, as well as to relentlessly fight for the overthrow and total destruction of the regime of Islamic Republic.
c- declares that any degree of conciliation and/or compromise with the regime, any effort made with the aim of saving the present order in one form or another, any striving for sparing any part or any faction of the state is a practical measure taken against the people’s movement for freedom. The Party will oppose any such conciliatory measures, thwart, and expose them.
d- considers any resort to, and/or reliance on, religious, national and ethnic prejudices, as well as fabrication of identities on the said bases, an obstacle placed in the path of the people’s movement, the people’s revolution for freedom. The Party will condemn such policies and slogans and stand up to them.
e- calls upon all progressive and consistently democratic forces around the world to support the revolution of the people of Iran, and to struggle for global condemnation and isolation of Islamic Republic. The Party calls upon all governments and international institutions to condemn Islamic Republic as an oppressive, murderous regime and break all political/diplomatic ties with it.
f- considers the criterion for assessing the degree of commitment to freedom and progressive values of any personality or political force to be their degree of commitment to the following demands:
i- The arrest and public prosecution of those responsible for the current killings and atrocities and for those committed during the last 30 years.
ii- The complete separation of religion from the state, judiciary, education. Freedom of religion and atheism as a private matter.
iii- Unconditional freedom of expression, thought, organization, demonstration, and strike.
iv- Abolition of sexual apartheid and all discriminatory laws against women. Establishment of complete equality between men and women.
v- Equal rights for all citizen of Iran regardless of their faith, language, nationality and ethnicity.
vi- Abolition of death penalty as well as Islamic code of punishment. Prohibition of all forms of physical and emotional torture for any reason.
vii- Release of all political prisoners. Prohibition of prosecution and/or detention of people for political activity.
g- will refer the decision for the establishment of a socialist republic to the public vote. It strives to secure conditions in which the society can choose its desired system of government freely and consciously. After Islamic Republic has been overthrown, all political parties must be unconditionally and unboundedly free to promote their ideal system of government.
h- basing its struggle on its program (A Better World) and its publicized policies for the overthrow of Islamic Republic and the establishment of a socialist republic, that is, a humane system of government devoid of all oppression, poverty, exploitation, and class discriminations – a system that guarantees freedom, equality, and welfare for all its citizens. The Party calls upon all people to opt for that system.
Passed at the 7th congress of Worker-communist Party of Iran.
5 December 2009
1- The real, objective content of the present movement, as far as its political objective is concerned, is the overthrow of Islamic Republic. As far as its social ideals are concerned, the real, objective content of the present movement is liberation from poverty, exploitation and class discrimination; emancipation of women; Cultural Emancipation of the youth; modernism and secularism; abolition of torture and execution; annihilation of repression and oppression - in a word, the realization of freedom, equality and welfare for all. The current movement, as far as its objective goals, its real content, is concerned, is a radical left revolution, that is, a humanist revolution for a humanist society.
2- The overthrow of Islamic Republic signifies total destruction of the state machinery together with all centers of power, from the House of the Supreme Leader to the circles around Imams and Ayatollahs everywhere, to the medley of state, Mafia-like Foundations and Organizations; annihilation of all organs of suppression composed of each and every intelligence organization, prison, court and torture site together with all security, military, paramilitary and police forces; revocation of the Constitutional and all other laws of the Islamic Republic. The revolution will be victorious only if it persists and focuses on the overthrow of the regime of Islamic Republic in this genuine, all-round sense.
3- Under the present circumstances the advancement and [eventual] victory of the revolution is, first and foremost, pending the widening and deepening of its humanist content, its humanist tendency, as well as the rallying of masses around a leading force that represents the deep-rooted protest at, or critique of, the existing order from the stand point of unconditional freedom, equitability, and humanity. The revolution has to obtain the leadership, the political organization, necessary for the overthrow of Islamic Republic and its replacement by the direct rule of the people.
4- As far as the form of the struggle is concerned, a significant precondition for the revolution to advance and be victorious is that it becomes more and more clearly defined and firmly materialized. It should go beyond mass demonstrations - various layers and sections of the society should articulate their objections in their own name, in various fields, and in various forms. The current form of advancement of the revolution, that is, recurrent mass demonstrations, should become more and more firmly based on ever-extending, standing organizations of different sections of the society in order to benefit from centralized, nation-wide political and practical leadership.
The central components of the above-mentioned delineation are as follows:
I- Ever more sections of the working class join the struggle; the working-class movement challenges the state; workers’ protests, meetings, strikes, and rallies develop further; veritable workers’ organizations, including workers’ councils, be established.
II- Various sections of society carry out their protest, their struggle, in their own social line-up and with their own social identity. Workers, women, students, intellectuals, teachers, office workers, physicians, nurses, families of political prisoners and those of the martyrs, and all other discontented strata of the population be organized in various institutions, e.g., societies, committees, unions, associations, councils, and so on, and appear at the scene of struggle with their own radical declarations, manifestos, calls of various sorts, announcements, and so on.
III- Local organizations, such as covert cells, overt societies and councils, local committees, etc., form in order to organize and lead the struggle at regional and neighborhood levels.
IV- Committees for the organization and co-ordination of strikes and demonstrations form at factories, universities, schools, offices, and hospitals.
In view of the above, Worker-communist Party of Iran
a- declares its resolve to form the political and practical leadership of the revolution, and calls upon all the revolutionaries and masses of people who desire the overthrow of Islamic Republic and the radical transformation of the present order to unite around the Party’s policies and slogans, as well as to join its ranks.
b- calls upon all opposition forces to support the struggles of the masses, as well as to relentlessly fight for the overthrow and total destruction of the regime of Islamic Republic.
c- declares that any degree of conciliation and/or compromise with the regime, any effort made with the aim of saving the present order in one form or another, any striving for sparing any part or any faction of the state is a practical measure taken against the people’s movement for freedom. The Party will oppose any such conciliatory measures, thwart, and expose them.
d- considers any resort to, and/or reliance on, religious, national and ethnic prejudices, as well as fabrication of identities on the said bases, an obstacle placed in the path of the people’s movement, the people’s revolution for freedom. The Party will condemn such policies and slogans and stand up to them.
e- calls upon all progressive and consistently democratic forces around the world to support the revolution of the people of Iran, and to struggle for global condemnation and isolation of Islamic Republic. The Party calls upon all governments and international institutions to condemn Islamic Republic as an oppressive, murderous regime and break all political/diplomatic ties with it.
f- considers the criterion for assessing the degree of commitment to freedom and progressive values of any personality or political force to be their degree of commitment to the following demands:
i- The arrest and public prosecution of those responsible for the current killings and atrocities and for those committed during the last 30 years.
ii- The complete separation of religion from the state, judiciary, education. Freedom of religion and atheism as a private matter.
iii- Unconditional freedom of expression, thought, organization, demonstration, and strike.
iv- Abolition of sexual apartheid and all discriminatory laws against women. Establishment of complete equality between men and women.
v- Equal rights for all citizen of Iran regardless of their faith, language, nationality and ethnicity.
vi- Abolition of death penalty as well as Islamic code of punishment. Prohibition of all forms of physical and emotional torture for any reason.
vii- Release of all political prisoners. Prohibition of prosecution and/or detention of people for political activity.
g- will refer the decision for the establishment of a socialist republic to the public vote. It strives to secure conditions in which the society can choose its desired system of government freely and consciously. After Islamic Republic has been overthrown, all political parties must be unconditionally and unboundedly free to promote their ideal system of government.
h- basing its struggle on its program (A Better World) and its publicized policies for the overthrow of Islamic Republic and the establishment of a socialist republic, that is, a humane system of government devoid of all oppression, poverty, exploitation, and class discriminations – a system that guarantees freedom, equality, and welfare for all its citizens. The Party calls upon all people to opt for that system.
Passed at the 7th congress of Worker-communist Party of Iran.
5 December 2009
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Monday, 28 December 2009
WPI has called for international support for and solidarity with the people's struggle against the Islamic regime in Iran; On Monday 28th groups of people have gathered in front of the Islamic regime embassies as well as city centres in Europe and North America. We have received reports from Frankfurt and Bern in Germany; Gutenberg and Malmao in Sweden as well as Toronto in Canada
Canada
Frankfurt
Canada
Frankfurt
A New Phase in People's Struggle Against the Islamic regime of Iran
27 December saw one of the most critical days following the June / July protests in Iran. It supposedly was meant to be a day of religious mourning in Iran. It was to be the day that the most reactionary Islamist groups who use such ceremonies to impose the darkest of the dark on the people of Iran. It was meant to the moment that the government of Ahmadinejad and Khamanei reasserts itself and shows that they are still in charge following last months' protests in November in Universities all over Iran.
The Islamic regime and its security forces had been preparing for this and had arrested nearly all of the known political activists beforehand in many cities.
However this day was turned into an anti-government protest that saw people from all walks of life confront police, security forces and members of the baseeji militia groups with their bare hands and calling for end to the Islamic regime in Iran. The protest took place in many cities such as Arak, Mashhad, Babol, Esfahan and many parts of Tehran, including East and South East. The protest and street fights continued until early hours of Monday 28th December and declared an end to the Islamic Ashura in Iran.
Many parts of Tehran were in control of people for hours; it began at around 11.00 am and the first round of confrontation was under the College Bridge that saw people brave tear gas, and bullets, daggers of the Islamists thugs and clashes with the security forces. On many occasions groups of the hated security forces were surrounded and beaten up. Police station in Vali Asr was burnt to the ground and many Baseeji headquarters were attacked. Later in the evening the Islamic News Agency headquarters were surrounded by the protesters and shootings were reported.
Yesterday left more than 15 people dead and hundreds injured. The government agencies have hidden the bodies of possibly more people to prevent identification and follow up demonstrations that will ensue. Thousands have been arrested in Tehran and many cities. Many wounded have forcefully been removed from hospitals and taken to Islamic guards own Sadoughi hospital.
One thing is clear that the end of this regime is near and the brutal Islamic regime is taking its last gasp and will not be able to drive the anger of 30 years of suppression back. People have waited 30 years for this moment and will not let the Islamic murderers get away this time.
The Islamic regime and its security forces had been preparing for this and had arrested nearly all of the known political activists beforehand in many cities.
However this day was turned into an anti-government protest that saw people from all walks of life confront police, security forces and members of the baseeji militia groups with their bare hands and calling for end to the Islamic regime in Iran. The protest took place in many cities such as Arak, Mashhad, Babol, Esfahan and many parts of Tehran, including East and South East. The protest and street fights continued until early hours of Monday 28th December and declared an end to the Islamic Ashura in Iran.
Many parts of Tehran were in control of people for hours; it began at around 11.00 am and the first round of confrontation was under the College Bridge that saw people brave tear gas, and bullets, daggers of the Islamists thugs and clashes with the security forces. On many occasions groups of the hated security forces were surrounded and beaten up. Police station in Vali Asr was burnt to the ground and many Baseeji headquarters were attacked. Later in the evening the Islamic News Agency headquarters were surrounded by the protesters and shootings were reported.
Yesterday left more than 15 people dead and hundreds injured. The government agencies have hidden the bodies of possibly more people to prevent identification and follow up demonstrations that will ensue. Thousands have been arrested in Tehran and many cities. Many wounded have forcefully been removed from hospitals and taken to Islamic guards own Sadoughi hospital.
One thing is clear that the end of this regime is near and the brutal Islamic regime is taking its last gasp and will not be able to drive the anger of 30 years of suppression back. People have waited 30 years for this moment and will not let the Islamic murderers get away this time.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
WPI's 7th Congress
The Worker-communist Party of Iran's 7th Congress was held during 4-6 December and was a huge success.
Here are some pictures from the Congress.
Here is video footage of the Congress.
The resolutions that were adopted. They are currently being translated into English.
The first to be translated is the Manifesto of the Iranian Revolution.
Here are some pictures from the Congress.
Here is video footage of the Congress.
The resolutions that were adopted. They are currently being translated into English.
The first to be translated is the Manifesto of the Iranian Revolution.
Manifesto of the Iranian Revolution
The revolution that has started since June 2009 is the outburst of the repressed anger of the people against the criminal Islamic regime of Iran. This is a revolution for liberation from a corrupt system, for smashing a machine of murder, plunder, ignorance and lies which has been wrecking the lives of the people for thirty years. This revolution will not stop until it has crushed the entire inhuman system in power.
But this revolution is not just about the liberation of the people of Iran from the Islamic nightmare. It is not even just a source of hope and inspiration for the people in Islam-stricken regions. This revolution speaks from the heart of the people of the world. Fundamentally, it is a revolution against a dark period identified by the offensive of the New Right and the New World Order; September 11 and the rise of political Islam; and the War on Terror and conflagration of the world in the war of terrorists. A period which by the metamorphosis of the human being through religion, ethnicity and nationality, by defining the relations amongst members of humankind as the Clash of Civilisations, and by denying the universal rights of the human being by the notion of Cultural Relativism has in fact imposed a Postmodern Middle Ages on humanity. The Iranian revolution is in fact the voice of the Third Camp against this regression of the bourgeoisie of our age. It is a voice that shouts “Freedom, Equality, Human Identity”. It is for this reason that songs have been written for this revolution from around the world, and Neda has become a hero of the people of the world.
The Iranian revolution is, first and foremost, against religious and Islamic rule. It is deeply secular and opposed to the rule of ignorance, superstition and the clergy. In this respect it is pursuing, in a radical way, the unfinished, or forgotten, tasks of the French Revolution. With the victory of this revolution, not only will religion become completely separate from the state and the educational system, but any privilege, law and tradition giving the religious apparatus the right to interfere in social life will also be abolished. Religion will be pushed to the sphere of voluntary choice and private beliefs of adults. Official religion will be abolished, and the hold of religion on society and social affairs will be ended. Thus, for the first time, genuine freedom to have or not to have a religion will be established. The Iranian revolution has already, in a practical way, delivered its severe censure on the appeasement of political Islam by European and Western governments and the shameless reversal on secularism. The anti-religious revolution in Iran is the beginning of a new Renaissance in human history.
The present revolution in Iran is a “women’s revolution”, not only because it is immediately against sexual apartheid and a misogynist government, and not only because women and girls are at its forefront in fervent demonstrations and street battles, but also because the maxim “women’s freedom is a measure of society’s freedom” is increasingly etched in the consciousness of the masses of the people. The unconditional equality of women is the inviolable decree of the present revolution. This revolution is another step forward in the efforts of modern humanity for liberation from vile gender slavery. From the October 1917 Russian revolution to the women’s liberation movement in the West; from the women’s demonstrations in Iran against the veil in March 1979 to thirty years of women’s resistance and protest against Islamic veil, discrimination and humiliation – these make up the backbone and inspiration of the present revolution in Iran. The victory of the present revolution will not only have a phenomenal impact on the status and struggle of women in Islam-stricken countries, but will also advance the women’s liberation movement in the world as a whole.
The revolution in Iran is about freedom. The realisation of the most radical and human definition of individual, civil, cultural and political freedom is the immediate task of the ‘Twitter’ and ‘Facebook’ generation which has risen up in revolt. It does not accept any restriction on freedom of expression, assembly, strike and organisation or other political freedoms. It does not recognise any boundaries for the freedom to criticise “sanctities”. It does not accept any censorship on culture, art, literature and human creative activity. It is against any interference of the state or any official authority in the private lives - including in the sexual relations and preferences - of members of society. Not only should political prisoners be freed, but the very notion of political prisoner should be abolished. This is a revolution against the death penalty and all brutal or Islamic punishments. It is not only against Kahrizak, but also against Guantanamo and its corresponding political culture - from shock therapy to rape and torture, which have been elevated to official tools of the state. This is a revolution not only for cultural liberation from Islam, dictatorship and any backwardness and recourse to “one’s own culture”, but stands for a global, human and modern culture. In this sense, the nearest counterpart of the Iranian revolution are the 1960s’ and 70s’ civil rights movements in the USA and Western Europe, with the difference that this revolution along with Marx goes further than “civil society”, and aims for a “human society” or “social humanity”.
This revolution is the powerful response of a poverty-stricken society to the ruling parasites. It is a revolution for abolishing poverty, unemployment and the appalling gulf between the life of a billionaire minority and that of the great mass of deprived people living under the poverty line. This is a revolution not only against non-payment of wages of millions of workers, but in essence against the very sale and purchase of human creative power and the rule of blind and brutal market laws on people’s lives. This is a revolution for putting an end to drug addiction, prostitution, the plight of working street children, homelessness, depression, suicide and all that is the result of the poverty running amok in Iranian society. This is a revolution for “livelihood and dignity”, for “bread and roses too”.
Thus the present revolution in Iran is about the liberation of the human being in all political, social, intellectual, cultural and economic dimensions. This is a revolution against all false identities for the human being, be it religious, ethnic or national, and ultimately for putting an end to the division of people into classes. This is a revolution for human dignity, for happiness, freedom, welfare and equality for all in the enjoyment of the material and intellectual riches of social life. It is indeed a revolution for reclaiming the will of the human being, in both individual and social capacities. In one word, as we said from day one, this is “a human revolution for a human rule”. Thus the revolution in Iran links up with great efforts in history – from Spartacus to the Jacobins of the French Revolution, from the Paris Communards to workers of Petrograd, from the councils of the 1979 revolution in Iran to the anti-capitalist movement at the start of the third millennium, stretching from Seattle to Rome. The Iranian revolution is fundamentally against modern wage slavery, whose time has long been up, and which for its survival has needed to resort to religion, superstition, torture, prison, terror, and the nuclear bomb. This slogan of Tehran’s students expresses the foundations of the Iranian revolution: Socialism or barbarism!
The triumph of the revolution of the people of Iran over the Islamic Republic will open up a new chapter in the world and will be a new stepping stone for putting an end to class history and for the start of genuine human history. The Seventh Congress of the Worker-communist Party of Iran calls on the people of the world for a more enthusiastic and resolute support of the Iranian revolution and people. The Congress sends its greetings to women, youth and workers in Iran and calls on them to join the ranks of the Party for the victory of this revolution and realisation of this Manifesto.
Adopted unanimously by the Seventh Congress of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, 5-6 December 2009.
But this revolution is not just about the liberation of the people of Iran from the Islamic nightmare. It is not even just a source of hope and inspiration for the people in Islam-stricken regions. This revolution speaks from the heart of the people of the world. Fundamentally, it is a revolution against a dark period identified by the offensive of the New Right and the New World Order; September 11 and the rise of political Islam; and the War on Terror and conflagration of the world in the war of terrorists. A period which by the metamorphosis of the human being through religion, ethnicity and nationality, by defining the relations amongst members of humankind as the Clash of Civilisations, and by denying the universal rights of the human being by the notion of Cultural Relativism has in fact imposed a Postmodern Middle Ages on humanity. The Iranian revolution is in fact the voice of the Third Camp against this regression of the bourgeoisie of our age. It is a voice that shouts “Freedom, Equality, Human Identity”. It is for this reason that songs have been written for this revolution from around the world, and Neda has become a hero of the people of the world.
The Iranian revolution is, first and foremost, against religious and Islamic rule. It is deeply secular and opposed to the rule of ignorance, superstition and the clergy. In this respect it is pursuing, in a radical way, the unfinished, or forgotten, tasks of the French Revolution. With the victory of this revolution, not only will religion become completely separate from the state and the educational system, but any privilege, law and tradition giving the religious apparatus the right to interfere in social life will also be abolished. Religion will be pushed to the sphere of voluntary choice and private beliefs of adults. Official religion will be abolished, and the hold of religion on society and social affairs will be ended. Thus, for the first time, genuine freedom to have or not to have a religion will be established. The Iranian revolution has already, in a practical way, delivered its severe censure on the appeasement of political Islam by European and Western governments and the shameless reversal on secularism. The anti-religious revolution in Iran is the beginning of a new Renaissance in human history.
The present revolution in Iran is a “women’s revolution”, not only because it is immediately against sexual apartheid and a misogynist government, and not only because women and girls are at its forefront in fervent demonstrations and street battles, but also because the maxim “women’s freedom is a measure of society’s freedom” is increasingly etched in the consciousness of the masses of the people. The unconditional equality of women is the inviolable decree of the present revolution. This revolution is another step forward in the efforts of modern humanity for liberation from vile gender slavery. From the October 1917 Russian revolution to the women’s liberation movement in the West; from the women’s demonstrations in Iran against the veil in March 1979 to thirty years of women’s resistance and protest against Islamic veil, discrimination and humiliation – these make up the backbone and inspiration of the present revolution in Iran. The victory of the present revolution will not only have a phenomenal impact on the status and struggle of women in Islam-stricken countries, but will also advance the women’s liberation movement in the world as a whole.
The revolution in Iran is about freedom. The realisation of the most radical and human definition of individual, civil, cultural and political freedom is the immediate task of the ‘Twitter’ and ‘Facebook’ generation which has risen up in revolt. It does not accept any restriction on freedom of expression, assembly, strike and organisation or other political freedoms. It does not recognise any boundaries for the freedom to criticise “sanctities”. It does not accept any censorship on culture, art, literature and human creative activity. It is against any interference of the state or any official authority in the private lives - including in the sexual relations and preferences - of members of society. Not only should political prisoners be freed, but the very notion of political prisoner should be abolished. This is a revolution against the death penalty and all brutal or Islamic punishments. It is not only against Kahrizak, but also against Guantanamo and its corresponding political culture - from shock therapy to rape and torture, which have been elevated to official tools of the state. This is a revolution not only for cultural liberation from Islam, dictatorship and any backwardness and recourse to “one’s own culture”, but stands for a global, human and modern culture. In this sense, the nearest counterpart of the Iranian revolution are the 1960s’ and 70s’ civil rights movements in the USA and Western Europe, with the difference that this revolution along with Marx goes further than “civil society”, and aims for a “human society” or “social humanity”.
This revolution is the powerful response of a poverty-stricken society to the ruling parasites. It is a revolution for abolishing poverty, unemployment and the appalling gulf between the life of a billionaire minority and that of the great mass of deprived people living under the poverty line. This is a revolution not only against non-payment of wages of millions of workers, but in essence against the very sale and purchase of human creative power and the rule of blind and brutal market laws on people’s lives. This is a revolution for putting an end to drug addiction, prostitution, the plight of working street children, homelessness, depression, suicide and all that is the result of the poverty running amok in Iranian society. This is a revolution for “livelihood and dignity”, for “bread and roses too”.
Thus the present revolution in Iran is about the liberation of the human being in all political, social, intellectual, cultural and economic dimensions. This is a revolution against all false identities for the human being, be it religious, ethnic or national, and ultimately for putting an end to the division of people into classes. This is a revolution for human dignity, for happiness, freedom, welfare and equality for all in the enjoyment of the material and intellectual riches of social life. It is indeed a revolution for reclaiming the will of the human being, in both individual and social capacities. In one word, as we said from day one, this is “a human revolution for a human rule”. Thus the revolution in Iran links up with great efforts in history – from Spartacus to the Jacobins of the French Revolution, from the Paris Communards to workers of Petrograd, from the councils of the 1979 revolution in Iran to the anti-capitalist movement at the start of the third millennium, stretching from Seattle to Rome. The Iranian revolution is fundamentally against modern wage slavery, whose time has long been up, and which for its survival has needed to resort to religion, superstition, torture, prison, terror, and the nuclear bomb. This slogan of Tehran’s students expresses the foundations of the Iranian revolution: Socialism or barbarism!
The triumph of the revolution of the people of Iran over the Islamic Republic will open up a new chapter in the world and will be a new stepping stone for putting an end to class history and for the start of genuine human history. The Seventh Congress of the Worker-communist Party of Iran calls on the people of the world for a more enthusiastic and resolute support of the Iranian revolution and people. The Congress sends its greetings to women, youth and workers in Iran and calls on them to join the ranks of the Party for the victory of this revolution and realisation of this Manifesto.
Adopted unanimously by the Seventh Congress of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, 5-6 December 2009.
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