Friday, June 19, 2009
Khamenei threatens naked force; WPI calls for an escalation of protests in Iran
To read the latest on protests in Iran, click here.
Isolate the regime
My letter to the editor was published in the Evening Standard on June 17, 2009.
Here is the full letter I sent in:
Today, ‘elections’ are not the real issue at hand in Iran. Everyone knows that elections are neither fair nor free there. There are no basic political freedoms and right to organise. Candidates are selected by the Supreme Leader and unelected Guardian Council and are chosen from amongst pillars of the regime. Mousavi - now branded a ‘reformist’ - was prime minister during the 80s when thousands were executed.
Often with regards Iranian politics one must look below the surface to see what’s really going on. The infighting between the regime’s factions has intensified. Both sides refuse to back down for now but this has nothing to do with people’s lives. The people of Iran have shown that they have their own demands; they want the Islamic regime to go. And it has to go. Thirty years of medievalism and brutality is enough. What this infighting has done and will continue to do is further provide the people of Iran with the opportunity to fight for real freedom and equality.
In all this, one thing is clear. There is a mass movement in Iran that is going to bring this regime to its knees and break the back of the political Islamic movement internationally. Now is the time for people in the west to exert pressure on western governments to politically isolate the regime rather than excuse and legitimise it. Like racial apartheid in the former South Africa, a regime of sexual apartheid must be proclaimed a crime against 21 century humanity.
Maryam Namazie is spokesperson of the Worker-communist Party of Iran.
Here is the full letter I sent in:
Today, ‘elections’ are not the real issue at hand in Iran. Everyone knows that elections are neither fair nor free there. There are no basic political freedoms and right to organise. Candidates are selected by the Supreme Leader and unelected Guardian Council and are chosen from amongst pillars of the regime. Mousavi - now branded a ‘reformist’ - was prime minister during the 80s when thousands were executed.
Often with regards Iranian politics one must look below the surface to see what’s really going on. The infighting between the regime’s factions has intensified. Both sides refuse to back down for now but this has nothing to do with people’s lives. The people of Iran have shown that they have their own demands; they want the Islamic regime to go. And it has to go. Thirty years of medievalism and brutality is enough. What this infighting has done and will continue to do is further provide the people of Iran with the opportunity to fight for real freedom and equality.
In all this, one thing is clear. There is a mass movement in Iran that is going to bring this regime to its knees and break the back of the political Islamic movement internationally. Now is the time for people in the west to exert pressure on western governments to politically isolate the regime rather than excuse and legitimise it. Like racial apartheid in the former South Africa, a regime of sexual apartheid must be proclaimed a crime against 21 century humanity.
Maryam Namazie is spokesperson of the Worker-communist Party of Iran.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
You know us; support us!
People of the world!
We are your neighbours, friends, lovers, colleagues, and comrades.
You know us.
We have lived together and fought together – whether for labour rights, against Sharia, for civil rights, asylum rights, against executions and stonings, against cultural relativism, against faith schools and apostasy laws, for freedom of expression, rationalism and secularism, against political Islam and US militarism…
Today, our revolution – the one we have been preparing and waiting for - has begun in Iran.
We need you to support it full force.
The battle you see unfolding on the streets of Iran is not about the farce of an election, though that is what the western media wants you to think. Everyone knows that elections in Iran are anything but. In fact, people are taking advantage of the intensified infighting between the regime’s factions to raise their own demands and they – like the rest of us - want the Islamic regime to go.
And it has to go.
Thirty years of medievalism and brutality is enough.
If nothing else, one thing is clear.
The mass movement that is going to bring this regime in Iran to its knees and break the back of the political Islamic movement internationally has begun.
Your support and solidarity will strengthen this revolutionary movement. Come out and condemn the regime and its brutality; exert pressure on western governments to politically isolate the regime. Join us in front of the Islamic regime’s embassies across the globe to call for them to be shut down. Call for the prosecution of all those involved in the killings, for the immediate release of all detainees and political prisoners, unconditional freedoms, including for organisation, strike and protest, an end to compulsory veiling, a living wage and an end to sexual apartheid. Send your messages to the protesting people of Iran to be read on our 24 hour New Channel TV station. Support us and our party, the Worker-communist Party of Iran.
Mark our words; like racial apartheid in the former South Africa, a regime of sexual apartheid can and will be relegated to the dustbins of history.
The future is ours.
Maryam Namazie
Mina Ahadi
Fariborz Pooya
Bahram Soroush
Mahin Alipour
Afsaneh Vahdat
Abe Asadi
Farshad Husseini
Farideh Arman
Karim Shahmohammadi
Fereshteh Moradi
For regular updates on people’s protests in Iran, click here.
Email your messages to the people of Iran to Maryam Namazie at wpibriefing@gmail.com.
You can see statement being read, here.
We are your neighbours, friends, lovers, colleagues, and comrades.
You know us.
We have lived together and fought together – whether for labour rights, against Sharia, for civil rights, asylum rights, against executions and stonings, against cultural relativism, against faith schools and apostasy laws, for freedom of expression, rationalism and secularism, against political Islam and US militarism…
Today, our revolution – the one we have been preparing and waiting for - has begun in Iran.
We need you to support it full force.
The battle you see unfolding on the streets of Iran is not about the farce of an election, though that is what the western media wants you to think. Everyone knows that elections in Iran are anything but. In fact, people are taking advantage of the intensified infighting between the regime’s factions to raise their own demands and they – like the rest of us - want the Islamic regime to go.
And it has to go.
Thirty years of medievalism and brutality is enough.
If nothing else, one thing is clear.
The mass movement that is going to bring this regime in Iran to its knees and break the back of the political Islamic movement internationally has begun.
Your support and solidarity will strengthen this revolutionary movement. Come out and condemn the regime and its brutality; exert pressure on western governments to politically isolate the regime. Join us in front of the Islamic regime’s embassies across the globe to call for them to be shut down. Call for the prosecution of all those involved in the killings, for the immediate release of all detainees and political prisoners, unconditional freedoms, including for organisation, strike and protest, an end to compulsory veiling, a living wage and an end to sexual apartheid. Send your messages to the protesting people of Iran to be read on our 24 hour New Channel TV station. Support us and our party, the Worker-communist Party of Iran.
Mark our words; like racial apartheid in the former South Africa, a regime of sexual apartheid can and will be relegated to the dustbins of history.
The future is ours.
Maryam Namazie
Mina Ahadi
Fariborz Pooya
Bahram Soroush
Mahin Alipour
Afsaneh Vahdat
Abe Asadi
Farshad Husseini
Farideh Arman
Karim Shahmohammadi
Fereshteh Moradi
For regular updates on people’s protests in Iran, click here.
Email your messages to the people of Iran to Maryam Namazie at wpibriefing@gmail.com.
You can see statement being read, here.
Iran: At least 21 killed and hundreds wounded
From the WPI Press Centre:
Last night professors of Tehran University started a sit-in at the university in protest to the attacks of security agents on Sunday night on students. The security forces used chains, daggers, threw students out of second floor windows and fired shots and killed 5. Their names are Fatemeh Barati, Kasra Sharafi, Mobina Ehterami, Kambiz Shoayee and Mohsen Imani; the 5 have already been buried without any notification being given to their parents. Many students have joined the sit-in. When a representative from the Basij (government’s militia force) tried to address the crowd, he was jeered and kicked out.
150 students from Mazandaran University in Babolsahr have been arrested last night.
Reports of those killed by the regime’s forces are as follows: 8 people in Tehran; 2 people in Kermanshah; 2 in Tabriz; 2 in Rezaiyeh; 2 at Shiraz University; and 5 at Tehran University. A lot have been wounded. The wounded in Tehran have been taken to Imam Khomeini’s 1000 bed hospital. In protest to the government’s brutal attacks, the hospital personnel stopped work since last night.
Yesterday, the families of the detained in Tehran marched to the UN headquarters and called for the regime’s condemnation for its brutality by the UN and western governments. Families of the detained are outraged that the regime refuses to provide information on the status of the children. They want to know if they are dead or alive and where they have been detained.
A number of lawyers in Tehran have issued a press release declaring their willingness to do pro bono legal work for those detained during the protests.
Today there will be a march from 7 Tir Square to the Islamic Assembly in continuation of the people’s protests.
Last night, there was a meeting with Khamenei, representatives of the 4 candidates, the Council of Guardians, Ministry of Interior and Expediency Council. At the meeting, Khamenei reiterated that Ahmadinejad remains president. Whilst some votes will be recounted, this will not result in the annulment of the election.
Last night professors of Tehran University started a sit-in at the university in protest to the attacks of security agents on Sunday night on students. The security forces used chains, daggers, threw students out of second floor windows and fired shots and killed 5. Their names are Fatemeh Barati, Kasra Sharafi, Mobina Ehterami, Kambiz Shoayee and Mohsen Imani; the 5 have already been buried without any notification being given to their parents. Many students have joined the sit-in. When a representative from the Basij (government’s militia force) tried to address the crowd, he was jeered and kicked out.
150 students from Mazandaran University in Babolsahr have been arrested last night.
Reports of those killed by the regime’s forces are as follows: 8 people in Tehran; 2 people in Kermanshah; 2 in Tabriz; 2 in Rezaiyeh; 2 at Shiraz University; and 5 at Tehran University. A lot have been wounded. The wounded in Tehran have been taken to Imam Khomeini’s 1000 bed hospital. In protest to the government’s brutal attacks, the hospital personnel stopped work since last night.
Yesterday, the families of the detained in Tehran marched to the UN headquarters and called for the regime’s condemnation for its brutality by the UN and western governments. Families of the detained are outraged that the regime refuses to provide information on the status of the children. They want to know if they are dead or alive and where they have been detained.
A number of lawyers in Tehran have issued a press release declaring their willingness to do pro bono legal work for those detained during the protests.
Today there will be a march from 7 Tir Square to the Islamic Assembly in continuation of the people’s protests.
Last night, there was a meeting with Khamenei, representatives of the 4 candidates, the Council of Guardians, Ministry of Interior and Expediency Council. At the meeting, Khamenei reiterated that Ahmadinejad remains president. Whilst some votes will be recounted, this will not result in the annulment of the election.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Interview with Hamid Taqvaee on 'election' theft and revolution in Iran
To see Maryam Namazie's interview with Hamid Taqvaee for WPI's Press Centre, click here.
Questions he responds to include: was there 'election theft,' is this a 'green' revolution as the Guardian calls it; what the WPI is calling on the people of Iran to do and what we expect from people across the world.
Questions he responds to include: was there 'election theft,' is this a 'green' revolution as the Guardian calls it; what the WPI is calling on the people of Iran to do and what we expect from people across the world.
Interview with Hamid Taqvaee on 'election' theft and revolution in Iran
To see Maryam Namazie's interview with Hamid Taqvaee for WPI's Press Centre, click here.
Questions he responds to include: was there 'election theft,' is this a 'green' revolution as the Guardian calls it; what the WPI is calling on the people of Iran to do and what we expect from people across the world.
Questions he responds to include: was there 'election theft,' is this a 'green' revolution as the Guardian calls it; what the WPI is calling on the people of Iran to do and what we expect from people across the world.
People's protests continue
The WPI’s Press Centre has received news that up to 150,000 people gathered in front of the Islamic Republic’s News Agency headquarters in northern Tehran in protest despite the request by all factions of the Islamic regime of Iran to refrain from doing so. The crowd is still there.
Right now at around 11.30pm Tehran time, shots have been fired by the regime's security against protestors in Vali Asr, Tehran.
In Kermanshah, at around 9pm the regime’s security forces killed 2 people in Se Rah Javanshir; the protesters are still there.
We have also received reports of confrontations in many parts of Tehran between protestors and security forces of the Islamic regime.
Yesterday, the Islamic Republic’s News Agency headquarters in the northern city of Tabriz was attacked and burned down by the protesters.
To see footage of some of today's protests and days before, click on the Communist Youth Organisation's news centre.
Right now at around 11.30pm Tehran time, shots have been fired by the regime's security against protestors in Vali Asr, Tehran.
In Kermanshah, at around 9pm the regime’s security forces killed 2 people in Se Rah Javanshir; the protesters are still there.
We have also received reports of confrontations in many parts of Tehran between protestors and security forces of the Islamic regime.
Yesterday, the Islamic Republic’s News Agency headquarters in the northern city of Tabriz was attacked and burned down by the protesters.
To see footage of some of today's protests and days before, click on the Communist Youth Organisation's news centre.
WPI's leaflet no. 1: Remove your veils!
Freedom-loving and resisting women
In the ensuing demonstrations and the climate of protest which has engulfed Iranian society, remove your veils and break the walls of gender apartheid.
The hijab is solitary confinement and the most important symbol of the segregation of the sexes and women’s absolute lack of rights.
It is time to effectively declare equality between women and men and liberation from 30 years of humiliation and degradation.
The misogynist regime has to go!
Worker-communist Party of Iran
June 16, 2009
In the ensuing demonstrations and the climate of protest which has engulfed Iranian society, remove your veils and break the walls of gender apartheid.
The hijab is solitary confinement and the most important symbol of the segregation of the sexes and women’s absolute lack of rights.
It is time to effectively declare equality between women and men and liberation from 30 years of humiliation and degradation.
The misogynist regime has to go!
Worker-communist Party of Iran
June 16, 2009
Iran: Update of people's protests
June 16, 2009
News Update
Below is some of the news received by the WPI Press Centre and New Channel TV:
This morning nurses and doctors from Rasoul Akram Hospital in west Tehran marched in protest against the treatment of the 28 wounded and 8 dead who had been brought to their hospital. Security forces denied the wounded any contact with their families. Medical personnel used the mobile phones of the wounded and dead to inform their relatives. Later this morning they walked out in protest.
University lecturers in three universities in Shiraz and Sharif Technical University in Tehran have resigned in protest to the regime’s security forces’ violent attacks on students yesterday.
Mashad Ferdousi University in Mashad was attacked by security forces.
There were clashes between protestors and the regime’s security forces in Bahonar Street and Vakilabad in Tehran.
In the city of Babol there are currently clashes between demonstrators and the regime’s security forces and Babol University has been surrounded by the security forces;
In Isfahan, there were demonstrations and clashes in Shamsabadi, Touhid, Sheikh Bahaie, Nik-bakht, Darvazeh Shiraz and Ghasr streets. Furthermore, the clashes continued into the university and the meeting hall was burnt down.
In Shiraz there were clashes in Mola Sadra Street between protestors and security forces; the protestors chased the security forces away and the locality is under people’s control.
The chancellor of Shiraz University resigned in protest following the brutal attack on the university by the security forces.
Last night, demonstrations continued in Tehran, Karaj and many other cities until 2–3.00 am
Tajrish police station was taken over by the protestors for over an hour last night.
News Update
Below is some of the news received by the WPI Press Centre and New Channel TV:
This morning nurses and doctors from Rasoul Akram Hospital in west Tehran marched in protest against the treatment of the 28 wounded and 8 dead who had been brought to their hospital. Security forces denied the wounded any contact with their families. Medical personnel used the mobile phones of the wounded and dead to inform their relatives. Later this morning they walked out in protest.
University lecturers in three universities in Shiraz and Sharif Technical University in Tehran have resigned in protest to the regime’s security forces’ violent attacks on students yesterday.
Mashad Ferdousi University in Mashad was attacked by security forces.
There were clashes between protestors and the regime’s security forces in Bahonar Street and Vakilabad in Tehran.
In the city of Babol there are currently clashes between demonstrators and the regime’s security forces and Babol University has been surrounded by the security forces;
In Isfahan, there were demonstrations and clashes in Shamsabadi, Touhid, Sheikh Bahaie, Nik-bakht, Darvazeh Shiraz and Ghasr streets. Furthermore, the clashes continued into the university and the meeting hall was burnt down.
In Shiraz there were clashes in Mola Sadra Street between protestors and security forces; the protestors chased the security forces away and the locality is under people’s control.
The chancellor of Shiraz University resigned in protest following the brutal attack on the university by the security forces.
Last night, demonstrations continued in Tehran, Karaj and many other cities until 2–3.00 am
Tajrish police station was taken over by the protestors for over an hour last night.
Iran: Protests go beyond the regime’s infighting
.jpg)
The Council of Guardians’ spokesperson, Abbasali Kadkhodaie, stated earlier today in response to the complaints made by some candidates that there may have been minor irregularities. These will be checked but he stressed that the election won’t be annulled as the irregularities are less than previous elections. The Council of Guardians has asked the candidates to accept the results.In other news, according to Mousavi’s election headquarters, he will not take part in today’s demonstration and asks people not to clash with government forces. Mousavi has said that he is negotiating for permission to organise his own protest.
‘Elections’ are not the real issue at hand. Everyone knows that in Iran elections are neither fair nor free. There is no political freedoms and right to organise. Candidates are selected by the Supreme Leader and Guardian Council and are chosen from amongst pillars of the regime. Mousavi now branded a ‘reformist’ was prime minister and head of government for several years during the 80s when thousands were executed and hundreds of thousands arrested.
‘What the statements of the Council of Guardians and Mousavi show is that both sides refuse to back down on the ‘election’ results and this indicates the widening division within the Islamic government’s factions. Their conflict will intensify for now. The people of Iran have shown that they have their own slogans and cause; they want the Islamic regime to go. The intensification of the regime’s infighting has and will further provide the demonstrations and protesters further space to protest and will allow the protests to strengthen and radicalise,’ says Hamid Taqvaee, WPI’s leader.
Slogans at demonstrations clearly show an opposition to the Islamic regime that goes beyond the regime’s infighting and the ‘election’ results this though this is not reflected in the mainstream media’s coverage of the protests. Slogans include: ‘down with dictator;’ ‘Seyed Ali Pinochet, Iran won’t become Chile;’ ‘We don’t want an Islamic republic;’ ‘Coup d’etat government, resign, resign,’ ‘tanks and guns have no more use’…
Via its live 24 hour New Channel TV station, the WPI is calling on people to continue their presence in the streets, with the own slogans of ‘no to the Islamic republic,’ ‘free political prisoners,’ ‘end compulsory veiling,’ ‘end executions’ and ‘arrest and prosecute those responsible for attacking and killing protestors.’ The numbers of protestors killed by the regime’s security forces in the past few days are unknown, however, 5 people were killed day before yesterday and 8 killed yesterday. 8 dead and 28 wounded were brought to Rasoul Akram hospital from yesterday’s protests alone resulting in a protest today by hospital doctors and nurses.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)