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London protest in support of women in Iran – watch the video!

For a couple of reports of the event, see:

• On International Women’s Day, women were at the forefront of the fight against the Islamic regime, writes Tina Becker (Weekly Worker, March 11)
• Iran’s women’s movement struggles to be heard, reports Amy Stillman

β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” MarchΒ 5 2010Β - Press release for immediate release

Internationally renowned Iranian film maker Jafar Panahi arrested by Islamic regime – protest now!

Hopi demands immediate release of artist critical of the theocratic regime in films such as β€˜The Circle’ (Darareh) and β€˜Offside’. β€˜Arrest could be pre-emptive strike by regime against International Women’s Day protests and demos’, says Yassamine Mather (Hopi chair) Click here to read the full press relase and how to protest β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”

Walking for Workers in Iran – Donate Here! Donate Now!

Click on picture to donate

Members of Hands Off the People of Iran in Manchester are organising a sponsored walk to raise money for the charity, Workers Fund Iran. Victoria Thompson, one of the intrepid six, explains why: “March 5 will see members of the Hands Off the People of Iran Manchester branch walking the Bogle, a fifty six mile hike round the city. We are walking to raise money for the charity Workers Fund Iran. This was established in December 2005 with the aim to reduce and relieve poverty amongst Iranian workers (both employed and unemployed). Our brothers and sisters are victims of both the neo-liberal economic policies of the Iranian regime (which often include the mass non-payment of wages) as well as effects of imperialist-imposed sanctions… Read full article We are hoping to raise over Β£300 pounds for the charity. You can donate by going to our Charity Choice page here. β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”

Two wrongs don’t make a right

Yassamine Mather looks at the politics, hypocrisy and dangers of Ahmadinejad’s nuclear programme: There seems to be no end to the confrontation between western governments and Iran’s Islamic regime over the nuclear issue.In the latest phase of the continuing saga, on February 23, a day after the announcement by the head of Iran’s nuclear programme that the country will build two new uranium enrichment facilities, Iran wrote to the International Atomic Energy Agency claiming that it is ready to hand over the bulk of its stockpile in a simultaneous exchange for fuel rods for its research reactor, adding that the exchange must take place on Iranian soil. This falls short of the demands by the so-called β€˜five plus one’ (United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany). They had demanded that Iran’s enriched uranium is first processed and then converted into fuel rods in Russia and France, returning the enriched fuel rods to Iran within a year. Read full article β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”

β€˜Reformist’ confusion stunts opposition protests

Yassamine Mather reports on the February 11 Revolution Day celebrations Last week’s official celebrations of the February 1979 uprising that brought down the shah’s regime in Iran stood in total contrast to the events of 31 years ago. The Islamic state’s lengthy preparations for the anniversary of the revolution included the arrest of hundreds of political activists, hanging two political prisoners (for β€œwaging war on god”), and blocking internet and satellite communications. In addition, the government brought busloads of bassij paramilitaries and people from the provinces to boost the number of its supporters – it considers the majority of the 14 million inhabitants of Tehran to be opponents… Read full article β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” March 16 2009: National launch of HOPI’s ‘Smash the Sanctions’ campaign Click here for more info on the campaign. Listen below to the speeches given by Yassamine Mather (chair of Hands Off the People of Iran) John McDonnell MP and Jenny Jones (London Assembly member, Green Party)

Iran, February 1979: A revolution betrayed

The Iranian Revolution is often portrayed as an uprising led by Islamic fundamentalists against the discredited regime of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. This is a misconception. Read three articles that outline the genuine social dynamics of the mass democratic movement that rose against the Shah and the leading role of progressive women’s and workers’ organisations within it. In the video below, filmed on February 25 2009, Torab Saleth speaks about the betrayal of the revolution and the failures of the left. Islamic revolution or counterrevolution On the 30th anniversary of the Iranian revolution, Torab Saleth examines its historical roots (published in the Weekly Worker) Women of the revolution Thirty years after the toppling of the Shah in Iran, Hands Off the People of Iran supporter Azar Sheibani looks at how Iranian women have defied the reign of misogynist terror (published in Red Pepper) After the revolution When Ayatollah Khomeini arrived in Tehran on 1 February 1979, a brief period of freedom for Iranians came to an end. Hands Off the People of Iran chair Yassamine Mather looks at the development of the Islamic Republic’s suppression of dissent (published in Index on Censorship)

Our campaign demands:

No to imperialist war! For the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of US/UK troops from Iraq and all the Gulf region!
No to any imperialist intervention. The immediate and unconditional end to sanctions on Iran.
No to the theocratic regime!
Opposition to Israeli expansionism and aggression!
Support to all working class and progressive struggles in Iran against poverty and repression!
Support for socialism, democracy and workers’ control in Iran!
For a nuclear-free Middle East as a step towards a nuclear-free world!
For the full statement click here.

Please support Hopi financially and by becoming a member.

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Hands Off the People of Iran

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