Cat Rylance reports on the Hands Off the People of Iran meeting at Manchester University

On October 22, after two weeks of building, holding a daily stall, leafleting and publicising, the Manchester branch of Hands Off the People of Iran held a meeting to discuss the situation in Iran. The meeting, held in the University of Manchester students union, featured Iranian students Kaveh Abbasian and Behrooz Karimizadeh on the platform and attracted around 40 people, including local Iranians.

Behrooz and Kaveh, who have only recently arrived in Britain after fleeing torture and imprisonment in Iran, are travelling the country speaking at Hopi meetings to help build solidarity and raise awareness of the Iranian people’s plight. Both are involved in Students for Freedom and Equality in Iran and were prominent activists in student protests against both the Iranian regime and the threat of imperialist war.

Kaveh began the meeting by discussing the dangers of being an activist in Iran, but made clear that the movement will not let itself be silenced. He outlined its main objectives and discussed key actions taken by students in Iran, such as the Women’s Day and Student Day demonstrations. He also discussed the recent wave of arrests in Isfahan and mentioned the names of the individuals arrested. He concluded by stressing the importance of our role in building solidarity and gaining media attention internationally – something which the movement badly needs.

Behrooz opened by saying: “My talk is about a question, but my answer to that question resulted in my imprisonment.” The question he asked was, ‘Is there a third way between invasion and the oppression of the regime?’ He emphasised the need for Iranian people to choose their own destiny without interference from the west – though Iran desperately needs change, it must be the Iranian people who bring it about: “No nation needs a messiah.”

Speaking from the floor, an Iranian liberal, who had spent two years in solitary confinement, questioned whether perhaps war was sometimes necessary. Kaveh answered by drawing on the examples of Iraq and Afghanistan, pointing out that those invasions had little to do with spreading democracy. If the west invades, he said, it will impose a different capitalist regime of class rule – so long as countries like Iran remain economically dependent they can have no real freedom: “The change we need must go to the roots of society.”

Peter Grant from the train driver’s union Aslef, which is affiliated to Hopi, attacked those on the left who think that opposing the regime is tantamount to supporting imperialism. He called on the Stop the War Coalition to support the Iranian democratic and working class resistance. He also discussed the importance of class solidarity with Iranian workers – like the bus drivers who blocked off major roads in Tehran in a 2005 strike. He said he would do all in his power to ensure Aslef delivers the support it has pledged. He hoped the prestige of the union would help build the campaign in the working class movement.The meeting agreed that Manchester Hopi would organise a solidarity protest outside the Manchester prison where Iranian comrades seeking asylum are currently being detained.

To get involved, email hopimanchester@googlemail.com