Below is a collection of some of the struggles that are going on within Iran at this time. As the situation is constantly changing we hope to keep as many people up to date with bulletins when we can get them out. There are many practical things you can do as an individual or as an organisation to help those in struggle in Iran. Firstly, get this information out as widely as possible, secondly, get your union or organisation to put out messages of solidarity, thirdly, donate to Workers Fun Iran (http://www.workersfund.org/) and finally, message the Iranian consulate or relevant bodies about arrests, torture and redundancies. Below are the details of the Iranian consulate:

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
16 Prince’s Gate London SW7 1PT
Tel: 0207 225 3000

We will also be organising solidarity actions over the coming months and would welcome support and help from supporters and friends.

Hands Off the People of Iran
www.hopoi.org
Office@hopoi.info – hopimanchester@googlemail.com

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1. May Day in Iran

Worker’s, Students’ and Women’s activists gathered across Iran to celebrate May Day and protest against worsening political and economic conditions. In Tehran over 150 comrades were arrested as the security forces took away demonstrators before they got to the rally point. At the time of writing 50 people are still in prison in appalling conditions.

In Sanandaj comrades gathered at 5pm in Amireiyeh Park to celebrate May Day, however, after 15 minutes the police attacked the gathering, arresting 12 people and beating others.

2. Second Statement from May Day Organising Committee

Workers and freedom loving people!

This is a follow up statement to the May Day Organizing Committee’s first report on the violent attack by police and intelligence forces at the May Day rally in Laleh Park, Tehran. More than 150 workers and their families as well as activists from the women’s and students’ movements were arrested. The updates for public information and appropriate actions, as of today, are as follows:

Four days after the May Day police crackdown, about 130 women and men are still incarcerated. They are detained in unacceptable conditions in section 204 of Tehran’s Evin Prison.

The families of these esteemed friends have been incessantly contacting the intelligence and judicial centres, including the Islamic Revolutionary Court on Moalem Street (Teacher Street). They have been threatened by security forces and never receive clear answers from the judicial authorities. The relatives of the arrested workers have been gathering in unity outside the court, protesting the arrest of their loved ones.
The authorities have told some family members of the detainees that they have issued heavy bails of 50 to 100 million Toman (US$50,000 to $100,000) for the conditional release of most of the arrested activists, however, many of the arrested workers have kept up their morale and are demanding their unconditional release without any bail conditions.

The May Day Organizing Committee condemns these oppressive measures and brings to the attention of all freedom-loving people of the world the fact that all these beatings and assaults demonstrate the repressive disposition of the ruling capitalism in Iran; that’s why these people are imprisoned unjustifiably and their freedom is delayed inexcusably and their families are being penalized financially. Isn’t it the Iranian government’s security and intelligence apparatus that has to be accountable for all the financial and emotional costs of these inhumane actions?

Workers, women, students and freedom-seeking people!

Support the families of the imprisoned activists who have been gathering everyday outside the Islamic Revolutionary Court protesting the cruel and inhumane actions of the police and judicial systems. Let’s join them in solidarity!

Workers and Workers’ organization of all countries around the world!

The Iranian capitalist state has not only attacked the May Day event across Iran in recent days, they have also raided the meeting of the consumer cooperative of the Metal-Mechanics Workers in Nemat-Abad of Tehran and arrested a number of workers.

As we all know, the celebration of the first of May and the declaration of workers’ demands are absolute and undeniable rights of the working class. We see ourselves in solidarity with workers of the world, and invite you all to disseminate these reports and take necessary measures to increase pressures for the unconditional freedom of all arrested activists at May Day rallies in Tehran and other parts of Iran.

1388 May Day Organizing Committee
Tehran, Iran, May 04, 2009 (Ordibehesht 14, 1388)

The May Day Organizing Committee:

– The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company
– The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company
– The Free Union of Workers in Iran
– The Founding Committee of the Syndicate of Building ‘s Painters and Decoration’s Workers
– The Center for Workers’ Rights in Iran
– The Collaborative Council of Labour Organizations and Activists
– The Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organizations
– The Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Free Workers’ Organizations
– The Women’s Council.

3. Workers Left Unity – Iran May Day Statement

Workers throughout the word celebrate this year’s May day under exceptional circumstances. The crisis of finance capital has engulfed international capitalism leading to an unprecedented economic recession. The culmination of successive attempts to delay the economic crisis, at a time when the parasitic characteristics of contemporary capitalism was reaching new dimensions, have worsened the situation.  An analysis of this order and its practises in the economic , political and military spheres including wars in Afghanistan, Iraq , sanctions and a state of conflict  with Iran , attacks on innocent civilians in Gaza all indicate that the capitalist order is facing four major crises: financial crisis,  world shortage of food,  disreputable leadership and a transition from a unipolar world lead by the US to an unknown era.  Yet imperialists and the reactionaries are a minority who impose their rule through military might and economic domination, only the unity of workers can confront them.

First of May is a reminder of working class international solidarity, that is why it is hated by capitalists. Workers throughout the world have forced governments to recognise this day through constant struggle. For many years, Iranian workers have tried to organise independent celebrations of this day and every year they have faced the violent repression of the Islamic regime. Workers have been arrested,  lashed by security forces, forced to pay financial penalties and threatened with execution all for trying to organise independent May Day celebrations. During the last twelve months a number of workers from Vahed Tehran Bus Company, Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers syndicate and labour activists form Kurdistan have been sent to prison. The Iranian working class, currently counting for more than 70% of the population, is aware and conscious of its historic role and will reinforce its ranks in the struggle against the capitalist Islamic state  and for setting up independent workers organisations. Last year saw some victories in this area amongst Sugar Cane workers and teachers.

For 1st of May 2009 Iranian workers have united and called for support of   the following demands :

-1st of May must become a public holiday and the state must remove restrictions on gatherings and demonstrations to celebrate May Day.
-Increase in wages in line with the rate of inflation agreed in negotiations with genuine workers representatives.
-Payment of unpaid wages and bonuses
-A democratic labour legislation based on workers participation
-Provision of social security and insurance
-Equal pay for women workers
-An end to child labour and support for street children
-An end to temporary contracts
-Decent pension  for retired workers
-Solidarity with Afghan immigrant workers in Iran our class allies
-Call for immediate and unconditional release of workers currently held as political prisoners.

Iranian workers have also used 1st of May to express support for other social movements in Iran in  particular the women’s movement and the students movement, and solidarity with the International workers movement.

On this 1st of May, activists of Workers Left Unity Iran will do all in their power to defend Iranian workers demands and to distribute news of the struggles of the Iranian working class to non Farsi speakers .

Long Live Revolution
Long Live Socialism
Coordinating committee of Workers Left Unity Iran
April 2009

4. National Teachers’ Day Arrests

On May 4 ‘The Teacher Association’ (TTA) organised ’National Teachers’ Day’ and demonstrated outside of Education Ministry in Tehran and outside local education departments across the country. The rally in Tehran started at 1pm with more than 100 teachers assembled. Police attacked the demonstration almost immediately beating many demonstrators.

During the attack the police managed to arrest Rasoul Bodaghi a member of the TTA in Tehran. After being handed a suspended two year term for a similar “offence” in 2007, comrade Bodaghi has been automatically detained after appearing before the Revolutionary Court on May 5. The last time he was held he was poorly treated spending 16 days in prison.

Outside of Tehran, the teachers demonstrations were violently dispersed, unfortunately we have no news of arrests at the time of writing. We call for the release of comrade Bodaghi and all of those arrested during the demonstration, as well as the release of all political prisoners.

5. Yunes Aghayan

Yunes Aghayan is under imminent threat of execution after being convicted of “enmity against God”. Yunes is part of Iran’s Azerbaijani minority and is a follower of the Ahl-e Haq religion. He is currently being held in Oromieg Prison in West Azerbaijan Province in the north west of Iran.

Yunes was arrested towards the end of 2004 following a crack down by the police against Ahl-e Haq members who were refusing to take down religious slogans and allegedly taking up arm against the state.

6. Support the Iranian Students’ Movement

The Iranian students’ movement is still suffering repression at the hand of the Iranian state. Several comrades remain in prison or on bail pending court appearances over the next couple months.

Students demand answers over 1988 massacre

On may 4 at the University of Babolsar in northern Iran, students mobbed Iran’s former prime minister, Mirhossein Moussavi. He was prime minister during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, he quickly dodged the questions and fled the scene to chants of “Mirhossein, give us an answer about 1998”.

Free Comrade Mohammad Pour Abdollah Now!

As we reported in the previous bulletin Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab (DAB) members are worried about the condition and treatment of Mohammad Pour Abdollah who is a leading member of DAB. He was arrested on February 12 and spent over a month in solitary confinement at Evin prison before being moved to Qezel Hesar, just outside of Tehran. His parents have only seen him once after sitting in front of the prison during Iran’s Norouz (new year). During the visit they learned that their son was being tortured.

We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and stand in solidarity with the Iranian students against imperialism and theocracy.