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The Iranian regime once again showed its fear of the country’s teachers by arresting many of their activists on the night of April 30th. This was yet another intimidation tactic that was meant to deter teachers across Iran from once again protesting against low wages and other basic demands on May Day and Teachers’ Day (May 2nd). The new detainees joined the ranks of many teachers’ activists who were already in jail.

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Further to our posting last month on the six year sentence imposed on teacher- trade unionist Esmail Abdi, Labour Start have issued an online petition  which we would urge all to sign. Continue reading →

The Campaign was officially launched last week on 20 October in London. The meeting, held at the Head Quarters of the National Union of Teachers heard contributions from a number of speakers from the labour and trade union movement and included veteran Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

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Since the nuclear deal was signed in July 2015 the fortunes of Iran’s capitalists and the regime’s functionaries have taken off. But all that the workers have seen is the growing gap between them and the rich. Workers are finding the influx of luxury cars and goods hard to bear when their children are going hungry! Inevitably workers’ protests and strikes have grown steadily in recent months.

To keep the legitimate demands and protests of workers (as well as women, national and religious minorities, the youth, the disabled, LGBTQ people, writers, artists and the vast majority of the population) under control state repression has been stepped up. E.g., protests against layoffs at Agh Darreh ended with 17 gold miners being flogged (https://shahrokhzamani.com/2016/06/04/agh-darreh17/)!

The Iranian regime considers those who organise labour organisations, illegal May Day celebrations and similar activities as having “endangered national security”. These activists are thrown into medieval dungeons, where torture and other types of abuse are routinely used to cow them. And those who are defiant even in jail, like Shahrokh Zamani, a painter who tried to organise an independent trade union, can end up dead. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/19/shahrokh-zamanis-death-in-an-iranian-prison-must-be-investigated).

International solidarity can help Iranian workers realise all their economic and political demands more quickly. There is now an urgent need for an effective solidarity movement that can support Iranian workers in their struggles. Help us build this solidarity movement. Support and publicise the launch meeting of the Shahrokh Zamani Action Campaign.

7pm – 9pm – 20 October – Hamilton House (NUT), Mabledon Place, London

Speakers confirmed:

Morad Shirin- Iranian Workers’ Solidarity Network.

Peter Tatchell- Human rights campaigner.

Rhea Wolfson- Labour Party NEC member and GMB activist.

Rida Vaquas – Young Labour.

Henry Chango Lopez- President, IWGB Union.

Speakers in personal capacity unless otherwise stated.

Video clips from the picket on 13 September 2016 in front of the IRI embassy in London on the anniversary of Shahrokh Zamani’s death in prison in the hands of the Iranian regime.