NOTHING CAN STOP US

Amnesty International : Sanaz Allahyari (f), Nasim Roshana’i (f), Maryam Sheikh (f), Amir Hossein Mohammadi-Far (m), all students

2009-03-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

Amnesty International :
Urgent Action : Sanaz Allahyari (f), Nasim Roshana’i (f), Maryam Sheikh (f), Amir Hossein Mohammadi-Far (m), all students

The four students named above, and possibly others, affiliated to the students’ rights body, Students for Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab), were arrested on 01 March and have reportedly been transferred to Evin prison. Amnesty International fears that they are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment while in detention.
They may have been detained in connection with a demonstration held on 23 February, at Amir Kabir University to protest against the government burying the remains of soldiers killed during the Iran-Iraq war between 1980 and 1988 on university campuses.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since December there have been waves of arbitrary arrests and harassment of students, particularly directed against members of Iran's religious and ethnic minorities, trade unionists and women's rights activists. These measures may in part be intended to stifle debate and to silence critics of the authorities in advance of the forthcoming presidential election in June 2009.

More than 70 students were detained on 23 February during a peaceful demonstration held by students at Tehran’s Amir Kabir University in protest at the government’s burial on campus of soldiers’ remains

Many of the student temporarily detained during the demonstration were reportedly ill-treated. Others were taken to Police Station 107 at Palestine Square where there were also reports that students were ill-treated. Female students were said to have been insulted by police officers. Most of those arrested were released by the following morning although, more arrests of students were made in the days following the demonstration, including Abbas Hakimzadeh, Mehdi Mashayekhi, Nariman Mostafavi and Ahmad Qasaban, members of the Islamic Students Association (ISA) of Amir Kabir University.

The burial of the unknown soldiers on the university campus has widely been seen as a move by the government to seek to control student groups opposed to its policies. Burial of soldiers, called martyrs on account of their sacrifice in fighting against Iraqi forces, appears to enable non-students to enter the campus without being required to show evidence that they are students, a normal requirement for access to university premises. Students groups fear that the presence of the graves would allow unrestricted access to the campuses by security forces, including the Basij mobilization forces who are under the control of the Revolutionary Guards and would lead to further restrictions on debates and discussions relating to government policy.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to ensure that Sanaz Allahyari, Nasim Roshana’I, Maryam Sheikh and Amir Hossein Mohammadi-Far are protected against torture or other ill-treatment and are allowed immediate access to their family, legal representation and any medical attention that they may require;
- seeking specific details of the reasons for their arrest and any charges they may be facing;
- noting that if any of the students are held solely on account of the peaceful expression of their views or the exercise of their right to freedom of assembly, then they are prisoners of conscience, and should be released immediately and unconditionally;

APPEALS TO:
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: shahroudi@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of Judiciary for Tehran province
Ali Reza Avaie
Tehran Judiciary
No. 152, corner of 17th Alley, before Shahid Motahhari Avenue
Sanaei Avenue, Karimkhan Zand Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: avaei@dadgostary-tehran.ir, info@dadgostary-tehran.ir
Fax: +98 21 8832 6700 (unreliable, please try three times before trying an alternative method)
Salutation: Dear Sir

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri, Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Javid Larijani)
Salutation:Dear Mr Larijani

Ambassade de la République islamique d’Iran
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 15
1050 Bruxelles
Fax : 02.762.39.15
Email : secretariat@iranembassy.be
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa06009.pdf?rss=actions

Unawareness of the situation of Amin Ghazaei, the Leftist university student activist.

2009-03-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

From 5 days ago, that is to say after the forces of regime attacked Amin Ghazaei`s home and arrested Amir Hussein Mohammadi far, Sanaz Allahyari, Maryam Sheikh and Nasim Roshanaei, There is still no news about Amin Ghazaei, the Leftist University Student Activist. According to the on hand proofs and the news received from one of his comrades, he has been threatened to death by the forces of regime. It seems that, Amin Ghazaei is being followed from Sunday and the forces of regime severely want to find him.
In the meantime his friends and his family are so worried about his situation .

2009-03-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

Agents Attacked Amin Ghaza'ee's Residence and Arrested 4 «FESS» Students

2009-03-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

In an attack to Amin Ghaza’ee’s home, this morning, Sunday, March 1, 09, government agents arrested 4 student activists Amir Hoesein MohamadiFar, Sanaz Allahiari, Maryam Sheikh, Nasim Rashana’ee. All four have been taken to an un-known place and there is no news of their whereabouts yet. The reason for the crackdown was to arrest Amin Ghaza’ee, well-known essayist/translator, and the master mind of the intellectual freedom and equality-seeking students of Iran. Amin Ghaza’ee managed to escape and at present he is hiding without a trace. There is no news where he might be but the government agents are sifting Tehran’s neighbourhoods to catch him. Iranian activists, along with the new age intellectuals who are writing the literature today, are terrified by the news. Amin Ghaza’ee was released last year on bail. The rest of his colleagues who are still in jail have got capital punishment. He will have the same verdict if he is caught this time.

We are asking the international believers and activists of human rights to raise awareness regarding his case, and to find ways to assist him into freedom.

release our comrades

2009-02-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

Alireza Davoudi ( the spokesman of Freedom and Equality Seeker Students of Isfahan) has been arrested too

2009-02-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

According to the latest news, some hours ago, Alireza Davoudi, one of the Freedom and Equality seeker students of Iran has been arrested by Intelligence ministry officers of Iran regime too. They attacked him in his home and arrested and transferred him to an unknown place. They also inspected his home and confiscated some of his books and his personal belongings. There is no news about his current situation and where he has been transferred

Mohammad pour Abdullah has been arrested again

2009-02-12T09:59:00.000-08:00

Today 7 in the morning, the intelligence ministry officers of Iran regime, attacked Mohammad pour Abdullah (one of the Freedom and Equality Seeker Students of Iran) at his home and transferred him to Evin Jail. There is no news about his safety situation. The so called officers inspected his home and confiscated most of his books and his personal belongings. It happened whereas he had to be brought to court on 21st of February about his arrest in the last year. Also, the intelligence ministry officers of Iran regime have menaced the other Freedom and Equality Seeker Students of Iran to arrest. Mohammad pour Abdullah had been arrested last year on 14th of January.

2009-01-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Lors des cérémonies de commémoration de "la journée de l'étudiant" (Héritage des luttes estudiantines contre le régime monarchique du Shah), ainsi que la "rencontre des étudiants avec le président de l'assemblée" les étudiants de l'université de Shiraz dans un rassemblement très large ont mis en avant d'une seule voix deux thématiques : les libertés universitaires et les libertés sociales.

Chose rarissime ces dernières années, ces rassemblements furent marqués par une nette opposition au régime théocratique en place et permirent de déplacer le débats des habituels slogans modérés.
Mais cette radicalisation eut comme revers immédiat la mise en route de la machine oppressive et répressive du régime Islamique. En effet une quarantaine d'étudiants ont été convoqués en commission disciplinaire, suivis d'exclusions universitaires définitives et de mesures d'éloignement.

Les Basijs universitaires (Milice Islamique sous le contrôle direct du Guide spirituel, l’Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) ont organisé des grèves de la faim et des mouvements de protestations dans la mosquée de l'Université de Shiraz, en vue d’obtenir l'ouverture d’une enquête judiciaire contre les étudiants protestataires. Le ministère du renseignement a, quant à lui, ouvert une enquête pour savoir quel sont les groupes ou pays étrangers qui tirent les ficelles de ces mouvements étudiants, pour ainsi mettre en cause leur indépendance.

Nous, jeunes Iraniens, étudiants, activistes politiques et associatifs, militants de gauche et réfugiés politiques vivant en Europe, nous réunirons simultanément le Mercredi 14 Janvier devant les différentes instances représentants la république islamique et devant les universités dans nos villes d'accueils, en signe de solidarité avec le mouvement progressiste étudiant, et en particulier nos compagnons de l'université de Shiraz. Ainsi nous voulons déclarer avec eux notre haine et opposition face a cette répression théocratique que subit notre peuple.
Nous vous invitons à nous rejoindre en participant a ces rassemblements, en nous apportant votre soutien dans nos actions.

Collectif des jeunes Iraniens Libres - Paris
Comité des étudiants - Belgique
Kanoun 67 - Allemagne

Police Attack Shiraz University Seminar after Days of Student Protests

2009-01-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

On March 11, Iranian authorities released four students detained on the previous Sunday during the violent police attack. The detainees were held at the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in Shiraz. Special Forces beat the students as they detained them, but during the detention they were not subjected to physical abuse.

Intelligence agents held the detainees in solitary confinement throughout the detention period. Twenty-four hours after their detention, the authorities formally charged the students with “acting against national security,” and “holding an assembly against the system.” During their detention, the detainees were deprived of any contact with their families and lawyers. Two hours before their release, officials contacted their families and asked them to post bail. The students continued their protest on Tuesday, March 11, which was the last day before universities closed for the coming New Year holidays on March 20.

UPDATE: (March 10, 2008) On Monday morning, more than 500 students at Shiraz University’s College of Medicine held a sit-in to protest the detention of eight of their colleagues on Sunday. BY Monday noon, the authorities released four of the detainees, Saadat Dolfani, Ali Hasani, Mojtaba Vakili, and Mohsen Fakhri who promptly joined the protest. The former detainees said they had been beaten and ill-treated during their detention. The authorities have not provided any information about the fate of the other four detainees.

Seven other students who reported to summonses were also detained. These students were detained last Thursday for a day, because of their participation in student protests. As of Monday evening they were still in custody. A total of 11 students remain in detention.

(March 10, 2008) Special Forces of the police violently attacked a planned seminar by university students in Shiraz and prevented organizers from holding the event on Sunday, March 9, 2008. They detained eight students.

The Islamic Students Association of Shiraz University and College of Medicine planned to hold the seminar to honor Nationalization of Oil Day. The authorities had issued a permit for the event and a number of notable invited speakers such as Davood Hermidas Bavand, Abdolali Bazargan, and Hasan Yusufi Eshkevari were due to speak.

“This is a flagrant violation of freedom of assembly. How can the Iranian authorities justify this violent action when they had issued a permit for the seminar? The police acted outside of the law and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said.

Eyewitnesses told the Campaign that fully armed members of the Special Forces entered the seminar Hall on Neshat Street in Shiraz. They prevented speakers and audience members from entering the hall. Inside the hall, they beat the student organizers and detained six of them: Masood Kheirati, Mehdi Amirian, Saadat Dolfani, Ali Hasani, Mojtaba Vakili, and Mohsen Fakhri.

Two other students, Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi and Nader Dinari, later approached the police forces to inquire about the detainees, and were also detained.

The police attack on Sunday follows two weeks of tensions at Shiraz University. Thousands of students held a sit-in from February 23 to March 5, 2008, to protest the university administration’s policies including interference in student elections. The sit-in is due to continue on Monday, March 10, if the students’ demands are not met. The students are also calling for resignation of the university chancellor, Mohammad Hadi Sadeghi, and for an end to what they describe as “the garrison mentality ruling student life on campus.”

The authorities detained 12 student leaders after they responded to summonses on March 6. After 20 hours of detention, the authorities released the students on bail, demanding they return on Monday, March 10. During the detention, officials exerted pressure on detainees to sign guarantees to call off the sit-in. The detainees refused to make any commitments. The names of nine of the detained students are: Kazim Rezaii, Abbas Rahmati, Hadi Asgari, Esmael Jalilvand, Loghman Modiri, Hamid Jonati, Mohsen Goharinia, Mojtaba Bakhshandeh, and Saeed Kooshki. The other two detained students did not wish to release their names.

The Campaign believes the violent attack on Sunday is designed to intimidate students from continuing their peaceful sit- in. The Campaign called on the Iranian government to respect freedom of assembly according to its international obligations.

The student protests erupted after months of harassment and interference by university officials in student elections. Last December, the administrators disqualified 108 student candidates for the Student Council. The Ninth Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz summoned editors of four student publications: Sahar Yazdani, managing editor of Ghasedak; Nahid Afrasiabi, managing editor of Rahgozar; Esmail Jalilvand, managing editor of Osyan; and Hamdollah Namjoo, managing editor of Matn. The mayor’s office in Shiraz and the Intelligence Ministry acted as plaintiffs in the case. The court prosecuted the students under the charge of “propaganda against the system.” It has not yet issued a ruling.

The University Disciplinary Committee also summoned the above four student editors on January 22, 2008. It summoned two other students, Iran Amani, managing editor of Khodam Boodam; and Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi, managing editor of Seda in early February. Both students were barred from continuing their education for a period of six months.

The university administrators are also refusing to allow the current Student Council to finish its term in April. They have instead installed a parallel Council in its place.

The demands put forth by students are all related to university policies. The demands include: holding new elections for Student Council; ending restrictions in women’s dormitories and providing them with proper accommodations; hiring qualified professors; ending prosecutions of students in relation with the sit-in; and the resignation of the university chancellor for creating “a garrison atmosphere on campus.”

According to residents of Shiraz, the local population has expressed its strong support for the students’ demands. Several local residents told the Campaign that intelligence agents called at least 50 students’ parents, threatening them with further actions if they don’t prevent their children from participating in the sit-in. During the nine days of protests, as many as 3,000 students joined the sit-in on a daily basis.

Urgent News : Comrade Davood Bagheri Is Still in Jail

2008-08-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Nevertheless comrade Davood bagheri is going to be released from the jail , Turkey Goverment doesnt let him free. Comrade Davood Bagheri is still in kirklareli jail & hereby we deny his freedom. We ask all human rights activists to pursue his freedom.

Davood Bagheri has been released today, Agust 14

2008-08-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Davood Bagheri free from jail, at last.He was released from the prison he was in on Thursday August 14, 2008 around noon. He is believed to be in Aderne, a small town in Turkey.
Freedom and Equality Seeking Students thank sincerly everyone invloved in the attempts towards his release.

the latest news from davood bagheri

2008-07-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

we have got news that Davood has been transfered to a high security prison, located 15 kilometer outside campe ghazi osman pasha zendane kerk el dar 15 km e edirne. he is kept in a solitary cell and apparently he's been beaten, and has been in very bad shape when the person who called us saw him.
this prison is a notorious jail and usually when refugee's are taken there, they are deported back.
we are very afraid for Davood. the person who called was afraid to reveal his identity. his strong guess was that Davood is under interrogations and is tortured.

Davood bagheri has been transferrd to an unknown place .

2008-07-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

Davood bagheri has been transferrd to an unknown place .
campaign To save davood bagheri : yesterday 25th july 2008 at 2 oclock in the afternoon , davood bagheri has been transfered to an unknown place by foreigner department of Edirneh police & till now there is no news from him. This matter is so oppressive . despite of united nations' promise , that they wont deport davood to iran , it persumes that Turkey goverment will do it intractably or because of his hunger strike put him on impact. Hereby we ask all who endeavor for davood's freedom , impact on turkish primeministry & other united nations & human rights organizations to specify the situatuion of this freedom & equality seeking activist & for his urgent freedom & not deporting him to Iran.

Sad news about Davod Bagheri from a prison in Turkey

2008-07-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

We have just been informed that regrettably Mr Dawood Bagheri, a, member of the “Freedom and Equality Seeking Students” movement who had fled to Turkey four months ago, has attempted to commit suicide. He is now kept at the Aderneh Prison’s hospital.
The unbearable detention condition and the inhumane treatment at the hands of the Turkish detention guards pushed Mr Bagheri towards despair and suicide.
Mr Bagheri was a student activist and following the Iranian authorities’ crack down on student movements in December 2007 was forced to flee Iran.
We call on all pro-human rights organisation s and the United nations High Commission for Refugee to urgently intervene to save the life of Dawood Bagheri.
Freedom and Equality Seeking StudentsJuly 11, 2008

The Call for Supporting the Campaign to free Davood Bagheri, Iranian Imprisoned activist in Turkey

2008-06-08T03:51:00.000-07:00

freedom and equality seeking students The Call for Supporting the Campaign to free Davood Bagheri, Iranian Imprisoned activist in Turkey
Active member of the Freedom and Equality Seeking Students Movement, Davood Bagheri was forced to flee Iran on winter 200…, after the recent wave of crackdowns on the group by the Islamic government's Intelligence Service agents. Mr. Bagheri arrived in Turkey with the intention to seek asylum where he was captured by the police before he was able to inform UNHCR about his condition in that country. He has been kept in Aderna’s refugee camp under horrific conditions since.
It is in our best knowledge and belief that the Turkey government and the police have acted against Amnesty International’s Refugee Commissary’s Laws and Regulations. Freedom and Equality Seeking Students urge all Human Rights activists and all who believe in social justice and the rights of people who under the threat of their country of origin seek refuge in safer parts of the world, to join this campaign and help us free him from the refugee camp detention center. Davood Bagheri has been treated harshly and brutally in this camp since he was taken into custody. He has attempted suicide in the camp where detainees take their own life as the shortest way to free themselves from the horrors and their hopeless situation in that center.
freedom and equality seeking students

Release Davood Bagheri from turkey's prison

2008-06-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

Davood Bagheri , student activist, writer, chief-editor of Bee-Nahayat magazine in Tehran University, fled Iran through boarder mountains and was arrested by Turkey’s police in Istanbul, before he could report himself to UN. He is kept in Aderne’s refugee detention camp since April 5, 2008. He is under severe pressure from jail-keepers. Has committed suicide once out of desperation. A few of his friends were forced by jail-keepers to leave the camp and Turkey’s land and cross the river to Iraq. 2 of them were drawn because they didn’t know how to swim. The situation in this camp is horrible. He is beaten and pressured everyday where assaulting the refugees is considered a causal act and prisoners commit suicide almost daily and take their own life. There has been nothing done for Davood yet through international human rights organisations.

A lettre to amnesty from Freedom and Equality Seeking Students

2008-06-08T02:34:00.000-07:00

Date: 14th May 2008
To: Head of Amnesty International –The Middle East Office
Dear Sir/Madam
As you are aware, a few months ago and in commemoration of the student day in Iran, which is held annually by students of universities across the country, more than 50 leftist students were arrested and imprisoned in solitary cells in the infamous Evin prison in Tehran. Their charge was "actions against the Islamic Republic’s internal and external policies". Many of the imprisoned students were tortured, physically and psychologically. The luckiest were kept in solitary confinement for more than 50 days. The Islamic Republic’s response to a student protest and the level of suppression that followed the event was unique in the way that the security forces kidnapped the students from their classes and took them directly to detention rooms and torture chambers.
Following this new wave of suppression of the activists of the social movements, a number of activists left Iran illegally, to save their lives and the lives of others related to them. A few of these students, Vahid Vali zadeh, member of editorial of Khak a well known student journal; Mazdak Tusinejad student activist who was arrested a few years ago for his connection and support of bus drivers union in Iran; Davood Bagheri student activist and member of Khak’s board of editors, a very well known student journal; and Hooman Kazemian student activist and well known leftist artist who has been kidnapped, detained and tortured several times by the secret police of the regime.
We the undersigned, appreciate Amnesty International efforts in supporting the imprisoned students, and request its much needed continuous support for the above mentioned who are currently seeking asylum in Turkey. They are in urgent need in terms of their asylum applications. Considering the security agreements between Iran and Turkey governments, we are gravely concerned about the possibility of deporting them to Iran by Turkey’s security forces and government’s officials.
Deportation of these activists has life threatening consequences for them. Therefore, our request is to please take necessary actions with regards to UNHCR and the Turkish Immigration authorities in order to speed up the asylum process of these activists and their immediate transfer to a safe country. Your humanitarian actions is extremely important for saving the lives of innocent individuals who have not committed any crimes but defending their basic human rights regarding freedom and equality.
Thank you in anticipation,
Yours sincerely,
-Behzad Bagheri
-Behruz Karimi zadeh
-Amin Ghazaye
-Peyman Piran
-Majid Ashraf Nejad
And other Freedom and Equality Seeking Students

not forget we’re the result of a millennium of the war of classes(studentes for freedom and equality)

2008-05-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

A mere question was the first encounter the Islamic Republic’s governing body, the right-wing, and the liberal affiliated media had with the radical left students inside universities. This question, asked out of sheer delirium, was rather simple: what are the reasons behind the emergent of communist students’ movement in universities? Or, considering the massacre of one generation and the vacuum of a whole decade, where did the communist students come from? Foolish answers were offered; some linked the phenomenon with the publications of Marxist Materials; some thought it was the next generation of the traditional left growing up; some were certain it was a ploy Islamic fundamentalist played to cripple the reformists and such. If anyone cared to ask why communist parties exist in the west, the response would be the account of a millennium. But the scope of the leftist students in Iran, known as The Freedom and Equality Seeker Students, established itself within four years only and gathered hundreds of members and organized tens of demonstrations and published tens of magazines. And all these took place at a time when there were no leftist-affiliated movements and no specific slogans supporting workers claims inside universities. Reformists with an eye for power and linked to the government had turned student movement into an axis for their political and election enterprises. The leftist students managed their achievements at a time when the group faced sever oppressions and the horrible ghost of apostasy and execution followed them closely.
Freedom and Equality Seeker Students are present in universities across country and are active in numerous non-governmental organizations, workers and students formations. They have members and devotees whom act in the usual way of recruiting new cells, expending the membership by invoking in people the sense to care and consider hideous reality of oppression of the masses; there is no magical skill into it. An all powerful leader is non-existent. There is noting such as financial or other means support from anywhere anyhow. The reason behind the sprouting out of communism in Iran could be found only in the fact of the social gap and the war of the classes. The group, in its entirety, is the representative of the workers class in a war of classes within universities. Why there? Because university is a tiny little crack in the suffocating oppression of the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is no way to believe in the war of the classes. What took place in Iran is a small example of an immense reality: the communist party and it’s struggle is not the reminiscence of the past traditions, it is and it must be the voice of today’s workers’, intend to build a future. In this war of classes, the movements of students, workers, and women are three very crucial fronts to conquer bourgeois stances. Until the war of classes exists, communism exists. It could be only an inspiration at one time and a powerful political party at another, but anyhow, the revolutionary communist party is the most refined manifestation of the workers class. This has been a conclusion communist students of Iran reached on their own. This conclusion was a necessity earned in the process of their struggle.
It might be interesting to know that the repression machine of the Islamic Republic of Iran, meaning the Ministry of Intelligence, did not consider the left wing of the student movement worth of attention up until the year 2006. But when on 2005 and 06 hundreds of students took to streets all of a sudden, chanting and holding communist slogans and shook the university of Tehran, when the group organized their protest on 2006 and gathered more than a thousand to attend, the regime abruptly attacked and arrested the leftist students far and wide. The likes of these arrests were un- heard of after 1998. Even though 30 of the core member of the group were arrested, the demonstration was held full force. All together there were 60 people arrested at the end and tormented by horrible middle-ages means of tortures and were kept for months in solitary cells. But the governing body of the regime failed to crush the movement. One of the arrested colleagues of mine told me that his interrogator confessed to him with these words: “Your group is like a rope, there is no end to it as much as we pull.”
It’s also significant to mention that the movement of Freedom and Equality Seeker students, although young and very recent but in no way it is un-experienced, or immature, or fanatic, or militant, or depended only on pragmatics. On the contrary, the left wing of the radical students, names such as Behrouz KarimiZadeh, Amin Ghaza’ee, Kaveh Abasian, Behzad Bagheri, Peyman Piran, … wrote extensively in Kahk Magazine and other publications and published their analysis over various social issues; their ideas still reflects widely inside Iran. But this was only to attract forces and to identify appropriate strategies and mottos. As a matter of fact this movement is not known by its extreme actions; it movement began its way slowly and timely and that was the reason the Ministry of Intelligence did not manage to notice the dangers caused by the spreading of their ideas soon enough.
At the end, I would like to add that this was not my intention to write a piece defending the communist students of Iran or to prop them up .All I wish to express is this: Let’s not forget we’re the result of a millennium of the war of classes. Let’s not forget the rightfulness of our cause. Necessity and reality of the war of classes keeps the fire of the struggle aflame, only we must become the tool for the workers’ class to reach power and therefore reach the absolute success in the end.

NOTHING CAN STOP US

2008-05-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

Release Ali Kantouri !

2008-05-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Behrouz Karimizadeh and Majid poor majed released!

2008-05-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

Mike Bessler
We have received word that Freedom and Equality Seeking Students (DAB) Behrouz Karimizadeh and Majid Majedi are now out of jail, which is a very positive development. They were apparently released in mid-April. Of course, “freedom” in today’s Iran is a very relative term and it is important to remember that our friends continue to suffer from the physical and mental consequences of their detention and torture. Further, they are awaiting trial on very serious charges which carry significant penalties in the event that convictions are returned. Moreover, as of this date, some DAB students remain imprisoned under harsh conditions.
Our friends need our support now more than ever!
We say “NO” to repressive theocracy AND to U.S. Imperialism!
Long live FREEDOM and EQUALITY !

About Freedom and Equality Seeking Students

2008-04-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

April 2008
For Immediate Release
Please copy and distribute via print and electronic media

The “Freedom and Equality Seeking Students” (also known as “Daneshjoojyan'e azadi khah ,khah va barabari'talab” or “DAB”) is a group of radical Iranian university students. In 2006, the group began its opposition to Iran’s dominant classes and their ideological apparatus. Marxian analysis of contemporary society served to provide the guiding principles of their movement. The bloody repression of Iran’s leftist groups throughout the 1980’s
amounted to nothing short of a political genocide -- a matter that is largely overlooked by contemporary historians. The Freedom and Equality Seeking Students knew this and chose to forge a brave path forward despite the risks before them.

Their original objectives included the following:
1) To form a nationwide network of politically active Iranian students.
2) To fulfill the need for a students’ guild in Iran.
3) To abolish the military occupation of Iranian universities.

These goals were essential points in their organization of Iran’s Students’ Day (Azar 16)
demonstrations of 2006. The two essential slogans in the 2006 Students’ Day activities were “No to War!” and “Free Universities from Invading Military Forces!”

Continuing in their efforts to spread the word regarding the struggle, DAB promoted their opinion and their theory through articles published in university-based magazines and local newspapers from various cities in Iran. The also published work through literary sites such as Art Cult and Mind Motor.

Iranian students continued the important work of organizing demonstrations through 2007, holding events on March 8 (International Women’s Day) and May 1 (May Day). The final scheduled event of 2007 was the annual Students’ Day event, (December 6 or Azar 16 1386). The event was planned as a huge, coordinated series of demonstrations to be held at universities across the entire nation. The Iranian regime was alarmed and threatened by the political implications of these events and exercised extreme repression in an effort to disrupt Students’ Day activities. Three days before Students’ Day 2007, political leaders, organizers and students affiliated with Iranian students were arrested and imprisoned. All together, about 70 people were arrested including friends and relatives of Iranian students members.
Some of the people arrested in the second round of the crackdown were friends and relatives of DAB students. They were released after a week. About 60 of the arrested students remained in custody for 20 to 30 days, enduring solitary confinement and torture. Most of these individuals were required to post exorbitant amounts of money for bail prior to being released. They are currently awaiting trial for their alleged “crimes.” There is news that there are unbelievably heavy sentences tailored for the DAB students. We fear very heavy sentences including extended periods of imprisonment and execution for group members and DAB leaders.

These brave students have done nothing but practiced their freedom of expression in a very peaceful manner within the limits of the Iranian constitution. To date, four of the leaders of the Freedom and Equality Seeking Students remain in custody. During the course of their imprisonment, they have been subjected to horrendous mistreatment and torture . Even now, as of the date of this correspondence, this abuse continues on a regular basis. The imprisoned leaders of Iranian students remain in custody and under extreme conditions because their families cannot raise the high bail amounts imposed by the courts.

Behruz Karimi Zadeh is now kept in Ward 209 of the Evin prison. He is suffering from extreme trauma resulting in internal hemorrhages . His right ear is deaf and bleeding. His bail is set at $300,000 dollars, an amount beyond his family’s reach.

Peyman Piran is losing his eyesight. He is having difficulty walking and his shoulder blade is damaged because of being hanged by the hands for long hours. He is kept at ward 350 of Evin prison.

Ali Kantoury could not be recognized by his colleagues because he is terribly sick , suffering from skin disease, constant vomiting and difficulty breathing. All of these conditions are the direct results of his mistreatement while in custody. Moreover, he has been denied medical treatment, thus exacerbating his significant health problems. He is kept in Rajayee Shahr prison, a notorious prison for political prisoners . Conditions in the prison are very harsh and political prisoners face harassment and attack from criminal inmates at the direction of prison guards.

Majid PourMaajed was stabbed while walking in the streets of Tabriz. He was kidnapped a week later and taken to jail. In a matter of 10 days, he was taken to a hospital in Tabriz. He was found to be unconscious at the time of his admission. The specialist who visited him advised press that Pour Maajed’s arms were covered by cigarette burns and that he was repeatedly vomiting. It was also reported that Pour Maajed was urinating blood because a hot rod had been inserted into his genitals. Pour Maajed was still in coma 3 days later when intelligence service agents moved him to an undisclosed location. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Amin Ghaza’ee is currently out of jail on $50,000 bail. Both Amnesty International and PEN International issued statements expressing concern on his well being during his imprisonment. Amin Ghaza’ee is currently awaiting trial along with his friends.

These students and political activists -- all of whom range in age from 20 to 25 years old -- are facing serious sentences, including lengthy periods of imprisonment and even execution. The fabricated allegations against group leaders include charges of apostasy, attempting to overthrow the Iranian regime and collusion with opposition groups outside of the country. Each of these charges is punishable by death according to the Islamic legal system of Iran. The students fear that when the allegations are presented in the court, there will not be much time to defend against these charges. It will be difficult and to rescue these victims of the Iranian regime’s wrath from the forces of reactionary oppression.

Some DAB members are trying to flee Iran. Some are seeking asylum in Turkey and some have reached European countries and established temporary residences. They are all in need of financial and humanitarian aid permanent residences in friendly countries.

Up until now, only Human Rights Watch has expressed public concern by issuing a statement of concern regarding the torture of the imprisoned Iranian students.

The struggle of the Freedom and Equality Seeking Students of Iran deserves international attention. For far too long, religious and humanitarian organizations as well as progressives and radicals worldwide have turned a blind eye to the situation in Iran. Many comrades have faced extreme repression, torture and execution while the international Left has remained silent. This is more than unfortunate...It is a virtual betrayal of their efforts and sacrifices.

Some groups and organizations have hesitated to express solidarity with the Iranian students because they do not understand the basic philosophical tenets of Iranian students. It is possible that non-political groups might find any group operating under the principles of Marxist theory to be somewhat suspect, particularly if such organizations are operating under a “Cold War” mentality. The political and philosophical framework of Iranian students is simple: These students -- who are admittedly secular -- have engaged in a very open-minded approach towards Marxism and they are sensitive to matters regarding individual rights and civil liberties. They believe equality and freedom are essential for a nation’s well being and they hold that civil and constitutional rights for women, as well as racial, ethnic, religious, and sexually-oriented minority groups must be practiced in their motherland of Iran.

The Equality and Freedom Seeking University Students of Iran never attempted to overthrow the government of Iran. They never attempted assist foreign countries in interfering with Iranian affairs. They never attempted an insurgency against the Iranian regime. They have committed no crimes.

Our comrades are desperately in need of international media attention as well as assistance from political and humanitarian organizations.

Time is fleeting and history and the situation is urgent. History will judge us harshly should we fail to support or comrades-in-arms.

Long live FREEDOM and EQUALITY!

In solidarity,
Mike B. das.kapital@gmail.com
Hooman Kazemian en.freedom.equality@gmail.com
and, Friends of the Freedom and Equality Seeking Students of Iran

For more information, please visit these websites:
Nothing Can Stop Us http://english.azady-barabary.net/
Friends of the Equality and Freedom Seeking University Students of Iran (Facebook group)

Freedom and Equality Seeking students

2008-04-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Freedom and Equality Seeking students, related to radical left, is a group of Marxist students in Iran`s universities. Through Marxian analysis of Iranian contemporary society, the group began its activities against dominant classes and their ideological apparatus in the beginning the new millennium. After the bloody repressions of leftist groups in the early 1980`s, what can be called a political genocide (and what is largely overlooked in the contemporary history), the group began its activities on 2006. Their aim was to form a network in universities nationwide to follow up and actualize trade and political requirements of students and fill up the need for an student guild in the country and to abolish the military occupancy of the universities in Iran. The two essential slogans in the student day, Azar 16, was No to War, and Free Universities from Invading Military Forces. The students promoted their opinion and their theory through articles published in university based magazines, and local newspapers in various cities in Iran, and in literary sites such as Art Cult and Mind Motor. One of DAB’s (Freedom and Equality Seeking Students) most important undertakings were demonstrations in dates such as Azar 16 (the national student’s day), May 1, and March 8. On the last event, Azar 16 1386, 2007, the event was exceptionally huge, celebrated country-wide by university students, and very effective especially because the leaders of the group were all arrested and taken to jail 3 days prior to the event.
All together about 70 people were arrested including friends and relatives of the group members. Those not belonged to the group were let out after a week or so. 60 of the group members were released with very heavy bails and are awaiting trial for their alleged crimes. There are news that there are nubeliebly heavy sentences tailored for the members and the leaders of the group, whom had only practiced their freedom of expression in a very peaceful manner within the limits of the constitution. 4 of the leaders and the masterminds of the group are still in jail and still under horrendous tortures.
Behruz KarimiZadeh, is now kept in ward 209, Evin prison. He is suffering from anal and internal hemorrhage . His right ear is deaf, and bleeding. His bail is set on 300.000 dollars, an amount beyond his family’s dream. Peyman Piran, is losing his eyesight. He is having difficulty walking, and his shoulder blade is damaged because of being hanged by the hands for long hours, he is kept at ward 350, Evin prison. Ali Kantoury) couldn’t be recognized by his colleagues, he is terribly sick and suffering from skin disease, constant vomiting and difficulty breathing, all of which occurred while in jail. He is kept in Rajayee Shahr prison, a notorious prison were political prisoners are sent were they are regularly hurt and attacked by criminal inmates instructed by the jail-keepers to punish political prisoners. Majid PourMaajed was knifed while walking in the streets of Tabriz. He was kidnapped a week later and was taken to jail. In a matter of 10 days he was taken to a hospital in Tabriz, unconscious. The specialist who visited him said to the press that PourMajed’s arms were covered by cigarette burns, and he urinated blood because of hot-rod inserted in his genitals, he was constantly vomiting. He was still in coma 3 days later when he was transferred again by the intelligent service agents to an un-known place.
Another one of the leaders of the group, Amin Ghaza’ee, for whom the Amnesty International and PEN International have give out statements expressing concern on the wellbeing of the writer in prison, is released on a bail 50.000 dollars. He is awaiting trial along with his friends. There news that these student and political activists, all between 20 to 25 years old, are facing heavy sentences, either execution or up to 20 years in jail. The allegation fabricated for the group leaders, such as apostasy and attempting to overthrow the regime and having connection with the outside opposition groups, are each punished by death according to the Islamic laws practiced in Islamic Republic of Iran. The group fears that when the allegations are presented in the court, there is not much time to prove the allegation hoax, and to rescue these victims of the Iranian regime’s wreath against the opposition mind.
Also, there are members of the group trying to flee Iran. Some are wandering on the borders to cross over, and some are seeking asylum in Turkey, some have reached a European country. They are all in need of financial and immigration help and must be taken to safe homes or countries.
Up until now, only the Human Rights Watch has shown concern with disbursing an statement of concern over the possibility of the students being tortured.
The group needs media and international attention since because of their beliefs they are not favored by Iranian Moslims, Liberal, and not even by the leftist living abroad since 1979, the reason, the group believes is because of misunderstanding their views on Marxism. It seems that they are being boycotted by the media, and the key organization which should take action at time like this to defend such prisoners of conscience falling victim to such tortures only to confess to crimes which they have never done. The students, admittedly secular, have been taken on a very open-minded approach towards Marxist teachings and are sensitive about individual and civil rights. They believe equality and freedom is essential for a nation’s well being, they believe civil and constitutional rights for racial, ethnic, religious, gender and sexual minority groups is in line with human rights and must be practiced in their motherland, Iran.
The group never attempted to overthrow the government of Iran, never attempted to give way to foreign countries to interfere with Iran’s affairs, never attempted to attack the regime armed or not। They are in need of international media and individual, Marxist or humanitarian organizations’ attention and assistance.
Hooman kazemian

Detained Students May Face Detained Students May Face Torture

2008-04-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: Detained Students May Face Torture
Authorities Should Investigate Allegations of Abuse
(Washington, DC, April 10, 2008) – Iranian authorities should immediately investigate allegations that Ministry of Information agents and interrogators tortured four detained student activists, and punish officials involved in such abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. According to sources familiar with the case, the students have suffered physical and psychological abuse during detention. Three students remain imprisoned, and the whereabouts of the fourth detainee, taken from his hospital bed on April 5, are unknown.

Iranian authorities accuse the four students of taking part in “armed activities” and “forming groups against the state।” Lawyers representing the students have not had access to their clients or their files. Human Rights Watch is concerned that authorities may have detained the students merely for exercising their rights to peacefully gather and express dissent. “Iran should either charge these students with a crime, or release them,” said Joe Stork, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Officials must investigate the reports of torture and punish anyone it finds responsible.” The four detainees, Behrooz Karimizadeh, Peyman Piran, Ali Kantouri, and Majid Pourmajid, are activists with the organization Students Seeking Freedom and Equality. The group states that it seeks to peacefully resist various forms of inequality and exploitation. The group has branches and members on university campuses throughout Iran. Since December 2007, Iranian authorities have arrested over 40 students affiliated with the group. All but the four mentioned above are free; some of the students released alleged that their interrogators tortured and ill-treated them while in detention. The arrests appear to have been triggered by demonstrations planned on several campuses to commemorate Students Day on December 7, 2007. Known by the date according to the Iranian calendar, 16 of Azar, Students Day observes the day in 1953 when police fatally shot three student protesters at the University of Tehran. The authorities began targeting members of the Students Seeking Freedom and Equality a few days before the planned events and continued to harass key members for months afterwards. The crackdown appears to be focused on the Students Seeking Freedom and Equality. On December 2, 2007, Ministry of Information agents arrested Behrooz Karimizadeh, 22, at the home of a friend in Tehran. Two days later, plainclothes agents from that ministry arrested Peyman Piran, as he was leaving Tehran University following peaceful student demonstrations on campus. Authorities are holding the pair in Units 209 and 305, respectively, in Evin prison in Tehran. Information received by Human Rights Watch suggests the authorities are subjecting the detainees to long periods of solitary confinement and various forms of physical and psychological ill-treatment. Approximately two weeks after the arrests of Karimizadeh and Piran, Ministry of Information agents arrested Ali Kantouri, also an activist with Students Seeking Freedom and Equality, in the town of Ghazvin, northwest of Tehran. Authorities transferred him to Ghezel Hesare, a prison located near the city of Karaj in Tehran province. Court officials refused to set bail for Kantouri and set prohibitively high bails for Piran and Karimizadeh (nearly US$300,000 for Karimizadeh). On March 29, 2008, Ministry of Information agents arrested Majid Pourmajid in the northwestern city of Tabriz and hospitalized him on April 2, 2008. Three days later, authorities transferred him from the hospital to an unknown location.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/10/iran18501.htm

British students elect jailed Iranian activist as honorary leader

2008-04-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

On 2 April, the annual conference of the National Union of Students, attended by over 1,000 delegates from universities and colleges across the UK, voted overwhelmingly to elect Iranian student activist Anoosheh Azaadbar as an Honorary Vice-President.
Every year the conference elects one or more Honorary VPs, who remains in office for four years, as a symbol of solidarity with struggles for equality and freedom across the world. Last year, delegates elected jailed Tehran bus workers' leader Mansour Ossanlou.

The campaign to elect Anoosheh was run by Education Not for Sale (ENS), a socialist faction within the NUS. ENS member Darcy Leigh, a conference delegate from Edinburgh University, proposed the nomination with the following speech:

"Conference, last year we elected Mansour Ossanlou, leader of the Tehran bus workers' union, as our honorary vice president. This year, we can once again stand with workers and students in Iran by electing Anoosheh Azaadbar.

"Anoosheh is a student at Tehran University. She's one of 50 student activists arrested in Iran last December for organising protests against both a brutal and oppressive regime and the threat of imperialist war.

"Like most of those arrested, Anoosheh is a socialist - an activist in the group Freedom and Equality-Seeking Students, which seeks to link the student movement to the workers' and women's movements.

"Our sisters and brothers in Iran are faced by a regime that locks up and tortures both trade union and student activists; that executes LGBT people; that values women as 'half a man' in the eyes of the law and that persecutes religious and national minorities as well as anyone who speaks out against its crimes.
"They also face the threat of economic sanctions, bombing raids and invasion by the most powerful military machine on earth.

"Two of Anoosheh's student comrades have been killed in prison. Whilst Anoosheh and others have been released, four people remain in prison and they all face continued persecution.

"Conference, if you're serious about international solidarity, if you're serious about opposing war, if you're serious about freedom and democracy on campus and in society, elect Anoosheh Azaadbar as our honorary vice president."
Even though the conference did not have time to discuss motions on Iran, this election strengthens NUS's policy of combining opposition to war with support for workers', students', women's and other democratic movements from below in Iran. ENS will be fighting for that policy to be implemented vigorously.
For more information, please contact Sofie Buckland, an ENS member who sits on the NUS National Executive Committee, by emailing sofie.buckland@nus.org.uk

For the manifesto and supporters' list for the campaign to elect Anoosheh, see the ENS website http://www।free-education.org.uk/?p=442

Will NUS conference oppose war and support Iranian students?

2008-04-06T02:26:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 16 March, delegates from universities and colleges across the country met for NUS conference “compositing”, the process by which the various motions and amendments submitted to the conference are quite literally chopped up and reconstructed in more manageable units. Among these was a motion from the National Executive Committee, proposed by ENS supporter Sofie Buckland, and a similar one from Sheffield College, proposed by ENS supporter Heather Shaw, which commit NUS to sharply oppose war and sanctions against Iran and organise practical solidarity with students, workers and others fighting to overthrow Iran’s theocratic government from below.
Unfortunately, the composited motion, which will be discussed as an amendment under the heading “Global solidarity” in the “Society & Citizenship” debate, will be opposed by some on the left, with a formal speech being requested by Plymouth University.Plymouth was represented at the compositing meeting by one of their sabbatical officers, Alison Smith, who is a member of the SWP and Student Respect. Alison and the other Respect comrades argued that, while they do support students and workers in Iran, any sharp criticism of the Iranian regime will strengthen the hands of the US and British governments and increase the possibility of war - even if tied to a strong anti-war stance.
ENS believes this is illogical and ridiculous; the final amendment, which is reproduced below, in any case deals with similar arguments in some detail. We appeal to both the Plymouth University delegation and the Student Respect comrades to drop their opposition to supporting our brothers and sisters in Iran, and to unite with ENS to ensure that the conference adopts a strong and principled anti-war/pro-solidarity position.
–
Amendment to “Global solidarity” in “Society & Citizenship” debate
Proposed by Sheffield College, National Executive Committee
Conference believes
1. The American government continues to sabre-rattle against Iran.2. The Iranian government continues to repress students, workers and women engaged in pro-democracy struggles, including the repeated imprisonment and physical assault of trade unionists.3. That the arrest of over 50 left-wing Iranian student activists for organising anti-government protests in December last year - and the death in custody of one of them, Ebrahim Lotfollahi - shows the urgent need for solidarity.4. It also confirms our perspective of combining 100% opposition to war on Iran with 100% support for students’, workers’, women’s and other democratic movements seeking to overthrow the Islamic Republic from below.5. That in 1999 we elected Iranian student leader Ahmed Bahtebi as NUS Honorary Vice-President, and in 2007 we elected Tehran bus workers’ leader Mansoor Ossanlou to the same position.
Conference further believes
1. That large numbers of students participated in the 2002-2003 movement against the war in Iraq.2. That huge numbers of students have participated in radical, pro-democracy struggles in Iran.3. That while many thousands of students were involved in the campaign against war on Iraq, NUS gave formal support but stood on the sidelines. We should not make the same mistake again.4. That anti-war campaigning will be neither principled nor effective unless it makes solidarity with the people of Iran against the theocratic regime oppressing and exploiting them.5. Just because the pro-war camp might disingenuously highlight Iran’s lack of democracy in its propaganda does not mean we have to pretend the opposite is the case.6. That opposing any war, invasion or other military action by American and/or its allies against Iran does not require us to silence our criticisms of the Iranian regime or put on our hold our support for movements inside Iran working for its democratic overthrow from below.7. In fact, making this support the central aspect of our opposition to war strengthens our position by allowing us to counterpose the imperialist regime change from above advocated by Bush et al to the democratic regime change from below fought for by our brothers and sisters inside Iran.
Conference resolves
1. To oppose any military action, economic sanctions etc against Iran.2. In the event of an attack, to throw the national union into the anti-war movement and support mass actions including occupations to stop the war.3. To continue and expand our solidarity with the organisations and movements of Iran’s workers, students, women, LGBT people and oppressed national minorities.4. To organise a student contingent on the next Stop the War Coalition demonstration with the slogans “No to war, no to theocracy – solidarity with students, workers and women in Iran”.5. To create a section of the NUS website aimed at raising awareness of democratic struggles in Iran.6. To send a message of greetings to our student comrades struggling inside Iran.
http://www.free-education.org.uk/?p=482

Danger of Death for Communist Students in Iran

2008-04-03T06:13:00.000-07:00

Kave Heydari
In the past 4 months, the Islamic regime of Iran has attacked and oppressed the leaders and activists of the Iranian communist movement -- namely, the "Freedom and Equality Seeking University Students।" More than 41 of our comrades have been arrested and imprisoned since December 2007। These brave people have been brutally tortured and tormented. Because of international pressures, the Islamic regime has been forced to give some of these students "conditional release" on the condition their families pay considerable amounts for bail to provide these individuals limited freedom until their trial.
There are still four of our comrades in prison in Iran. Two of them, Behrouz Karimi-zadeh and Peyman Piran, remain in jail because their family cannot afford to post bail. The amount of bail for Behrouz Karimi-zadeh is over £160,000. The Iranian government will grant no release -- even conditional release on bail -- to the remaining two comrades, Ali Kantoori and Farhad Haji Mirzaie. They are in horrible condition. Even now they are endure barbaric torture.
Behrouz Karimi-zadeh is a writer and the chief-editor of Khak Journal, a well known voice in students' movements. He is among the founders of "Equality and Freedom Seeking Students". Behrouz is horribly injured from constant systematic tortures during the past 3 month. Mentally and physically, he is ill and in great pain. He has received especially severe tortures to break him down. He has unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide with the electric cord in his solitary cell. He was taken to the prison hospital, but he received only minimal treatment and before his injuries were healed, he was subjected to further torture. He was forced to "confess" on camera and renounce his own political and social activities and announce them as actions against the country's security;. These allegations can be punishable by execution according to the legislations in Iran. Behrouz's right ear is damaged and has become deaf following insertion of hard object in his ear. He has been subjected to high voltage electric shocks on various parts of his body including his genitals, and his body has been flogged with cable, especially on the soles of his feet. This torture was carried out while Behrouz was in his solitary cell. His bail amount of US$300,000, is unprecedented and it is impossible for his family to pay it. This amount is unheard of for a bail in Iran and it is believed that the bail has been set intentionally high so that his family cannot afford it. His family was told that should the bail not get paid, Behrouz will be transferred to a prison for criminals very soon. Iran's judiciary authorities have announced that the government cannot protect his safety after his transfer to such a prison. His family believes that this is a conspiracy to have him killed by criminal inmates.
Also, I have been informed that the life of Peyman Piran is seriously in danger. He has been imprisoned since December and has endured brutal medieval torture techniques and his health condition is very bad. Peyman's right shoulder and leg are badly damaged due to constant brutal torture.
Farhad Haji Mirzaie, a member of the Association for the Protection of Children's Rights and a founding member of the "Association of Defence" of Political Prisoners and Human Rights in Iran, has been subjected to severe and systematic punishment and torture in an attempt to force him to confess to fabricated allegations. While in jail, his residence was raided by the security forces and his personal belongings were taken away.
Ali Kantoori, a famous activist leader who was abducted off the street by government agents, is in a bad condition. His rib cage has been broken down under torture. Because he refused to accept what under interrogations was asked him to confess, he has replaced to another prison ‐Ghezel Hesar ‐ as punishment. He remains in a cell in very critical condition. Ali suffers from illnesses and he is denied medical treatment. The government does not allow Ali's family to provide any bail for him. Ali's family has been advised that Ali must be imprisoned unconditionally.
We desperately need to raise money to provide bail for our comrades Behrouz Karimi-zadeh and Peyman Piran and we need INTERNATIONAL support to release from danger of death our comrades Farhad Haji Mirzaie and Ali Kantoori. The "Freedom and Equality Seeking University Students" have published an account number in their official website to provide our comrades bail. Let's prevent another human tragedy at the hands of the Islamic Republic against OUR COMRADES, the Iranian Student activists.
Name: K।H  Sort Code: 40-04-37 Account Number: 01568604 Bank: HSBC Iban: GB85 MIDL 400 4370 1568 604 BIC: MIDLGB2141K Adress: HSBC, Muswelhill Broadway, London
।pragoti.org/pragoti/news_detail.php?news_id=707&sessionid">http://www।pragoti.org/pragoti/news_detail.php?news_id=707&sessionid

release our comrades

2008-04-03T05:32:00.000-07:00

Release peyman piran

2008-03-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

We have been informed that the life of Mr. Peyman Piran an Iranian Student Activist who from months ago is imprisoned by the Secret Services of the Islamic Republic of Iran; is seriously in danger.Mr. Peyman Piran, who is imprisoned from months ago, has been tolerating brutal tortures of the middle ages forms used in interrogations. His health condition is terribly poor, his right shoulder and leg are badly damaged due to constant hanging of the body, and the beatings. We would like to bring this matter to Iranians and the entire humanitarian organizations' attention. Based on the latest news released by reliable sources three Iranian student activists including Mr. Peyman Piran, Mr. Berooz Karimizadeh, and Mr. Ali Kantoori have been transferred since this morning and are taken from the section 209 of Evin Prison Tehran, Iran to the quarantine section of the same prison.
Please help us prevent another tragedy by the Islamic Republic against the people of Iranian

Release ali kanturi

2008-03-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

Arrested student, comrade Ali Kanturi is kept in worst conditions in the concentration camp no 5 salon 3 in Ghezelhesar prison. He is kept in a cell that hardly fits for six, but seven inmates are kept in it. The cell is very dirty and insect infected. cmd. Kanturi is suffering from lung infection and asthma. He was under therapy when he was arrested and the illness has relapsed in the highly infected and dirty conditions of the prison. Despite our serious perseverance, authorities have done nothing to take him to a clinic. He has only been seen by the prison doctor and that happened only ten days ago. Medication was prescribed but nothing has been delivered to him so far. Last Monday comrade kanturi's family visited him in the visitation cabin with the presence of the guards and intelligence officers.

Release behrooz karimizadeh

2008-03-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Comrades,
On the arrival of the new year in Iran some of the Equality and Freedom Seeking University Students are still kept in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran the capital of the country, due to their families' inability to provide the incredibly high bills - US$ 400,000 dollars. The only solution remained for their families is to buy the bills,i.e., to pay one tenth of the amount of the land or house so that the owner let the property be used for that perpose. They could have so far gather about half of the amount. If you happen to be able to help in any way or know someone who may do that please do not hesitate to send your money to the HSBC account introduced in
http://azady-barabary.com/%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8/%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d9%85%d9%87%d9%85/-20080304378.html
which is the official site of these students. They are in poor health conditions and the authorities have threatened the families to send their children to the general ward where all different criminals are kept.

release farhad haji mirzaii

2008-03-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

release mehdi bokharaii

2008-03-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

ISSE demonstrates in New York to demand release of jailed Iranian students

2008-02-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

The International Students for Social Equality held a demonstration Saturday, February 16 to protest the Iranian government’s arrest of more than 40 left-wing students and demand their immediate release.
ISSE members and supporters, together with a group of Iranian students attending university in the US, rallied outside the Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in midtown Manhattan. The demonstrators carried signs condemning the arrests and put up display boards bearing photographs of a number of those who are now imprisoned by the Iranian government. The students formed a picket line, marching in front of the entrance to the building on Third Ave. in Manhattan, where the mission has its offices, chanting, “Free the Iranian students, no to war against Iran.”
After the demonstration, the Socialist Equality Party and ISSE held a meeting in which there was a lively discussion about the present political situation in both Iran and the US, the political issues posed in the development of the Iranian student movement and the struggle for Trotskyism.
Those arrested in Iran are part of the group Students for Freedom and Equality, also known as the Radical Left. In December, the group organized an independent demonstration to denounce US war plans, while also opposing all factions of the Iranian government. More than 30 students were arrested after the demonstrations, and another 10 were arrested on January 15.
Some students have been released on bail, while others have been unable to meet the extremely high bail fees of up to $100,000. Other students, including alleged leaders of the group, are not eligible for release and have not had contact with friends or family outside of prison. Some students have said they suspect that these prisoners are being tortured to elicit televised confessions. (See “Iranian government intensifies crackdown on left-wing opposition”)
At Saturday’s rally, Joe Kay, a member of the ISSE Steering Committee, addressed the demonstrators and read out a letter drafted by the ISSE to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demanding the immediate release of the imprisoned students. The ISSE will be submitting this letter together with other letters sent by our readers to the Iranian government’s representatives. The WSWS calls on its readers to continue sending letters of protest to the Iranian Interests Section in the United States at
requests@daftar.org
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

. Please send copies to the WSWS.
We will soon be posting a more complete report on the ISSE demonstration on the WSWS.
The text of the ISSE letter follows:
President Mahmoud AhmadinejadSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiPresident Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei:
We are writing to demand the immediate release of all members of the group Azady Barabary (Students for Freedom and Equality) currently held by the government of Iran. Charges against these students must be dropped. They have committed no crime but to engage in legitimate protest against war plans of the United States and the policies of your government. The freed students must be given the right to demonstrate and voice their political opinions openly on campuses.
A list of the names of those students arrested is included below. These students are not affiliated with our organization, but we, along with students and workers all over the world, are following their treatment carefully. We will continue to follow and publicize their cases until they are freed and their unjust persecution ends.
We are outraged by reports that these students have been subject to torture and myriad forms of physical and psychological interrogation. They may also be under pressure to agree to false confessions before television cameras.
These methods recall the atrocities of the Shah’s regime. It should be noted that the first wave of student arrests in December occurred after a demonstration marking Students’ Day, which commemorates the murder of four students by the Shah during the visit of then-US Vice President Richard Nixon in 1953. The killing occurred shortly after the US-sponsored coup overthrowing the government of Mohammad Mossadegh.
The ISSE speaks on behalf of students and workers in the United States and around the world who are deeply opposed to the past and present warmongering policies of the US government against Iran. The students that you have placed behind bars were engaged in protests against US imperialism. Their arrest will only damage the struggle against war that endangers the population of the entire region.
Your imprisonment and mistreatment of these courageous students is a grievous assault on democratic and human rights. It plays into the hands of the imperialist militarists, who exploit the injustice committed by your government to justify their plans for an assault against Iran.
We once again demand the immediate release and the dropping of charges against the following students:
Amin Ghazaie, Bijan Sabagh, Soroush Dashtestani, Anahita Hosseini, Morteza Eslahchi, Bita Samimizad, Behzad Bagheri, Morteza Khedmatloo, Soroush Sabet, Mohammad Pourabdollah, Mohammad Zera’ati, Farzad Hasanzadeh, Saeed Habibi, Peyman Piran, Mehdi Gerailoo, Nader Ehsani, Behrooz Karimizadeh, Ali Salem, Ali Kolaie, Abed Tavancheh, Sadra Pirhayati, Saeed Aghamali, Keyvan Amiri Elyasi, Hadi Salari, Amir Aghaie, Soroush Hashempour, Mehdi Allahyari, Majid Ashrafnejad, Reza Arab, Mohammad Saleh Aboman, Sohrab Karimi, Farshid Doostipour, Javad Alizadeh, Anoosheh Azadbar, Ilnaz Jamshidi, Roozbeh Safshekan, Roozbehan Amiri, Farshid Farhadi Ahangaran, Milad Omrani, Mohsen Ghamin, Nasim Soltanbeigi, Amirhossein Mehrzad, Mahsa Mohebi, Saeed Aghakhani, Okhtai Hosseini, Arash Pakzad.
See Also:Demonstration in New York to protest arrest of Iranian students[14 February 2008]An interview with an Iranian activist on arrests of left-wing students[28 January 2008]

Iran: a new left is emerging on the campuses

2008-02-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

Iran: a new left is emerging on the campuses
There have been major confrontations over the last month between students and Iranian security forces. Iranian socialist Behzad of the Iranian Marxist journal Saamaan No (New Order) spoke to Socialist Worker about the new left wing movement rising in Iranian universities.
‘For students in Iran 7 December is an important date. It was on this day in 1953 that students staged mass protests in the University of Tehran at the visit of then US vice-president Richard Nixon.
Nixon was visiting the Shah (the king of Iran) to congratulate him on the coup that toppled the popular nationalist government of Mohammed Mossadeq.
This was a US and British backed coup, and although they got rid of Mossadeq, it did not crush the movement that brought him to power.
The Shah’s security forces fired on the student demonstration, killing three. Since then this date has became a celebration of resistance to dictatorship and the struggle for freedom.
Following the 1953 protests, Iranian students formed the Confederation of Iranian Students to oppose the Shah. Many activists in the confederation were socialist and participated in the revolution that overthrew the Shah in 1979.
Also among them were Islamist students who were part of the National Front – a movement inspired by Mossadeq focused on nationalising Iran’s oil.
Revolution
This movement came to an end when universities were closed for two years following the foundation of the Islamic Republic and the rise to power of Ayatollah Khomeni.
These were the years of the Iran-Iraq war and terrible repression. Many tens of thousands were killed or put in prison. The left was defeated.
In the early 1990s a reform movement grew in Iran. It brought to power the “reformist” president Mohammad Khatami. This movement emerged at the same time as the Soviet Union collapsed. So the left was in disarray and dominated by ideas that said there can never be revolutionary change, the best you can hope for are gradual reforms. This movement put all its faith in Khatami.
However, as it became clear that the reformist president could not deliver the changes demanded of him, this created the conditions for a new left to emerge.
One of the centres of this movement was the pro-reform student Islamist societies in the colleges. At the time these were small groups calling for democracy. They did not describe themselves as socialist or left wing.
They put their faith in small changes that would bring greater freedom and democratic rights, a free press and so on. These students became radicalised following the failure of the reform movement, and the closure of Salam, a pro-reform newspaper. Their protests were heavily attacked by the security forces. Some students began to break with the fundamentalist ideology and question reformism and the state.
Gradually through studying the history of the labour movement in Iran and internationally, they began to develop Marxist ideas. They began to organise and publish newspapers, blogs and other literature. They debated everything from art to politics.
Demands
Their demands range from improving conditions in universities through to questions of democracy. And the opposition to neoliberal policies of the government has also tapped into wider discontent across the country.
At the same time as a growing radicalisation among students there was a rise in workers’ struggles in Iran. At the heart of this were bus drivers, who established an independent trade union and found themselves in opposition to the state.
The majority of Iran’s 70 million people are under 35. There are over four million students in the country.
Two years ago, left wing students joined with reformists and the Islamic student societies to organise a major celebration of the events of 7 December 1953.
A year later these students began to raise slogans calling for socialism. They could not march in the streets, but they had good mobilisations on campus. The state responded with waves of arrests and repression.
In the first wave 30 left wing students were seized, in the second 11 – one of whom was killed. These arrests galvanised other students into protest behind student action committees.
Since then we have seen a massive growth in the socialist student societies. There are now up to 15 left wing journals and newspapers – most of which are clandestine.
These students have been debating two major political questions. The first is the opposition to imperialism, especially the threats from the US following the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The second is how to achieve real change inside Iran. They see these two positions as being important for the movement for change.
The right inside Iran has been able to use the threat of imperialism to snuff out any opposition at home. The first time was when the US supported Iraq during its war with Iran (1980-88) and now following the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and Israel’s war on Lebanon in the summer of 2006.
Last month there were major confrontations between students and security forces. At the same time there have been strikes and other protests. The re-emergence of the student movement and left wing ideas on campus is a sign of a growing confidence and changes that are developing inside Iran.’
Join the picket to support Iranian students this Saturday 16 February, 12 noon, Trafalgar Square. For more Information about those students go to » www.13azar.blogspot.com
लिंक:http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14134

PEN about amin ghazaii

2008-02-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
13 February 2008

RAN 08/08

IRAN: Amin Ghazaei, writer and student leader detained; fears of ill-treatment and health concerns.
The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of writer and activist Amin Ghazaei, who has been held incommunicado without charge since 14 January 2008. He is among scores of student activists to have been detained in December 2007 and Janaury 2008. International PEN WiPC fears that he may be detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to free expression, and calls on the Iranian authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally if held in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a signatory. PEN is alarmed at reports that he may be ill-treated in prison, and seeks assurances of his well-being and guarantees that he has access to all necessary medical care as a matter of urgency.
According to PEN’s information, writer Amin Ghazaei, who is also leader of the group Students for Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab), was arrested in Tehran on 14 January 2008 by Intelligence Ministry officers along with 14 other students at a meeting, in what appears to be a worrying pattern of recent arrests of student activists. He is reported to be held without charge in solitary confinement in Section 209 of Evin Prison, and to have been tortured. There is concern for his health as he reportedly suffers from a peptic ulcer, heart problems, and asthma. Amin Ghazaei's home was reportedly searched on 15 January 2008 by the police who confiscated his computer and all of his papers. He has been allowed one short telephone conversation with his family in the presence of guards, but otherwise has not been allowed access to his family or a lawyer. Amin Ghazaei was born in 1979 and is known for his many articles published on-line on topics such as gender identity. The websites he has written for include http://www.mindmotor.com/ and http://www.poetrymag.info/ . He is the chief editor of the electronic journal ArtCult and has his own web-log (bafandeh.blogfa.com). He has also translated some banned books into Farsi, including Gender Trouble (Judith Butler), Seduction (Jean Baudrillard), and Cyborg Manifesto (Donna Haraway) which have been published either on the web or by an Iranian publisher in Europe. He has also published two collections of writings, Hich Ettefagh (Nothing Happening) and Haghighat (Truth), and has co-authored the anthology Honar-e Mossalah (Armed Art). None of his works have been submitted for publication inside Iran.

Amnesty International gives the following background information: ‘Student groups have been at the forefront of demands for greater human rights in Iran in recent years. Since the election of President Ahmadinejad in 2005, there have been increasing restrictions on civil society in Iran. In April 2007, Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie publicly accused student activists and campaigners for the rights of women in Iran of being part of an "enemy conspiracy," though neither he nor other Iranian authorities have produced evidence to substantiate this charge, which such activists roundly repudiate. ‘

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Please send appeals:

· Expressing serious concerns about the detention and well-being of writer and activist Amin Ghazaei, and seeking guarantees of his well-being and demanding that he is given full access to his family, lawyers and all necessary medical treatment immediately.
· calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.

APPEALS TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ˜Ali Khamenei The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info@leader.ir Salutation: Your Excellency Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi) Salutation: Your Excellency Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:
President:
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency,
Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: Via Foreign Ministry: +98 21 6 674 790
(mark: "Please forward to H.E. President Ahmadinejad")
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website: www.president.ir/email

If possible please send a copy of your appeal to the diplomatic representative for Iran in your country.

***Please check with this office if sending appeals after 5 March 2008***
For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk

Amnesty International about Amin Ghaza’i

2008-02-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/037/2008
11 February 2008

UA 36/08 Arbitrary arrest/Torture or ill-treatment/Possible Prisoner of conscience
IRAN Amin Ghaza’i (m) aged 29, writer and prominent leader of the group Students for Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab)
Amin Ghaza’i was arrested in Tehran on 14 January 2008. He is reported to be held without charge or trial in solitary confinement in Section 209 of Evin Prison, and to have been tortured. There is concern for his health as he reportedly suffers from a peptic ulcer, heart problems, and asthma.

Amnesty International is concerned that Amin Ghaza’i may be a prisoner of conscience held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association. He was detained along with 14 other students at a meeting, in what appears to be a worrying pattern of recent arrests. Between December 2007 and January 2008 alone, Amnesty International has recorded the names of more than 74 students who have been arrested. (See UA 331/07, MDE 13/147/2007, 13 December 2007 and follow-ups).

Amin Ghaza’i's home was searched on 15 January by the police who confiscated his computer and all of his papers. The students arrested with him have been allowed family visits. Amnesty International is not aware of any of them having been formally charged with any offence. On 30 January, Amin Ghaza’i was allowed a three minute telephone conversation with his family in the presence of guards, during which he reportedly appeared subdued. Amin Ghaza’i has not been allowed access to his family or a lawyer.

Amin Ghaza’i is the chief editor of the electronic journal ArtCult and has published many articles on the internet about gender identity. He has also written books on the subject and reportedly translated some banned books into Persian.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Student groups have been at the forefront of demands for greater human rights in Iran in recent years. Since the election of President Ahmadinejad in 2005, there have been increasing restrictions on civil society in Iran. In April 2007, Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie publicly accused student activists and campaigners for the rights of women in Iran of being part of an "enemy conspiracy," though neither he nor other Iranian authorities have produced evidence to substantiate this charge, which such activists roundly repudiate.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, French, Arabic or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to release Amin Ghaza’i immediately and unconditionally or else bring him to trial promptly and fairly on recognizably criminal charges;
- expressing concern at reports that Amin Ghaza’i has been tortured and seeking assurances that he will not be subjected to further torture or ill-treatment;
- calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into these accusations and for anyone found responsible for abuses to be brought to justice;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that Amin Ghaza’i has immediate and regular access to relatives, legal representation, and any medical attention he may require;
- reminding the authorities that confessions extracted under torture are prohibited by Article 38 of the constitution of Iran, which says that "All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden," and that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), of which Article 7 states that "No one shall be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment".
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website: www.president.ir/email/

Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir (Please ask that your message be brought to the attention of the Article 90 Commission)

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 March 2008.

Release our comrades

2008-02-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

Four ways you can show solidarity with student activists in Iran

2008-02-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

Four ways you can show solidarity with student activists in Iran
Since 7 December, the Iranian regime has imprisoned dozens of left-wing student activists for demonstrating, or attempting to demonstrate, against it, as well as against the threat of a US-Iranian war। Please help us make solidarity with our comrades in Iran.
For more on the struggle in Iran, see http://freeirstudent.blogspot.com/, run by activists from the left wing Freedom and Equality-Seeking Students group. It includes a post on our campaign (thanks, comrades!)1. Education Not for Sale activists and others have organised to nominate jailed Iranian socialist student activist Anoosheh Azaadbar as NUS Honorary Vice-President. Her election would be a powerful gesture of solidarity with students and others fighting for democracy from below in Iran. For Anoosheh’s manifesto, see here. For her nominators and other supporters, see here. To add your name email education.not.for.sale@gmail.com
2. Activists in Iran have called for an international day of action on Saturday 16 February. In London, there will be a demonstration from 12 to 1pm, Saturday 16 February, in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Please come along, bring banners, placards etc; or if you can’t come, email us with a message of solidarity.
3. ENS is trying to raise £2,000 in support of the Iranian student movement, including with a benefit gig on International Women’s Day (details soon). Please make a donation, however small; email us and we’ll explain how you an do it.
4। Organise a meeting or discussion in your college or university about the student movement in Iran, and how to support it. We will be happy to send a speaker, and may be able to provide an Iranian speaker too.
http://www.free-education.org.uk/?p=440

Iran: fortsatta studentprotester

2008-02-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

• Studentrörelsens historia av vänsterkraft • ”Länge leve frihet, jämlikhet och socialism” • Intervju med exiliranier
Den 7 december 2007 hade studentrörelsen i Iran anordnat protester runt om i hela landet। Regimens säkerhetsstyrkor reagerade starkt emot detta. Veckan innan demonstrationen började arresteringar av aktiva vänsterstudenter. Totalt arresterades 43 stycken
Johanna Evans
Den 7 december 1953 besökte den dåvarande amerikanske vicepresidenten Richard Nixon Iran। Besöket anordnades efter den CIA-stödda militärkuppen i augusti 1953, då hundratals politiskt aktiva fängslades och mördades av shahens regim. Därför möttes Nixon av en stor studentprotest.Studenternas demonstration krossades av shahens armé och tre studenter sköts ihjäl. Sedan dess kallas 7 december (16 Azar) för studenternas dag.Offensiv har träffat Farzad Samimi och Gafour Abbasnyad från Iranska flyktingars riksorganisation, som berättade om situationen i landet.
Rörelsen växerDe arresterade är fortfarande anhållna utan rättegång, men trots förtrycket växer sig studentrörelsen starkare, och tillsammans med arbetarrörelsen och kvinnorörelser blir motståndet mot regimen större. De 43 som arresterades var ledare för studentrörelsen. Arresteringarna skedde runt om i landet. Regimen är rädd för studentrörelsen som växer sig allt starkare.– Studentrörelsen har en historia av att utgöra vänsterkrafterna i landet och har en förankring bland folket, en rot som aldrig kommer att försvinna, säger Gafour.Efter revolutionen 1979 ägde demonstrationer rum där man krävde demokratiska rättigheter, studenterna utgjorde kärnan i de marxistiska organisationerna. Många aktivister dömdes till döden, långa fängelsestraff eller försvann. Regimen har tydligt visat att den är beredd att begå vilka brott som helst.
Brutaliteten avslöjadSedan 1999 har rörelsen blivit mer och mer radikaliserad, då det avslöjades att den iranska säkerhetspolisen låg bakom en rad mord som hade begåtts. Folket fick känna av den sittande regimens brutalitet, vilket ledde till att man tappade förtroendet för den.Studentrörelsen använde slagord som ”Länge leve frihet”. Idag ropar man ”Länge leve frihet, jämlikhet och socialism.”Den iranska regimen överlever sina kriser genom att arrestera och avrätta oliktänkande och slå ned varje protest, men trots förtrycket från regimen, blir motståndet allt starkare.– Den nya generationen, den nya ungdomen, har ingen uppfattning om revolutionerna i Ryssland och Kina. Det är en ny generation med sina egna åsikter, åsikter som kommer inifrån. De växer sig allt starkare och vill ha demokrati, de är emot den iranska regimens ideologi, säger Farzad.Farzad och Gafour berättar om en av dem som arresterades i protesterna i december 2007, Ebrahim Lotfollahi, som var juridikstudent. Han arresterades och hölls i förvar av den iranska säkerhetstjänsten i Sanandaj, huvudstad i provinsen Kurdistan. Där torterades han av säkerhetstjänsten och den 6 januari uppgavs han ha blivit mördad. Grunderna för gripandet av honom har inte offentliggjorts.– De som har arresterats har inga som helst rättigheter. De får inte tillgång till advokat och inga rättegångar hålls. De får heller inte träffa sina anhöriga.De som arresterades är fortfarande anhållna sedan december. För tre veckor sedan frigavs 7-8 stycken, men det följdes av att tio nya arresteringar av aktivister gjordes i olika städer.
Ledarna avrättadeTrots att många ledare har avrättats, arresterats eller försvunnit är oppositionen mot regimen välorganiserad och aktiv i många städer। Den har varit uppmärksam och sökt sig till arbetar- och kvinnorörelser för att samarbeta. Tillsammans har de vuxit sig starkare.– Regimen vill behålla makten, den kommer inte att avgå frivilligt. Regimen kommer att behöva störtas av en revolution. Varje protest besvaras med hårda straff och förtryck, men rörelsen blir starkare.– Vi vill inte ha hjälp av utländska krafter, de kan och vill inte göra något för vårt land. Vi vill inte ha hjälp från till exempel USA, se på vad som har hänt med Irak. Vi tror att studentrörelsen, arbetarrörelsen och kvinnorörelsen kommer att växa sig starkare och gå vidare tillsammans, avslutar Farzad och Gafour.Lördagen den 16 februari kommer Iranska flyktingars riksorganisation att anordna en demonstration i Luleå till stöd för de arresterade studenterna.

http://offensiv.socialisterna.org/sv/786/internationellt/2490/?tpl=118

Iranischer Autor festgenommen

2008-02-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft: Iranischer Autor festgenommen Grund für die Festnahme sei möglicherweise die jüngste Internet-Veröffentlichung von Übersetzungen WUPPERTAL (BLK) – Der iranische Autor und Übersetzer Amin Ghazaei ist nach Angaben der Else-Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft (Wuppertal) vom Geheimdienst in Teheran festgenommen worden. Ghazaei, Mitglied der deutschen Literaturorganisation, sei am vergangenen Montag (14. Januar 2008) zusammen mit einer Gruppe von Studenten abgeführt worden, teilte ein Sprecher der Gesellschaft am Donnerstag (17. Januar 2008) in Wuppertal mit. Die Menschenrechtsorganisation amnesty international überprüft nach Angaben einer Sprecherin, sich in einer Eilaktion für die Inhaftierten einzusetzen. Vermutlich befänden sich die Verschleppten in einem Teheraner Gefängnis.
Grund für die Festnahme des Autors, der zu der jüngeren Generation von Literaten seines Landes gehöre, sei möglicherweise die jüngste Internet-Veröffentlichung seiner Übersetzungen, sagte der Verleger Ghazaeis der Deutschen Presse-Agentur dpa. Hierzu gehöre auch ein Titel des französischen Philosophen Jean Baudrillard.
Seit den Festnahmen hätten die Familien weder von Ghazaei noch von den Studenten ein Lebenszeichen erhalten, sagte der Verleger Sam Vashegi. Angesichts ähnlicher Vorgänge im Iran müsse das Schlimmste befürchtet werden. Der verschwundene Autor publiziere in Europa im Verlag Nashre (Paris).Die Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft hat nach den Worten ihres Vorsitzenden Hajo Jahn den iranischen Botschafter in Berlin in einem Brief zur „unverzüglichen Freilassung“ des festgenommenen Schriftstellers aufgefordert. Mit ihren international rund 1400 Mitgliedern und der Internet-Plattform www.exil-archiv.de kümmert sich die Wuppertaler Organisation um das Schicksal verfolgter Künstler und Autoren. (dpa/wip)
Weblink
http://www.berlinerliteraturkritik.de/index.cfm?id=16739

Anoosheh Azaadbar was nominated by students from 28 universities and colleges

2008-02-05T01:25:00.000-08:00

Anoosheh Azaadbar

for NUS Honorary
Vice-President!
Free the imprisoned student activists! No to war,
yes to solidarity with students, workers, women,
LGBT people and national minorities in Iran!
Anoosheh Azaadbar, a student at Tehran University, is one of the fifty activists arrested
in Iran since December 2007 – when the country’s theocratic capitalist regime began a
crack down against the student movement. The students were arrested for seeking to
organise protests on 16 Azar (7 December), the traditional Student Day on which
students once protested against the US-backed tyranny of the Shah and now protest
against the tyranny of the Islamic Republic.
One of the activists, Ebrahim Lotfollahi, is now dead, having supposedly committed
suicide, while another, Behrooz Karimizadeh, is in hospital fighting for his life.
Most of those arrested are socialists; they strongly oppose a US attack on Iran and
have sought to link their fight to those of the powerful workers’ and women’s
movements current challenging the Iranian regime. They have raised slogans like “No
to war: the university is not an army garrison” and “The student movement is an ally of
the workers’ movement.” They have drawn inspiration from struggles like those of the
Tehran bus workers, whose leader Mansour Ossanlou - the current NUS Honorary
Vice-President - has been in and out of prison for two years.
Anoosheh has now been released on bail; but by electing her our Honorary Vice-
President we can show solidarity with those fighting to build a movement from below to
smash the prison walls currently enclosing Iran’s workers, women, students, LGBT
people and oppressed national minorities.
Anoosheh was nominated by students from 28 universities and colleges; her
supporters include Education Not for Sale, Workers' Liberty students, Communist
Students and activists including Sofie Buckland (NUS NEC); Kat Stark (NUS
Women's Officer); Laura Schwartz, Teodora Todorava, Sophie Day, Jo Fried, Cat
Smith and Sam Lyle (NUS Women’s Committee); Rebecca Sawbridge (NUS Black
Students’ Committee); Aled Dilwyn Fisher, Adam Ramsay and Tim Gee (Young
Greens); Daniel Randall (NUS NEC 2005-6, Sheffield University); Laura Simmons
(Park Lane College); Heather Shaw (Sheffield College); Koos Couvee (Sussex
University Comms Officer); Darcy Leigh (Edinburgh Women of the World chair);
Stephen Wood (Hull University LGBT and Hull Labour Club) and many more...
To support Anoosheh, or if you would like to get involved in Iranian solidarity
campaigning more generally, email

sofie.buckland@nus.org.uk

Solidarity Message of Students’ Union From Italy

2008-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

By means of this letter I would like to express the support of Unione drgliStudenti, the Italian School Students Union, to the petitionfor the release of the imprisoned students in Iran.It is our committment to unite all students in the world and fight for peace,justice, equality and the right to education.
Valentina Giorda
International coordinator
National Board
Unione degli Studenti

An interview with an Iranian activist on arrests of left-wing students

2008-02-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

On January 15, the Iranian government arrested 10 students involved in left-wing protests against both the Iranian political establishment and US war plans. This followed the arrest of more than 30 students in December.

Before the recent arrests, the WSWS spoke to an individual in Tehran familiar with these developments to discuss the political and social situation in Iran. For security reasons, we are withholding this individual’s name]

WSWS: Could you describe the present conditions and situation faced by the arrested students?
Answer: At least 30 students have been arrested and held for 40 days. They have not been allowed to meet with their lawyers or their relatives. We know that some of them are on a hunger strike, and some of them have been able to have some brief phone conversations with their families. Some of them are definitely under physical and psychological pressure.
WSWS: What do you mean by “physical pressure”?
A: This is not from an authoritative source, but we have heard that some students on several occasions were referred to the prison hospital. We think that they are mostly under psychological pressure, but beating is something normal to make prisoners cooperate with the interrogators. One student has reportedly attempted suicide and was sent to the prison hospital.
WSWS: Has there been any official acknowledgement that these students are being held? Has the government provided a reason for the arrests?
A: The government has issued a statement that they have arrested “Marxist” students, and the notorious Evin Prison has acknowledged that the students are there. Being Marxist in Iran is itself a great crime, and is considered heresy against Islam. These students have been arrested on the vague charge that they have committed acts against national security. Almost all of them are kept in solitary confinement, and that part of solitary confinement at Evin Prison is run by the Revolutionary Guards [Sepah]. The students are probably under pressure to confess that they are in contact with dissident parties currently organized outside of Iran. All of these parties are declared illegal and anti-governmental. Any affiliation with them could imply great punishment.
Inside Iran, we face many obstacles to mobilize protests for the release of these students. The Security Ministry has threatened families that if they engage in protests, they will also be arrested. The father of one of those arrested, who is very active in giving interviews with independent media inside and outside of Iran, has been summoned to the Information Ministry and has been threatened by phone. Even the families are not in a position to gather and organize.
What we have been able to do so far is to stage a demonstration at Tehran University demanding their release, and we have organized a petition-gathering campaign as leverage for the release of the students.
Many working class activists in Iran—for example, the industrial workers at Asalooye Petrochemical Complex and Autoworkers in “IranKhodro”—have installed banners in support of the students at their workplace. There were some unions that have also declared solidarity with these students. Although those who support these students are not from formal organizations—there are no independent working class unions in Iran—semi-official unions that are not recognized by the government have voiced their opposition to the arrests.
WSWS: What would you say is behind this latest wave of government repression?
A: The government is faced with internal domestic as well as international crises, and so it does not tolerate any opposition to its policies. It does not even tolerate some activists that are closely associated with the so-called Reformists who do not pose a threat to the political system in Iran. Some of them are in prison as well. The reason that they did not do this before is that, first, the Islamic regime was in a situation where it was in a confrontation with the US, and it tolerated leftist activities, which were at the same time against US imperialism. This has become less important for the government recently, after the publication of the US National Intelligence Estimate report.
The most important issue, however, was the movement of these students toward a more independent organization. This year, for the first time after the repression of the leftist groups in 1980s, the Radical Left held a separate demonstration inside campuses in which they clearly delineated their group from the Reformist tendencies. In Iran, there are no student, or working class, or any other independent organizations. That is why it is very critical for the government to suppress and arrest these students. The government recently crushed a union of bus workers that had at least 9,000 members and many others as sympathizers. This happened two years ago.
WSWS: Does the move toward the formation of independent organizations among students reflect a change in the consciousness of students?
A: Yes, definitely. The first sign of changes among students was the emergence of the so-called “Critical Left.” Some members of this group adhered to the Frankfurt School of thought, and some others had Reformist tendencies, believing that capitalism should come first before any socialist movement. This was basically a Menshevik position. Later, in the past two years, the Critical Left was weakened and the “Radical Left” gained influence and established itself as the dominant tendency.
WSWS: What explains this leftward movement of students?
A: The change in the attitude of students has reflected the radicalization of society and the contradictions that have developed. At the same time as the Critical Left and Radical Left emerged, you see the formation of unofficial groups among workers—illegal, but still active. You even see the reformist movements developing—for example, the campaign for the equal rights for women, which had right-wing character in fact. This shows that there are contradictions within Iran that are finding reflection in different forms.
A second reason that the left emerged and gained support was that the Reformists failed to carry out their promises. Students have become very disillusioned with the Reformists. As a third reason, it is necessary to see this in a global context. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, left politics suffered a setback. In recent years, there has been a global re-emergence of the left. This was another reason.
WSWS: Has the economic situation also played a role?
A: When the Reformists came to power, they presented themselves as a solution to Iran’s social and economic problems. What happened in reality during the eight years they were in power was the introduction and development of neo-liberal policies. That furthered the gap between the rich and the poor, and the economic situation deteriorated. That is another reason why such tendencies grew. It is necessary to see them in the context of an increasing gap between rich and poor in Iran.
WSWS: What do you mean by the “global re-emergence of the left”?
A: We do not consider the Soviet Union to have been a socialist system. However, the Soviet Union was closely associated in the minds of the people with an alternative to capitalism. So when it collapsed and the right declared the end of history, many people moved away from socialist ideas. It discredited socialism in the eyes of the people. If you introduced yourself to someone as a socialist, they would say, ‘But the Soviet Union collapsed. It does not work.’ But this is changing today. People are more receptive to socialist ideas.
WSWS: How do you evaluate the danger of war against Iran today?
A: Based on the NIE report, the tension has subsided, but this does not mean that there is no prospect for war. The region is full of tensions, and Iran is not a conventional system of capitalism, and it does not work smoothly in the international system. The US tries to bring a system that works well within the system of capitalism. We cannot ignore the efforts of the Israeli lobbies that may lead to irrational actions by the US. Also, the US is definitely trying to change the political map of the Middle East in its interests. That is why we do not see the threat of war as something that has passed.
WSWS: How do you see the way forward for students and workers in Iran?
A: The first thing is that we need an independent organization of the working class and students. The workers themselves are following the developments in universities very carefully. The Islamic regime is doing its best to wipe out this emerging socialist movement. Because of that, it is very essential that all actions that are possible in the international arena be carried out.
The situation around the globe for the emergence for socialism is better than ever before, an attribute of modern capitalism. We definitely embrace any cooperation between students and workers in Iran and the US.

16th February 2008 the International Day

2008-02-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

16th February 2008 the International
Protest Day against the Islamic Republic of Iran!

A Call from Freedom &
Equality Seeking Students:

Freedom –lovers of the World!

The persecution, arrest, imprisonment and brutal torture of the freedom and equality seeking students in Iran continue. While more than 40 students are still detained, the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran arrested ten more students who were gathered in Tehran to discuss their joint actions for the release of their jailed comrades. In their recent attacks, the security forces of the Islamic republic of Iran have persecuted, abducted and imprisoned a number of students in the cities of Mashad, Mariwan, Ghazvin and Isfahan.

The Islamic regime tries to terrorise the newly arrested students by showing them how savagely it has tortured the previously arrested student leaders and activist of the freedom and equality seeking student movement. The Islamic Republic has murdered Ibrahim Lotfollahi under torture in the city of Sanandaj. The regime shows to our recently arrested comrades, the student leaders Peyman Piran, with broken leg and shoulder and Behruz Karimi Zadeh with deep fresh wounds on his body in order to terrorise them. The torture machinery of regime works heavily to make students under torture to confess on TV shows to actions they have never taken. They try to make our comrades whose crime is nothing but defending freedom and equality to confess to connection with the opposition parties abroad.

Under the international pressure, the Islamic Republic has had to release a few of our comrades on very heavy bails. The Islamic regime has terrorised and tortured the few released students before releasing them in order to suppress our movement. The families of our jailed comrades are under immense pressure from the Islamic regime.

Freedom – loving People!

Today, we, our jailed comrades, their families and the movement for freedom and equality need your support more than any other time. You warmly responded to our calls for support on 22nd and 28th December 2008. The freedom and equality seeking students appreciate your support. The international actions on 28th December 2008 were a great success in sending the voice of freedom and equality in Iran across the world. This is not enough as the students are still in torture chambers and freedom and equality movement is suppressed by the security forces of the Islamic regime. We must push this wave of suppression back and free the students. To achieve this, we need all your support.

Therefore we call the 16th February the international day to put pressure on the Islamic republic of Iran to release all jailed students. We call you wherever you are to join this effort to empower this movement for freedom of all our comrades, and to put an immediate end to all torture and suppression of freedom and equality seeking people in Iran.

Future is Ours!
Long live Freedom!
Long live Equality!

Freedom & Equality Seeking University Students across Iran

Iranian government intensifies crackdown on left-wing opposition

2008-01-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

On January 15, as part of a brutal crackdown on domestic opposition, the Iranian government arrested another 10 members of the Students for Freedom and Equality in Iran (also known as the Radical Left). Two more students were arrested on January 24. More than 40 members of the group are now behind bars at Iran’s notorious Evin prison or have been released on bail
On December 4, Iranian police forces arrested 33 students who were participating in demonstrations marking “Students Day.” The day commemorates the deaths of three students who were killed by the government of the US-supported Shah of Iran on December 7, 1953, while they protested the visit of then-US Vice President Richard Nixon. (See “Iranian government cracks down on student protests.”)
The students involved in the recent wave of protests have denounced both the Iranian government and the war plans of US imperialism. The arrests of the students reflect a growing crisis of the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which is responding to popular unrest with increased repression.
The 12 students arrested this month may have been involved in organizing protests against the earlier arrests. The Radical Left is a group of socialist students that is not affiliated with any political party. It consists of students who have come into opposition to both the current Iranian government and the official Reformist movement associated with former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hashemi Rafsanjani.
So far, only seven of the students arrested in December have been released after meeting a very high bail. A few other students are eligible for release on bail, but their families have been unable to meet the cost. Most of the students are not eligible for release at all and are still being interrogated.
Some of those arrested in early December were allowed to meet relatives earlier this month. According to reports from family members, the students have been kept in solitary confinement throughout the period of their detention. The students are under intense pressure to confess on television that they are linked to exile groups and have attempted to destabilize the country.
There are reports that several students show signs of having been severely beaten. One has reportedly broken his leg and shoulder, while others have cuts and injuries on their bodies.
Before the recent arrests, the WSWS spoke to an activist in Iran who described the reported treatment meted out by the Iranian government. “We have heard that some students on several occasions were referred to the prison hospital,” he said. “We think that they are mostly under psychological pressure, but beating is something normal to make prisoners cooperate with the interrogators. One student has reportedly attempted suicide and was sent to the prison hospital.” (See “An interview with an Iranian activist on arrests of left-wing students.”)
There are indications that the treatment meted out by the Iranian government against student protesters is becoming much more severe. Earlier this month, a Kurdish student, who was not a member of the Students for Freedom and Equality, was killed while in the custody of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry. The parents of the student said that before he was killed, he “showed evident signs of torture and abuse.”
Since December, scattered gatherings have been held at different campuses across the country to demand the students’ release. Many of those involved in these gatherings were summoned to the so-called “Disciplinary Committee” located in their universities for questioning. The government was evidently closely monitoring those arrested this month.
In addition to facing arrest, students involved in the protests have been threatened with disciplinary action, including being barred from their classes.
Both the timing of the arrests and the location of the imprisoned students highlight the utterly reactionary and antidemocratic character of the Iranian regime. The students were arrested on a day commemorating the US-backed Shah’s brutal actions against the Iranian population. The Evin prison where they are being held was created by the hated SAVAK domestic intelligence agency under the Shah. Ever since, it has been used for the holding and torture of political prisoners.
The Socialist Equality Party and its student organization, the International Students for Social Equality, demand the immediate release of all the arrested students. All charges must be dropped. These students have committed no crime. They have done nothing but voice their entirely justified opposition to war and the government of Iran.
The World Socialist Web Site will continue to follow the treatment of the arrested students closely. The WSWS calls on its readers to send letters of protest to the Iranian Interests Section in the United States at requests@daftar.org. Please send copies to the WSWS here.
The students arrested in January are:
1. Amin Ghazaie2. Bijan Sabagh3. Soroush Dashtestani4. Anahita Hosseini5. Morteza Eslahchi6. Bita Samimizad7. Behzad Bagheri8. Morteza Khedmatloo9. Soroush Sabet10. Mohammad Pourabdollah11. Mohammad Zera’ati12. Farzad Hasanzadeh
The students who were arrested on December 5 and are still in prison are:
1. Saeed Habibi2. Peyman Piran3. Mehdi Gerailoo4. Nader Ehsani5. Behrooz Karimizadeh6. Ali Salem7. Ali Kolaie8. Abed Tavancheh9. Sadra Pirhayati10. Saeed Aghamali11. Keyvan Amiri Elyasi12. Hadi Salari13. Amir Aghaie14. Soroush Hashempour15. Mehdi Allahyari16. Majid Ashrafnejad17. Reza Arab18. Mohammad Saleh Aboman19. Sohrab Karimi20. Farshid Doostipour21. Javad Alizadeh
Those students arrested and released on bail are:
1. Anoosheh Azadbar2. Ilnaz Jamshidi3. Roozbeh Safshekan4. Roozbehan Amiri5. Farshid Farhadi Ahangaran6. Milad Omrani7. Mohsen Ghamin8. Nasim Soltanbeigi9. Amirhossein Mehrzad10. Mahsa Mohebi11. Saeed Aghakhani12. Okhtai Hosseini13. Arash Pakzad

Mitglied der Else Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft im Iran festgenommen

2008-01-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

Mitglied der Else Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft im Iran festgenommen
Unliebsamer Autor hinter Gittern
Von Hajo Jahn
Ein verzweifelter Hilferuf erreichte die Else Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft am Mittwoch vergangener Woche in Wuppertal: „Es geht mir definitiv nicht gut und ich habe ein ernstes Problem. Am Montag dieser Woche hat der Iranische Geheimdienst bei einem Überfall einen meiner besten Schriftsteller und Übersetzer verhaftet: Amin Ghazaei.“ Absender der Mail war Sam Vaseghi, in Schweden lebender Exil-Iraner mit deutschem Pass.
Schriftsteller Amin Ghazaei Quelle: Archiv Sam VaseghiDer Ingenieur und Ökonom Vashegi ist selbst ein Dichter. Er setzt sich ehrenamtlich unter anderem als Verleger für verfolgte Kolleginnen und Kollegen aus seinem Geburtsland ein. Dabei arbeitet er mit der Wuppertaler Literaturgesellschaft beim Internetprojekt „Iranisches Exil-Archiv“ zusammen, Dr. Vaseghi (41) und der 29jährige Ghazaei sind Mitglieder der Else-Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft.Wie ernst die Situation ist, verdeutlicht der zweite Satz der Mail aus Schweden: „Ich muss binnen ca. 48 Stunden (es ist bereits Mittwoch) eine kritische Unterstützer-Masse im Aus-/Inland erreichen, falls er bis dahin noch lebt, damit die Sache innerhalb der Teheraner Regierung nach oben eskaliert und Amin nichts ‚zufällig zustößt’.“Amin Ghazaei ist nach den vorliegenden Informationen vom Geheimdienst in Teheran zusammen mit weiteren Komilitonen abgeführt worden. Es wird vermutet, dass es sich dabei um eine Zahl von zehn Studenten handelt. Recherchen eines dpa-Korrespondenten vor Ort stießen – wie nicht anders zu erwarten – auf eine Mauer des Schweigens bei offiziellen Stellen. Geheimdienste geben keine Pressemitteilungen heraus; meistens auch nicht die Namen ihrer Opfer. Was mit ihnen passiert, wenn die Proteste aus westlichen Demokratien nichts fruchten, weiß man. Deshalb hat die Else-Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft sofort die deutsche Schriftstellersektion des PEN und die Menschenrechtsorganisation amnesty international informiert. Diese überprüft nach Angaben einer Sprecherin gegenüber der Deutschen Presseagentur (die ebenfalls von der ELS-Gesellschaft informiert wurde), wie man sich in einer Eilaktion für die Inhaftierten einsetzen kann. Vermutlich befänden sich die jungen Leute in einem Teheraner Gefängnis.Grund für die Festnahme des Autors, der zur jüngeren Generation der Literaten seines Landes zählt, sei möglicherweise die jüngste Internet-Veröffentlichung seiner Übersetzungen, erklärt Sam Vaseghi. Hierzu gehöre die Titel „Seduction“ des französischen Philosophen Jean Baudrillard sowie „Gender Trouble“ der Feministin Judith Butler – „Titel, die für sich sprechen!“ Seit den Festnahmen hätten die Familien weder von Ghazaei noch von den Studenten ein Lebenszeichen erhalten, sagt der Verleger. Angesichts ähnlicher Vorgänge im Iran müsse das Schlimmste befürchtet werden. Der verschwundene Autor publiziert in Europa im Verlag Nashre (Paris). Seine Übersetzung von „Seduction“ auf Farsi erscheint in dieser Woche auch im (Exil-)Verlag „Iran Open Publishing Group.“
link: http://www.nrhz.de/flyer/beitrag.php?id=12010

Radical Left, Iran’s Last Legal Dissidents, Until Now

2008-01-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

By NAZILA FATHI
Published: January 20, 2008
TEHRAN — In early December, a surprising scene unfolded at Tehran University: 500 Marxist students held aloft portraits of Che Guevara to protest President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s policies. Smaller groups of Marxist students held similar protests in several other cities.
Political protest has been harshly suppressed under the current Iranian government, especially dissent linked to the West. But the radical left, despite its antireligious and antigovernment message, has been permitted relative freedom. This may be, analysts say, because, like the government, it rejects the liberal reform movement and attacks the West.
“The government practically permitted the left to operate starting five years ago so that they would confront religious liberals,” said Saeed Leylaz, a political analyst in Tehran. “But that led to the spread of a new virus.”
In recent weeks, the leaders of the Marxist student movement have been arrested, suggesting that the government is worrying about the size of the demonstrations and the growing attraction of an ideology that is deeply antithetical to its own.
Morad Saghafi, a political analyst and the editor in chief of Goftegoo magazine, said that it was not so strange that there were leftists but that it was significant that they were radical leftists.
“They are showing a kind of radicalism to reform, religion and the current situation,” he said.
Even some of those who object to President Ahmadinejad say permitting the growth of Marxist student movements is dangerous.
For example, former President Mohammad Khatami, a moderate by Iranian standards, recently raised concern over the growth of leftists at universities. He drew a comparison with the struggles before the 1979 revolution and said after the shah’s government had banned religious groups, leftist groups encouraged armed struggle against him, according to the news agency ISNA.
Leftist students use an anti-imperialist discourse toward the United States and say they have no plans to overthrow the Iranian government. But they refer to the government as a capitalist regime and condemn pro-democracy politicians who support change as “bourgeois.”
In a leftist publication called Khak, meaning earth, a member who was jailed wrote in an editorial in May, “In this leftist movement we need to move based on the ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin.” Marxists need “grass-roots and radical social movements,” he emphasized.
Another member, a woman who has an anonymous blog at faaryaad.blogfa.com (faaryaad means shout), writes “Reform died, long live revolution.”
One leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisal, said, “We think the regime is a capitalist regime and Mr. Ahmadinejad is a true fascist.”
Members are atheists and attack poverty in Iran as well as other countries, including the West. They consider no socialist country their role model, oppose pro-democracy students and accuse them of trying to reform a system that cannot be reformed.
Yet they have no specific agenda for change and seem almost nihilistic at times.
“We don’t think we can change anything in the near future,” said a 22-year-old student at Tehran University and member of a group called the Radical Marxists, who asked not to be identified. “But as students we think we can transfer our knowledge about class, capitalism and equality to society, especially the workers.”
Another member, Shahin, 21, who said his father was also a Marxist and was executed by the government in 1988, said the students ultimately want “free education, free health care and higher salaries for workers.”
Analysts familiar with them said leftist student groups began to emerge in the early 2000s when the democracy movement was suffering setbacks and many of their supporters were becoming disillusioned.
The government ignored the leftist students until December when the government began cracking down on their leaders.
As in many countries, a majority of intellectuals in Iran has been influenced by Marxist ideas since the 19th century. Much of the literature written since then is closely interwoven with leftist notions. However, Marxists never gained power here. They played an important role in the success of the 1979 revolution but they were soon marginalized by the Islamists and their members were forced into exile. Many were executed in 1988.
Authorities allowed all of Marx’s books to be published after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Leftist books sell very well these days, one bookstore said. The store said the most popular books were those about the Confederation of Iranian Students, the most active organized opposition during the two decades before the 1979 revolution. Many of its members were influenced by leftist ideas.
Now, once again, it appears the government has decided to suppress the left. The number of arrests has reached 40 and those detained remain in the notorious Evin prison.
At least three Marxist groups operate at the universities around Iran. The Radical Marxists have the most supporters, according to students. The other two organizations are workers groups.
The 22-year-old Radical Marxists member said that she had rejected Iran’s laws against women when she was 7 and had to wear the Islamic hood known as a maghnaeh to cover her hair for the first time. “In religion class, we always got angry as women when we read in the books that the head of the family is the man,” she said.
Reza Sharifi, 34, the leader of the youth branch of Mosharekat, a party that seeks change, said it was hard for the government to suppress Marxist students at the same time it was seeking better relations with leftist leaders worldwide.
“The government paved the way for leftist movements in the country when its best friends became Castro and Chávez,” he said, referring to Fidel Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.
“The whole idea was that any country that was against America was on our side,” he said. “As a result, all communist leaders became the Islamic Republic’s best friends.”
link:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/middleeast/20iran.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=left+in+iran&st=nyt&oref=slogin

freedom and equality seeking students(DAB)

2008-01-22T02:42:00.000-08:00

the Iranian philosopher was arrested

2008-01-20T10:50:00.000-08:00

Amin Ghazaei (1979), the Iranian philosopher, ideologist and translator and a prominent, active personality of the leftist students’ and academicians’ movement, was arrested on January 14th 2008 by the intelligence service of the Islamic Republic, which, two days later, ransacked his house and investigated his private rooms.
Earlier last year, during the December 4th 2007 protests held on campuses of Iranian Universities, including the especially prominent demonstrations at the University of Teheran, over 40 leftist students were arrested. Facts underscore that the second wave of arrests commenced this week. The arrests include that of Amin Ghazaei and eight other students and academicians.
Amin Ghazaei, the chief editor of the electronic journal ArtCult, is exceptional because he has never delivered his works to the Islamic Republic’s censorship administration (the Ershad) for approval. His many articles were published broadly by respected Farsi internet journals, e.g. MindMotor, màjàlehye she’r dàr honàre nevisesh, and dàvat. Two of his most prominent books and theses are No Happening (hich ettefagh) and Truth (hàghighàt).
Amin Ghazaei, who is also executive editor of the àndisheh (Thought) editorials of màjàlehye she’r, has recently written co-authored (with Babàk Sàlimizadeh) the book honàre mossàllah (Armed Art). Parts of the book have been already published by internet media.
In addition to his own works, the ideologist, Aimn Ghazaei, has made essential contributions to literature by translating and publishing banned books in Farsi, for example: Seduction by Jean Baudrillard, Gender Trouble by Judith Butler, and Cyborg-Manifest by Donna Haraway. The first two books are now under print by nàshre she’re paris and nàshre ketabhaye jibiye iran (an Iran Open Publishing Group Editorial).
Amin Ghazaei’s general health is poor. His present location and medical condition following the arrest by the intelligence service of the Islamic Republic is still completely unknown. From similar cases we suspect that he is currently subjected to physical and mental torture, with possibly irreversible traumatic consequences.
Short list of most recent articles by Amin Ghazaei
-The Family Machine
-A Ghost Over The Bed
-Sadistic Writing
-Interior Of The Mirror
-The Words On The Gravestone
-The Libidinal Holocaust
-Postmodernism: Rewriting Of Hegemony
-The Knees Of The Mass
-What Is Armed Art, Armed With?
-The Children Society
link: http://web.mac.com/renkat/BABEL_FRUIT/Blog/Entries/2008/1/17_Amin_Ghazaei_.html

petition on line by amnesty international

2008-01-20T04:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction/
All except two of the 20-30 students arrested for participating in the demonstrations for the National University Students' Day on 7 December 2007 are still detained without charge. At least nine other students, including Anahita Hosseini and Bita Naghashiyan, have been arrested in recent days. They may be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and association. It is feared that they could be tortured or otherwise ill-treated in detention.

According to information available to Amnesty International, students Milad Moini and Younes Mir Hosseini have been released. However, the organization has a list of 52 names of all those who have been detained because of their alleged links with the student demonstrations, though there is no further information on the circumstances of their arrest or on their current whereabouts.

Activists from two students' groups, the Office for Strengthening Unity (Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat) and Students for Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab) are among those who took part in these demonstrations. Before they were arrested many of the students received mobile phone text messages that threatened them with arrest if they participated in the events.

One detained student, whose identity is not known, is believed to have attempted suicide. Unconfirmed reports state that pressure exerted by officials and harsh detention conditions may have been factors in this suicide attempt. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has suggested that students were in possession of "catapults, sound grenades [sic], alcoholic drinks and misleading books." Students groups have dismissed these claims as fabrications.

The Islamic Republic News Agency reported on 15 January that the judiciary spokesman, Ali Reza Jamshidi, stated that 11 university students "arrested during the past month’s student unrest" would soon be released on bail, without specifying the identity of those to be released. However, other reports received on 15 January
indicate that an additional nine students have been detained in Tehran, apparently for their involvement in the demonstrations for the University Students’ Day.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Student groups have been at the forefront of demands for greater human rights in Iran in recent years. Since the election of President Ahmadinejad in 2005, there have been increasing restrictions on civil society in Iran. In April 2007, Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie publicly accused student activists and campaigners for the rights of women in Iran of being part of an "enemy conspiracy".
RECOMMENDED ACTION

Using your own words, please choose a few of the suggestions below to create a personal appeal and send it as quickly as possible: [click here for a brief guide to help you write your letter]:

calling on the authorities to release all students detained in December 2007 in connection with National University Students Day who are held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of their rights;
calling for any other students in detention to be tried promptly and fairly, in accordance with international fair trial standards, on recognisably criminal charges or else released;
seeking details of any charges brought against those in detention;
seeking assurances that none of those arrested is subject to torture or other ill treatment;
calling on the authorities to ensure that these detainees have access to relatives, legal representation, and any medical attention they may require;
reminding the authorities that confessions extracted under torture are prohibited by Article 38 of the constitution of Iran, which says that "All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden," and that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), of which Article 7 states that "No one shall be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment

APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street
Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh
Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., South of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (Subject line: FAO Ayatollah)
Salutation: Your Excellency

http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction/
COPIES TO:

Mr Seyed Mahdi Mohebi
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy for the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2
Fax: (613) 232-5712

Please take action without delay. Thank you!

Letters from around the world have stopped torture, protected prisoners and saved lives (click here to find out more). Your letters are needed NOW. You'll find the details and instructions below.

release amin ghaza_ee

2008-01-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Comrades

2008-01-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Comrades
While the filthy hands of despotism kidnapped and arrested some of our friends on Monday, while the Equality and Freedom Seeking University Students are detained every day, your protest in such a cold weather gave us and the families of the arrested students hope and motivation for their release. Your humanitarian efforts for their freedom should force the jailors to release our comrades.
We find you beside ourselves, find yourselves beside us. The attempt for equality and freedom knows no border. The recent wave of arrests of our friends made the attempt for their release one thousand times more.
Long live Freedom,
Long live Equality,
Equality and Freedom Seeking Students of the Universities of Iran
Dey 25 1386
(Jan. 14 2008)

İran, hapse attığı öğrencileri serbest bırakmalı

2008-01-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

İran, hapse attığı öğrencileri serbest bırakmalı
İran'da Üniversite Öğrencileri Günü olarak kutlanan 7 Aralık'ın arifesinde, 30'dan fazla 'eşitlik ve özgürlük yanlısı öğrenci' gözaltına alındı. Gözaltılar halen sürmekte ve içerideki öğrencilerin sayısı 40'ı bulmuş durumda. Şaşırtıcı bir şekilde, eski imparatorluk rejimi diktatörlüğüne karşı mücadelenin simgesi olan 7 Aralık, İslami hükümet tarafından da hoşgörülmemekte. Savaşa ve yaptırımlara karşı çıkışın haykırıldığı bu tören sırasında yaşananlar, eski hükümetin tutumunun bir tekrarına sahne oldu. Üniversite Öğrencileri Günü'nün 50 yıl öncesine uzanan bir geleneği var ve gözaltına alınanlar ülkemizin en dürüst çocukları. Haklarında sapan taşımak, sözüm ona sakıncalı kitaplar bulundurmak, alkol, hatta uyuşturucu kullanmak, ses bombası hazırlamak gibi asılsız ve saçma suçlamalar yapılmaktadır. Öğrencilerden birinin intihara teşebbüs ettiği yönünde duyumlar almaktayız. Şu an Evin Hapishanesi'nde hiçbir bilgi verilmeksizin ve aileleriyle görüştürülmeksizin tutulan öğrencilerin koşulsuz ve derhal serbest bırakılmasını istiyoruz. Bütün dünyayı bu talebimizde bize destek olmaya ve bu bildiriyi imzalamaya çağırıyoruz. (Üniversite Öğrencileri İçin Özgürlük Komitesi (Equality and Freedom Seeking University Students), imzalar ve destek mesajları için: seeking.committee@gmail.com

daha fazla bilgi için: http://www.azady-barabary.net/

http://13azar.blogspot.com/

http://www.english.azady-barabary.net/

link:http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=244578&tarih=16/01/2008

Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft: Iranischer Autor festgenommen

2008-01-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft: Iranischer Autor festgenommen

Grund für die Festnahme sei möglicherweise die jüngste Internet-Veröffentlichung von Übersetzungen
WUPPERTAL (BLK) – Der iranische Autor und Übersetzer Amin Ghazaei ist nach Angaben der Else-Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft (Wuppertal) vom Geheimdienst in Teheran festgenommen worden. Ghazaei, Mitglied der deutschen Literaturorganisation, sei am vergangenen Montag (14. Januar 2008) zusammen mit einer Gruppe von Studenten abgeführt worden, teilte ein Sprecher der Gesellschaft am Donnerstag (17. Januar 2008) in Wuppertal mit. Die Menschenrechtsorganisation amnesty international überprüft nach Angaben einer Sprecherin, sich in einer Eilaktion für die Inhaftierten einzusetzen. Vermutlich befänden sich die Verschleppten in einem Teheraner Gefängnis.
Grund für die Festnahme des Autors, der zu der jüngeren Generation von Literaten seines Landes gehöre, sei möglicherweise die jüngste Internet-Veröffentlichung seiner Übersetzungen, sagte der Verleger Ghazaeis der Deutschen Presse-Agentur dpa. Hierzu gehöre auch ein Titel des französischen Philosophen Jean Baudrillard.
Seit den Festnahmen hätten die Familien weder von Ghazaei noch von den Studenten ein Lebenszeichen erhalten, sagte der Verleger Sam Vashegi. Angesichts ähnlicher Vorgänge im Iran müsse das Schlimmste befürchtet werden. Der verschwundene Autor publiziere in Europa im Verlag Nashre (Paris).
Die Lasker-Schüler-Gesellschaft hat nach den Worten ihres Vorsitzenden Hajo Jahn den iranischen Botschafter in Berlin in einem Brief zur „unverzüglichen Freilassung“ des festgenommenen Schriftstellers aufgefordert. Mit ihren international rund 1400 Mitgliedern und der Internet-Plattform www.exil-archiv.de kümmert sich die Wuppertaler Organisation um das Schicksal verfolgter Künstler und Autoren. (dpa/wip)
Weblink :
Exil Archiv - Virtuelles Zentrum der verfolgten Künste
DRUCKVERSION
DIESEN ARTIKEL VERSENDEN

of:http://www.berlinerliteraturkritik.de/index.cfm?id=16739

Arrest of students in Iran continues

2008-01-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

Arrest of students in Iran continues
“Freedom and Equality Seeking Students” in Iran in a statement issued on Wednesday January 16, have announced that the Iranian authorities have arrested yet another group of students activists. As before, the security forces have literally abducted these students from their homes and dormitories. In the aforementioned statement the names of 10 students have been published. They are: 1-Arash Dashtestani; 2- Amin Ghazaie; 3- Bijzhan Sabagh; 4- Anahita Hosseini; 5- Morteza Khedmatlou; 6-Mohammad Pour Abdollah; 7- Bita Samimzad; 8- Behzad Bagheri; 9- Soroush Sabet; 10 Morteza Aslahchi. The details of other detainees will be announced as they become available.

The number of jailed students imprisoned since December 2, 2007 has risen to 44. The names of the rest of the students are as follows:

1. Mehdi Gerailoo
2. Nader Ehsani
3. Anoosheh Azadbar
4. Ilnaz Jamshidi
5. Behrooz Karimizadeh
6. Saeed Habibi
7. Ali Salem
8. Ali Kolaie
9. Amir Mehrdad
10. Mohsen Ghamin
11. Milad Omrani
12. Abed Tavancheh
13. Sadra Pirhayati
14. Roozbeh Safshekan
15. Saeed Aghamali
16. Roozbehan Amiri
17. Nasim Soltanbeigi
18. Mahsa Mohebi
19. Keyvan Amiri Alyasi
20. Hadi Salari
21. Amir Aghaie
22. Farshid Farhadi Ahangaran
23. Saeed Aghakhani
24. Okhtai Hosseini
25. Soroush Hashempour
26. Arash Pakzad
27. Mehdi Allahyari
28. Majid Ashrafnejad
29. Peyman Piran
30. Reza Arab
31. Mohammad Saleh Aboman
32. Sohrab Karimi
33. Farshid Doostipour
34. Javad Alizadeh
35. Amin Ghaza’ee
36. Anahita Hoseini
37. Bita SamimiZad
38. Bizhan Sabbagh
39. Behzad Bagheri
40. Mohamad PourAbdollah
41. Morteza Eslahchi
42. Morteza khedmatloo
43. Soroush Sabet
44. Soroush Dashtestani

These students have been arrested for participating in a peaceful demonstration to commemorate December 7 (16th Azar Solar calendar) the National Students Day in Iran. Students in Iran have been commemorating this day since 1953 where three students were killed at the hands of the previous monarchist regime.

Apart from calling for freedom and equality, this year with the looming threat of US war against Iran, the Student activists had opted for a call to end the treat of the war and war mongering of the US and The Islamic Republic as one of the theme of their rallies.

The heavy-handed approach of the security forces in dealing with the students defies every international laws and protocols on individual and civil rights. The news and information reaching outside Iran indicate that these students have been subjected to mistreatment and torture. The arbitrary nature of their arrests and the fact that no formal charges have been lodged against the students and the fact that the families and the lawyers of the students have been prevented from any contacts with them are all serious causes for concern.

We call on Amnesty international and other human rights institutions to intervene and act to put pressure on the Iranian authorities to release the detained students. We call on Amnesty International to take on the case of these students, as they are prisoners of conscience, and intervene to secure the:

- The immediate release of all jailed students in Iran.
- The immediate halt to mental and physical tortures of the jailed students.
- Access to be granted to the lawyers to meet the students.
- Access to be given to the families of the jailed students to meet with their loved ones.

Furthermore we call on Amnesty international to dispatch a delegation to Iran to co-ordinate and oversee the above activities alongside the families and lawyers of the jailed students.

Campaign to Defend the Freedom and Equality Seeking Students in Iran
January 2008

Amin Ghaza’ee was arrested ...

2008-01-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Amin Ghaza’ee, Iranian Marxist thinker, a prominent translator of Marxism into Farsi culture was arrested on Monday, January 14, 2008 by the Ministry of Intelligence agents of Islamic Republic of Iran. Amin Ghaza’ee, along with 15 more of leftist students were attacked in a gathering aimed to peacefully discuss and consider ways to support their friends and colleagues who were arrested more then 45 days ago taken to an unknown place by the agents of the same Ministry. Although the exact number of the students arrested in the gathering on Monday is not known yet, some say up to 15 names have been confirmed by family and friends.
Amin Ghaza’ee’s arrest is especially taken central to the occasion as he is not known as an activist but a keen penman who spent years of his young life to spread ideas by authoring and interpreting theories making it rather available and make sense in Farsi. His arrest has brought about much tension inside Iranian new generation of literary community.

It would be greatly appreciated if the news about Ghaza’ee’s fate in prison, and his colleagues whose names is provided at the end of this letter, be considered and followed up by your organization.

Amin Ghaza’ee
Anahita Hoseini
Bita SamimiZad
Bizhan Sabbagh
Behzad Bagheri
Mohamad PourAbdollah
Morteza Eslahchi
Morteza khedmatloo
Soroush Sabet
Soroush Dashtestani

Your very Sincerely

---

release our comrades now !

2008-01-12T03:59:00.000-08:00

Iran: End Widespread Crackdown on Civil Society

2008-01-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

“You Can Detain Anyone for Anything”
Iran’s Broadening Clampdown on Independent Activism

Individuals from an ever widening range of groups in Iran are subject to arrest on security grounds for political activism and peaceful dissent against the government. Those arrested are frequently detained in facilities operating outside the regular prison administration, most notoriously in Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, where they may be subjected to torture and abusive interrogation. After weeks or months the authorities frequently release those held on conditional bail or a suspended prison sentence, using the ever-present threat of a return to jail to intimidate them against further activism or open dissent.
Crackdowns on peaceful dissent have been a hallmark of all governments in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and there was already ample legal latitude for the persecution of government critics when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in August 2005. It is the great expansion in scope and number of individuals and activities persecuted by the government that seems to distinguish the Ahmadinejad period to date.
Since August 2005 Iranian security forces have detained at least 35 members of the Iranian women’s movement in Evin 209. They have also held teachers calling for better wages and pension plans, students and activists working towards social and political reform, as well as journalists and scholars with no history of activism. In the majority of these cases, the detainees have spent some or all of their detention in solitary confinement (sometimes for months), been denied access to counsel or visits with their families, and been put under severe psychological and physical pressure to give confessions, whether truthful or otherwise.
A set of laws within Iran’s Islamic Penal Code entitled “Offenses Against the National and International Security of the Country” (“Security Laws”), provide the government wide scope for suppressing any peaceful activity it perceives as critical of its policies. Iranian law also has grounds for denying basic due process rights to security detainees. Although the Iranian Constitution, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Citizens Rights Law include a number of provisions on detainees’ rights and methods of interrogation, Iranian law also includes grounds for denying some of these rights and straying from prescribed procedures. More than in any other period in recent Iranian history, the authorities have used security legislation as a pretext for politically motivated arrests and detention. Often there is no warrant or other legal basis given for the arrest; instead the authorities interrogate detainees without an attorney present with the intention of “fishing” for a charge. This report begins by outlining the due process rights under Iran’s criminal procedure code, as well as the security-related provisions that effectively undercut those rights.
Another distinguishing feature of politically motivated arrests under the Ahmadinejad administration is the focus not on individuals’ actions, but on their connections to foreign institutions, individuals, or sources of funding. The government routinely applies Iran’s broadly conceived security laws to accuse anyone from women’s rights campaigners to union organizers to student leaders of “spying,” “acting against national security,” “receiving funding from abroad,” or “planning a soft revolution.” Recent United States government policy promoting allocations of funds for “regime change” in Iran has been seized upon by the Iranian government to accuse independent Iranian civil society activists of being the agents of foreign agendas. Prominent Iranian activists have pointed out the ways that the Iranian government has exploited the US allocation of these funds in order to intensify its crackdown on civil society.
Human Rights Watch is calling on the government of Iran to amend or abolish the vague security laws and other legislation that allow the government to arbitrarily suppress and punish individuals for peaceful political expression, association and assembly in breach of international human rights treaties to which Iran is party. It is also calling on the government to treat detainees in accordance with international standards, and to either bring Evin 209 under the supervision of the regular prisons administration or shut it down.
Human Rights Watch is also calling on the US government to engage Iranian civil society regarding its funding allocations so that US support is not an easy pretext for continuing repression.
Key Recommendations to the Government of Iran
Full recommendations to the Iranian government can be found in section VII.
Release all individuals currently deprived of their liberty for peacefully exercising their rights to free expression, association, and assembly.
Discipline or prosecute as appropriate officials at all levels of the Iranian Information Ministry responsible for the mistreatment of detainees at Evin 209 detention center. Bring Evin 209 under the supervision of the State Prisons and Security Corrective Measures Organization, or immediately close it.
Amend the “Offenses against the National and International Security of the Country” (the “Security Laws”) to define both “national security” and the breaches against it in narrow terms that do not unduly infringe upon internationally guaranteed rights of free speech and assembly (provisions of the Security Laws requiring specific attention are enumerated in the “Detailed Recommendations” in section VII).
Excise Laws in the Islamic Penal Code that criminalize “insults” against religious figures and government leaders.
Change provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure that allow the right to counsel to be denied in the investigative phase of pretrial detention. The government should guarantee the right of security detainees to meet in private with legal counsel of their choosing throughout the period of their detention and trial.

a question about Iran and the recently arrested students

2008-01-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

Socialist Party (Red-Green Alliance; Unity List) in Danish Parliament asked theDanish Government a question about Iran and the recently arrested students:"Has Denmark protested the recent series of serious human right violations inIran, including arrests of studentleaders, death penalties for homosexuals, andprosecution of womens rights activists?Background for the question:Lately 30 students have been arrested or kidnapped for planning peacefuldemonstrations. Delaram Ali, a women activist, was recently sentenced whippingand 28 months of jail for participating in a peaceful demonstration last year.Recently yet another death penalty has been sentenced due to the persons sexualorientation."

An Open Letter to His Excellency, Mr. Ban ki-Moon

2008-01-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

An Open Letter to His Excellency, Mr. Ban ki-Moon

Your Excellency:

You are certainly aware that a lot of Iranian political prisoners were executed in Islamic Republic prisons in Summer 1367 right after the confirmation and signature of Resolution No. 598 concerning the stopping of hostility between Iran and Iraq. These prisoners were all buried in mass graves. This project which was in continuation of execution of Iranian political prisoners, particularly the leftists in 1360, has been one of the most catastrophic genocides ever taken place. It has been also in continuation of the vast project of the Chain Murders. It is necessary to mention that the reports of Amnesty International has confirmed the vast measures of this tragedy. However, other international organizations and human rights organizations have been generally silent about this tragic situation. The horrible measures of this crime against humanity have not clearly been disclosed to the people of Iran and the world.

Your Excellency:
It should be mentioned that at the beginning of the commemoration of University Students’ Day on 7th December 2007, more than 40 leftist students of Iran universities intending to celebrate the University Students’ Day, according to an old tradition held in Iranian universities every year, were unknowingly arrested by Security Officials of Islamic Republic Regime. These arrests still continue. Certainly, you know that the Marxist and socialist students of Iran, constantly volunteer to fight against war, dictatorship, and foreign power’s domination. They are forerunners in pursuing persistently the democratic demands through the university students’ protests. But the Islamic Republic having exercised violent and oppressive fights against the Iranian students has made vast actions by kidnapping and arresting the students. No acceptable reasons were given by the jurisdiction authorities and Islamic Republic Information and Security Officials why they have arrested and accused students of unclear charges and where they are being imprisoned.

Your Excellency:
The numerous reports presented annually by the United Nations Human Rights Watch and Organization of International Amnesty indicate clearly the abolishment of human basic rights in Iran including the freedom of idea and expression , prohibition of torturing, having right to protest and right to hold the meeting s and so on. The most important issue is the awful conditions of political prisoners jailed in prisons of Islamic Republic of Iran. The political prisoners in Iran are accused of unacceptable illogical charges since there is no given definition of political crime according to Islamic regulations in Iran. The recently arrested Iranian university students are not excepted from this.

Your Excellency:
Considering what has been mentioned above, the families of all Iranian university students recently arrested, all democratic students, social activists, writers and true supporters of human rights have the right to become extremely worried about their dear children in the prisons of Islamic Republic Regime. As you are entitled the first person in the UN, you are obliged to question and impeach the governments all over the world for their exercise of suppression, suffocation and violation of nations’ rights and pursue earnestly the situation of people in Iran as well as you do in other countries.

Your Excellency:
We the signers below request you to take immediate and necessary actions to free the arrested students to prevent the tragic deaths of more victims in oppressive governments.
Freedom and equality- seeking university students in Iran
In the following you may find a partial list of the students arrested. We can never claim to have a full list of the students as the authorities have never issued a complete list of the detainees.

Mehdi Gerailoo- University of Tehran

Nader Ahsani - Ex-student of the University of Mazandaran

Anoosheh Azadbar - University of Tehran

Ilnaz Jamshidi - Azad University of Tehran

Behrooz Karimizadeh - Expelled student of the University of Tehran

Saeed Habibi - Ex-student of the Sharif University of Technology

Ali Salem - Amirkabir University of Technology

Milad Omrani - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

Abed Tavancheh - Expelled student of Amirkabir University of Technology

Yaser Pirhayati - Shahed University

Roozbeh Safshekan - University of Tehran

Saeed Aghamali - Art University of Yazd

Roozbehan Amiri - University of Tehran

Nasim Soltanbeigi - Allame Tabataba'ee University

Mahsa Mohebbi-Released

Keyvan Amiri - Sharif University of Technology

Hadi Salari - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

Amir Aghayi - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

Farshid Farhadi Ahangaran - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

Mohsen Ghamin - Amirkabir University of Technology

Soroosh Hashempoor - Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

Hamed Mohammadi - University of Mazandaran - Released

Arash Pakzad - University of Mazandaran

Hassan Maarefi - University of Mazandaran - Released

Behrang Zandi - University of Mazandaran - Released

Peyman Piran

Majid Ashrafnejad - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

Ali Kalayi - Azad University

Amir MehrzadShoan merikhi- University of Mazandaran

Sara Khademi- University of Mazandaran - Released

Nima Nahvi-Technical University of Babol-Released

Mohammad Saleh Ayuman- Graduate student of Political Science

Sohrab Karimi- Graduate student of Political Science

Farshad Dustipour- Mechanical Engineering

Javad Alizadeh- Graduate Student of Political Science

Parsa kormanjiyan- Azad University of Kermanshah - Released

Alireza Heidari- Azad University of Kermanshah - Released

Bahram Shojaii- Azad University of TehranYounes

MirHoseini- Bahonar University of Shiraz -Released

Milad Moini – University of Mazandaran - Released

Carta abierta a Ban Ki moon

2008-01-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

Como se sabe, en el año 1367,unos mses despues de firma de la paz entre Irak y Iran

Fueron fucilados un numero grande de los presos politicos que estaban en los carceles de iran y feron enterrados en las tumbas conjuntas anonimas.Este proyecto que era la mayor

matanza contra el movimiento de izquierda en iran,siguio con los asesinatos en serie de los intelectuales criticos .Cabe decir que los reportajes de amnestia internacional afirma la realidad de estos asesinatos aun que la mayoria de los centros internacionales y organizaciones de los derechos humanos prefieron quedarse calados en relacion a este tema y la gran envergadura de este asesinato se quedo desconocida por el mundo.

Estimado señor,

En la apretura del dia 7 desiembre de 2007,dia nacional de los estudiantes en iran,el regimen detuvo mas de 40 estudiantes de movimiento de izquierda que como todos losaños estaban preparando planes para este dia y ademas,muchos d ellos estan perseguidos por la fuerzas de servicio de inteligencia de regimen islamico y el gobierno
Ha seguido detener a los estudiantes durante todo el mes pasado.
Como se sabe,el movimiento estudiantil de iran siempre ha sido pionero en resistir contra la guerra,injusticia y dictadura y siempre en la primera fila de luchar para derechos humanos,y democracia y el gobierno de iran que tiene una vergonzosa antecedente de ataque a las manifestaciones de los estudiantes y supresiones horribles en las universidades ahora dtiene a los estudiantes y hasta ahora no ha habido ninguna respuesta aceptable de parte de servicio de inteligecia,la parte justicial y la policia sobre el por que y el lugar de donde se mantienen estos estudiantes.

Estimado señor ,segun todos los reprtajes anuales de supervisor de los derechos humanos y amnestia internacional el regimen de iran viola
Los derechos humanos principales como la libertad de exprecion y ideologia,la prohibicion de tortura,el derecho de protestar y hacer manifestaciones y organizaciones ...y especialmente la situacion horrible en la que viven los presos politicos dentro de las carceles de Iran sin que exista una ley concreta en la que haya una explicasion determinada sobre el sentido de delito politico.Eso ha convertido en una base de muchas codenaciones falsas y sentencias injustas a los presos politios,no es necesario mencionar que los estudiante detenidos tambien sufren de este tema mucho.
Por otro lado ,el ambiente de los carceles en iran es horrible,en las carceles los presos sufren de la inquisicion
Amenaza y violencia .Los presos viven en lo peor situacion mental y corpora posible y no hay ni un madico para curarlos.

Estimado señor,segun todo esto,las familias de estos estudiantes,los estudiants liberalistas ,las activistas,los escritores ytodos los que creen en los derechos humanos estan muy preocupados sobre la vida de esros seres queridos que estan en carcel.eso es su deber que como la primera persona de las nacioes unidas ,sigue la situacion de los estudiantes encarcelados y hace lo posible para ejercer la presion posible a los gobiernos que violan los derechos humanos.
nosotros todos queremos de usted que reacciona rapidamente y que se ponga en marcha para la libertad de estos estudiantes antes que sea demasiado tarde y antes que se repita la catastrofe y entes que mas sres humanos sean victimas de dictaduras.

Las firmas

From amnesty international:

2008-01-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

From amnesty international:
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/147/2007
13 December 2007
UA 331/07
Arbitrary arrests/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ possible prisoners of conscience
IRAN
Between 20 and 30 students (male and female) associated with the student group Students for Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab), including:
Rosa 'Essa'ie, (f) member of Iran's Armenian minority, student at Tehran's Amir Kabir University
Mehdi Geraylou (m), student at Tehran University
Anousheh Azadfar (f), student at Tehran University
Ilnaz Jamshidi (f), student at Free University of Central Tehran
Rouzbeh Safshekan (m), student at Tehran University
Nasim Soltan-Beigi (m), student at 'Allameh Tabatabai University
Yaser Pir Hayati (m), student at Shahed University
Younes Mir Hosseini (m), student at Shiraz University
Milad Moini (m), student at Mazandaran University
Between 20 and 30 students, including those named above, are being detained without charge mostly in Tehran but also other cities, following scores of demonstrations and mass student sit-ins linked to Iran's national University Students' Day, 7 December. They may be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and association, and it is feared that they could be tortured or otherwise ill-treated in detention.
Dozens of students have been detained over the last six weeks, following protests against the replacement of scores of professors and other actions apparently intended to further limit of freedom of expression on university campuses, including the banning of a number of student publications, and suspensions and expulsions of students from their places of higher education. Activists from the students' groups, the Office for Strengthening Unity (Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat) and Students For Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab) were said to be among those who took part in these demonstrations.
According to a report from news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) on 11 December, a spokesperson for Iran's judiciary stated that it continues to hold up to 24 students, including some arrested in previous months; the Persian-language website: http://takravi1.blogfa.com/ features 28 names. Most of those detained in Tehran are said to be held in sections 209 and 240 of Evin Prison and others in a state intelligence unit called Daftar-e Paygiri (Follow-up Office).
The recent student demonstrations - often involving hundreds of students - took place in Shahroud, east of Tehran; at Mazandaran University in Babolsar in the north of the country; and in Shiraz, in the south. One student in custody, Yaser Pir Hayati, is known to be a student at Tehran's Shahed University, an establishment solely for the children of Iranians killed during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). On 12 December, family members of those still detained gathered outside Evin prison and outside Iran's parliament building to protest against the incommunicado detention of their relatives.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Student groups have been at the forefront of demands for greater human rights in Iran in recent years. Since the election of President Ahmadinejad in 2005, there have been increasing restrictions on civil society in Iran. In April 2007, Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie publicly accused student activists and campaigners for the rights of women in Iran of being part of an "enemy conspiracy".
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, Arabic or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to release all students detained in recent weeks if they are prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of their rights, and for any others to be tried promptly and fairly, in accordance with international fair trial standards, on recognisably criminal charges or else released;
- seeking details of any charges brought against those in detention;
- seeking assurances that none of those arrested is subject to torture or other ill treatment;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that these detainees have unfettered access to relatives, legal representation, and any medical attention they may require;
- reminding the authorities that confessions extracted under duress are prohibited by Article 38 of the constitution of Iran, which says that "All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden," and that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), of which Article 7 states that "No one shall be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.".
APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 3.5 hrs / BST + 2.5 hrs):
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: His Excellency Mr Rasoul Movahedian, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran, 16 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1PT.
Fax: 020 7589 4440
Email: info@iran-embassy.org.uk
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir via website: www.president.ir/email
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 0098 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir (Please ask that your message be brought to the attention of the Article 90 Commission)
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY

Arbitrary arrests/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ possible prisoners of conscience

2008-01-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

Arbitrary arrests/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ possible prisoners of conscience
IRAN
Between 20 and 30 students (male and female) associated with the student group Students for Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab), including:
Rosa 'Essa'ie, (f) member of Iran's Armenian minority, student at Tehran's Amir Kabir University
Mehdi Geraylou (m), student at Tehran University
Anousheh Azadfar (f), student at Tehran University
Ilnaz Jamshidi (f), student at Free University of Central Tehran
Rouzbeh Safshekan (m), student at Tehran University
Nasim Soltan-Beigi (m), student at 'Allameh Tabatabai University
Yaser Pir Hayati (m), student at Shahed University
Younes Mir Hosseini (m), student at Shiraz University
Milad Moini (m), student at Mazandaran University
Between 20 and 30 students, including those named above, are being detained without charge mostly in Tehran but also other cities, following scores of demonstrations and mass student sit-ins linked to Iran's national University Students' Day, 7 December. They may be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and association, and it is feared that they could be tortured or otherwise ill-treated in detention.
Dozens of students have been detained over the last six weeks, following protests against the replacement of scores of professors and other actions apparently intended to further limit of freedom of expression on university campuses, including the banning of a number of student publications, and suspensions and expulsions of students from their places of higher education. Activists from the students' groups, the Office for Strengthening Unity (Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat) and Students For Freedom and Equality (Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab) were said to be among those who took part in these demonstrations.
According to a report from news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) on 11 December, a spokesperson for Iran's judiciary stated that it continues to hold up to 24 students, including some arrested in previous months; the Persian-language website: http://takravi1.blogfa.com/ features 28 names. Most of those detained in Tehran are said to be held in sections 209 and 240 of Evin Prison and others in a state intelligence unit called Daftar-e Paygiri (Follow-up Office).
The recent student demonstrations - often involving hundreds of students - took place in Shahroud, east of Tehran; at Mazandaran University in Babolsar in the north of the country; and in Shiraz, in the south. One student in custody, Yaser Pir Hayati, is known to be a student at Tehran's Shahed University, an establishment solely for the children of Iranians killed during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). On 12 December, family members of those still detained gathered outside Evin prison and outside Iran's parliament building to protest against the incommunicado detention of their relatives.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Student groups have been at the forefront of demands for greater human rights in Iran in recent years. Since the election of President Ahmadinejad in 2005, there have been increasing restrictions on civil society in Iran. In April 2007, Minister of Intelligence Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie publicly accused student activists and campaigners for the rights of women in Iran of being part of an "enemy conspiracy".
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, Arabic or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to release all students detained in recent weeks if they are prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of their rights, and for any others to be tried promptly and fairly, in accordance with international fair trial standards, on recognisably criminal charges or else released;
- seeking details of any charges brought against those in detention;
- seeking assurances that none of those arrested is subject to torture or other ill treatment;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that these detainees have unfettered access to relatives, legal representation, and any medical attention they may require;
- reminding the authorities that confessions extracted under duress are prohibited by Article 38 of the constitution of Iran, which says that "All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden," and that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), of which Article 7 states that "No one shall be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.".
APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 3.5 hrs / BST + 2.5 hrs):
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: His Excellency Mr Rasoul Movahedian, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran, 16 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1PT.
Fax: 020 7589 4440
Email: info@iran-embassy.org.uk
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir via website: www.president.ir/email
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 0098 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir (Please ask that your message be brought to the attention of the Article 90 Commission)
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY

http://polytechnic-free.blogspot.com/2007/12/arbitrary-arrests-fear-of-torture-or.html

Tens of arrested students in Iran are tortured

2008-01-06T04:08:00.000-08:00

The following report is a selected part of a leaflet recently published by” Equality and freedom seeking university students. This translation is to inform you about the situation of tens of arrested students in the beginning days of December. These students are under most hard kind of tortures. It is urgent need to protest against these arrest and tortures and asking their immediate release.- Collective of Iranian students and youth living in Europe –30Dec2007

Now Iranian communist students are strongly worrying abut the situation of more than thirty students from their lines whom are in the prison of special security forces. There is not any chance to contact with the prisoners inside these jails. This part of the jail is even out of the control of the main officials of the Ewin prison. Far from any witness and through most hard physical and psychological and sexual oppression they extract forcefully the information from the prisoners, forcing them to accept the so called accusation, make them to confess false crimes, and so on.
The prisoners are forced to answer the written or oral questions of the inspectors while sitting on wood or metal chairs facing the wall. These kinds of inquiries are continued for hours and hours without any break. If the prisoners are not ready to cooperate or resist admitting the accusations then he or she would enter to a hard process. Inspectors would start insulting all of family members, especially insulting the female members. They mix the insults with threats and strikes against back of the neck and shoulders and little by little by coming the darkness the time of torture will arrive. Those who are according to the inspectors the “breakers of the will” and having especial kind of skills, come on the stage. They take the prisoner to downstairs or the room for central heating or backyard. “Breakers of the will” always crying, insulting and threatening. They order the prisoner to sit and stand and he or she must chose between obeying or to be beaten. During this process the “breakers of the will” keeps on talking about the illness of parents, how the mother had heart attack because of hearing about her child, how the judge had ordered an especial kind of Islamic punishment and so on. Just once the prisoner does slowly the movement of sitting and standing, they would start beating him or her. Little by little prisoner feels tires and weakness and would face insensibility in the feet, now the new process will start. They order the prisoner to stay on one leg. If not obeying then you would receive punches in the stomach or slaps at your face. This would increase your weakness so that you can not stand on your foot. The “Breakers of the will” according to their experience, find out this feeling very soon. They would start to beat up and down of the back part of the feet of the prisoner with their foot. Each strike cause the knees to be bent and breaks the balance. A treble pain would begin in the feet. Then he would start to beat behind both side of the neck with the keen part of his hand. The punch against spinal column causes darkness in your vision. During this process prisoner would fall down frequently, but “Breakers of the will” poor cold water by some plastic glass over your face, neck and down your waist to keep you more vigilant.
They return the prisoner with such a condition to the jail wanting him or her to fill up 100 page of the marked papers of the “revolution court”, telling you if not fill all the papers till next day with your confess then the torture would be repeated. Prisoner after that much of pressure must chose either not sleeping or to be tortured again.
If you refuse in any way the will of inspectors or the “Breakers of the will” then they would return with the especial Islamic punishment order of the judge. According to this order they will fest your hands and feet to a wooden bed and beat you with belt or lash on the bottom of your feet.
If the team of inquiry is not sure about the duration time of arrest then they would not meet any risk and would try nothing remain as a trace of torture on the body of prisoner. In this case they would use the method of white torture. In the 209 and 325 part of the prison there are the individual jails all in white or red color. They keep the prisoner for some weeks in such a kind of jail and would not ask him or her anything. In this kind of the jail there is a small window of 20cm long and 10cm width in the bottom of the door to put the food inside, so you can not even see the guard. Because of the color of the jail you lose your balance and would have hard nervous tensions. If they continue for a long time this method of painless torture the prisoner would rich to the full madness and losing his or her subjectivity and would become ready to cooperate with them.
Other kind of torture especially against Jung prisoners is sexual abuse. They luck the hands from behind the body, cover the eyes and put the prisoner against the wall and round him or her by three or four, starting with sexual threats and touching the different parts of the body of prisoner… prisoner become so nervous that either give up for cooperating or resorting to madly reactions…
Keeping awake is another treble kind of torture, they use against prisoners. They put the prisoner in an individual jail where strong projectors lightening the jail strongly from some three meter distance. They broadcast loudly alarm or moumurnfull songs. So they tear apart the nerves of prisoners and even when they are unconscious taking them under water to keep the prisoner awake. And again keeping them in the same jails brazenly lighted and loudly broadcasted with alarm or moumurnfull songs. And this process continues some 3 till 7 days.
Description above is only a part of what happening in 209 and 325 jails. The” freedom lover and equality seekers students” already are in the jails of Islamic Republic Regime of Iran, they are under threats of such an inhuman and barbaric deeds. This danger is much greater for the prisoners who could not be able to have any contact with their families. “
students committee - Belgium

13th of Azar (December 4) in the University of tehran

2008-01-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

Declaration of the Families of the Arrested Comrades

2008-01-02T04:32:00.000-08:00

Declaration of the Families of the Arrested Comrades
Rally in front of the public prosecution of the revolutionary court(The declaration of the families of the arrested students before, during and after the commemoration of the University Students’ Day)It has been one month. A month of difficult and cold nights in front of the notorious Evin prison, a month of the insults of the guards, the threats of the interrogator, the groundless accusations and promises. We are on this side and our sons and daughters are on the other side of the Evin walls, in dark and cold solitary cells. The same repetitive story of being blindfolded, night interrogation, sleeplessness, beating and foul language etc, etc.Our sons and daughters are under the highest pressures because of having called for equality and freedom at university, a place which belongs to them and on a day which belongs to them, i.e., Iranian University Students’ Day and we, the families, are kept in complete ignorance of their situation, without any permission for them to visit us or their lawyers; and all this is done in utter boycott of the country’s media and press.After this long time, we find a rally in front of the public prosecution of the revolutionary court in Tehran at 11 a.m. on Saturday Dey 15(Jan 5) to let our voice be heard by our children through these cold and grey walls so that they can know that they are not alone, so that they can know that their families, their friends and all free people stand beside them and will not succumb until their complete freedom.
Seeking Committee for the Freedom of the University Students

2008/1/1

http://13azar.blogspot.com/
seeking.committee@gmail.com

28 december in toronto

2007-12-30T01:43:00.000-08:00

28 december in frankfurt

2007-12-30T01:27:00.000-08:00

28 december in Bruxelles

2007-12-29T11:08:00.000-08:00

28 december in gothenburg

2007-12-29T07:36:00.000-08:00

28 december in ottawa

2007-12-29T01:20:00.000-08:00

28 december in stockholm

2007-12-29T01:07:00.000-08:00

28 december in london

2007-12-29T00:37:00.000-08:00

Non au régime réactionnaire iranien !

2007-12-28T04:14:00.000-08:00

Non à une intervention
militaire de l’impérialisme
américain en Iran !
Non au régime réactionnaire iranien !
Nous sommes une autre voix !
Nous voulons donner une voix aux luttes des peuples du monde contre la politique d’intervention et de violation militaire de l’impérialisme américain en Iran !
La voix des luttes du peuple iranien contre la République Islamique !
La voix des luttes des travailleurs, des femmes, des enseignants, des peuples opprimés et des étudiants contre l’intervention étrangère et contre le despotisme de l’intérieur !
Nous sommes la voix des étudiants de gauche d’Iran !
Des étudiants qui veulent :
« Accomplir le devoir d’organiser un mouvement général contre la guerre et les interventions étrangères, en même temps que lcontre a dictature et le despotisme de l’intérieur »
Des étudiants qui veulent informer et mettre en garde les Iraniens des dangers d’une guerre destructrice alors qu’ils sont engagés dans une lutte contre les réactionnaires de la République Islamique. Des étudiants qui défendent les droits fondamentaux des travailleurs et du peuple laborieux, des peuples opprimés, la liberté pour les femmes et la séparation de la religion de l’Etat. »
Dans des conditions où le gouvernement de Bush et ses collaborateurs européens d’un côté et la République Islamique de l’autre veulent faire croire aux peuples du monde qu’à part l’esclavage néo-libéral et le fondamentalisme islamique, il n’existe pas d’autre choix, toute personne éprise de la liberté a le devoir d’appuyer l’idée de l’existence d’une autre voie ! Les impérialistes et les fondamentalistes islamiques sont les deux faces d’un même système, et tout soutien apporté à l’un se traduit obligatoirement par le renforcement de l’autre.
Dans des conditions où les Etats impérialistes lancent d’un côté les forces réactionnaires du fondamentalisme islamique contre les peuples du Moyen-Orient, et de l’autre côté provoquent les forces racistes et xénophobes des pays occidentaux contre les réfugiés, immigrés et musulmans, il est impératif et urgent qu’ils possèdent leur propre voix et s’unissent contre les forces de la réaction religieuse au Moyen-Orient et contre le racisme, la guerre et l’occupation impérialiste !
Le 22 décembre 2007, dans une manifestation devant l’ambassade américain et l’ambassade de la République Islamique à Bruxelles, nous crierons cette voix indépendante des peuples du monde.
Rejoignez-nous ; contre la guerre, la mondialisation néo-libérale, l’impérialisme !
Rejoignez-nous ; pour défendre la lutte du peuple iranien contre la République Islamique !
Rejoignez-nous ; pour défendre le mouvement étudiant et la commémoration du 16 azar (7 décembre), le jour où pour cause de la résistance contre le coup d’Etat du C.I.A. en 1953, trois étudiants ont été sacrifiés aux pieds de Nixon, par l’armé du Chah.
Rejoignez-nous ; pour construire l’unité internationale en faveur d’un autre monde libéré de la guerre, de l’injustice, de l’oppression et de l’exploitation !
Le Collectif de la jeunesse et des étudiants de gauche iraniens résidant en Europe
Le Mouvement pour une Alternative Socialiste
Résistance Internationale
Etudiants de Gauche Actifs.
Nous appelons toutes les personnes et organisations intéressées à souscrire à cette plateforme.

Iran. Internationale solidariteit tegen het imperialisme en tegen het reactionaire regime

2007-12-28T04:06:00.000-08:00

Iran. Internationale solidariteit tegen het imperialisme en tegen het reactionaire regime
Komende zaterdag wordt in Brussel actie gevoerd aan de Iraanse en Amerikaanse ambassades. Deze actie wordt georganiseerd door linkse vluchtelingen uit Iran en wordt gesteund door LSP. We spraken hierover met Reza, een Iraanse vluchteling die ook lid is van onze partij.
Wat is het doel van de actie zaterdag?

Het belangrijkste doel is om steun te geven aan het verzet van de Iraanse bevolking tegen het imperialisme en tegen het reactionaire regime van het land zelf. Dat is zeker nu belangrijk aangezien de arbeiders en studenten in Iran steeds meer in actie komen. Het ongenoegen onder de bevolking is groot met heel wat steun voor acties van de arbeiders in de olie- en autosector, maar ook voor de acties van de studenten. Met de actie van zaterdag willen we onze internationale solidariteit tonen met de arbeiders en studenten en tegelijk duidelijk maken dat ons verzet zich zowel richt tegen het imperialisme als tegen het regime van Ahmadinejad.
De afgelopen weken kregen we te horen dat een Amerikaans rapport ontkent dat Iran in staat is om kernwapens te produceren. Vermindert dit niet de dreiging van een eventuele militaire aanval van de VS op Iran?
De vrees onder de bevolking is erg groot. De ervaring van de 8 jaar durende oorlog tussen Iran en Irak (in de jaren 1980) is nog niet vergeten. Er is een algemene vrees voor een aanval en de gevolgen ervan. Anderzijds wil een grote meerderheid van de bevolking ook niet dat het huidige regime over kernwapens zou beschikken, dat zou immers erg gevaarlijk zijn. De mediatieke campagne van het regime om voor te stellen alsof de bevolking de productie van kernwapens zou steunen, is niet gebaseerd op een reële steun onder de bevolking.
Er zijn natuurlijk delen van de bevolking die het regime steunen, maar bij heel wat zogenaamde protestacties ter bescherming van nucleaire sites (acties die wereldwijd heel veel media-aandacht kregen) waren er niet alleen overtuigde aanhangers van Hezbollah, maar even goed studenten en werkenden die verplicht werden om deel te nemen aan de acties onder het dreigement dat ze anders hun inkomen of studiemogelijkheden zouden verliezen.
Groeit het verzet tegen het regime?
Het regime beschikt natuurlijk over heel wat middelen om ieder verzet de kop in te drukken. De geheime politie, de Sepa, is erg actief in alle gemeenschappen. Er wordt snel tot repressie overgegaan en bovendien weet het regime hoe het de internationale media kan bespelen. Maar onder de oppervlakte groeit het ongenoegen en beginnen arbeiders en studenten steeds meer in verzet en actie te komen tegen het regime.
Een gekend voorbeeld hiervan was de busstaking van vorig jaar. De leiding van die staking was op bepaalde vlakken zeker verward, maar het versterkte mee het idee van de nood aan een eigen arbeidersorganisatie die volledig los staat van het regime.
De afgelopen weken waren er studentenprotesten. Activisten moeten ondergronds hun activiteiten organiseren, wat niet gemakkelijk is. Maar begin december waren er toch verschillende grote acties aan alle universiteiten in Iran. Opvallend daarbij was dat de band met de arbeidersbeweging steeds werd gelegd. Er is een traditie van studentenbewegingen in Iran, maar die link met de arbeidersbeweging is van cruciaal belang.
Links heeft een lange traditie in Iran, heeft dat gevolgen voor de discussies die nu plaatsvinden over de politieke oriëntatie van de protestacties?
Met de revolutie van 1979, maar ook daarvoor, heeft de linkerzijde aangetoond dat het in staat is om met haar eigen organisaties een cruciale rol te spelen. 28 jaar later weten linkse activisten dat ze zich moeten organiseren, maar ook dat ze moeten leren uit de fouten van het verleden. In 1979 maakte links een fout door te stellen dat eerst en vooral het verzet tegen het imperialisme moest worden gevoerd en dat pas daarna de discussie over een socialistisch alternatief zou kunnen worden gevoerd. Dat zorgde ervoor dat een reactionair regime aan de macht kon komen.
Hetzelfde zagen we eerder ook al, met de linkse Tudeh-partij (een Sovjet-gezinde formatie) die in 1953 ten tijde van het studentenprotest tegen het bezoek van Nixon aan de Iraanse koning (de Sjah), kant koos tegen het protest. Het is dat studentenprotest uit 1953 – dat 16 Azar wordt genoemd - dat ook nu werd herdacht begin december. Dat is belangrijk omdat het net als dat studentenprotest toen nodig is om ons uit te spreken tegen zowel het imperialisme als het reactionaire regime.
Het is vandaag niet makkelijk en erg gevaarlijk om linkse groepen te organiseren, laat staan deze te coördineren in Iran. De repressie treedt snel op, ook de studentenacties werden beantwoord met repressie en arrestaties. Met de actie komende zaterdag willen wij de studenten en arbeiders onze solidariteit tonen.
Waarom zouden Belgische activisten komende zaterdag mee moeten protesteren?
Ten eerste om de linkse groepen in Iran te steunen en om hen onze internationale solidariteit te tonen. Maar ten tweede ook om een inhoudelijk duidelijke stellingname naar voor te brengen. Wij verzetten ons tegen een mogelijke imperialistische aanval op Iran, maar hebben evenmin vertrouwen in het regime van Ahmadinejad.
Onze strijd is internationaal en daarom vinden we het ook erg nuttig dat we met LSP kunnen samenwerken rond verschillende thema’s, niet alleen rond de situatie in Iran. Vorige week waren we ook de vakbondsbetoging voor meer koopkracht. Onze strijd is niet beperkt tot één land, maar een internationale strijd. Ook zijn we het inhoudelijk eens met LSP in haar oppositie tegen een tweestadia-theorie die ervan uitgaat dat in het verzet tegen het imperialisme geen kritiek mag worden gegeven op het reactionaire regime in Iran. Dat standpunt heeft in Iran tegen een erg hoge prijs voor de arbeidersbeweging haar failliet aangetoond. Samen kunnen we een verschil maken en daarom roepen we op om, ondanks de drukke agenda van de afgelopen weken en de timing van een actie vlak voor kerstmis, toch een inspanning te doen en samen actie te voeren aan de Amerikaanse en Iraanse ambassades.

Message on the occasion of December 22, 2007 demonstration in Belgium

2007-12-28T03:58:00.000-08:00

From Sunsara Taylor, writer for Revolution newspaper, US
It is with great revolutionary enthusiasm that word of Iranian students and others marching against both the US and Iranian Embassy in Brussels reached the ears of revolutionaries and youth in the United States.
Increasingly humanity is being confronted with two intolerable choices: U.S. wars of aggression or a reactionary Islamic fundamentalist response. The aggression of the U.S. is the greater danger to the people of the world -- already having claimed as many as a million lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, driven millions more from their homes, shredded the bonds of family and friends as sectarian rivalries have been built up and played off each other, and now threatening to expand their aggression into Iran. In response to this, the accelerated growth of Islamic fundamentalism has made life a living hell for women, children, secular and revolutionary forces, and has only served to reinforce – and offer a foil for – more imperialist aggression.
Neither of these “choices” offers anything good for humanity. As Bob Avakian, Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, has pointed out: "What we see in contention here with Jihad on the one hand and McWorld/McCrusade on the other hand, are historically outmoded strata among colonized and oppressed humanity up against historically outmoded ruling strata of the imperialist system. These two reactionary poles reinforce each other, even while opposing each other. If you side with either of these ‘outmodeds,’ you end up strengthening both."
As the U.S. threatens to expand their aggression into Iran – a move that could enflame the whole Middle East and massively escalate the deadly global dynamic of McWorld vs. Jihad – the protests by Iranian students and others on December 22 stand out as all the more critical. With the future at stake, the world is hungry for a new voice and new songs to animate a struggle to bring a whole new, emancipated world into being.
Having been on dozens of campuses across this country, building resistance to the crimes against humanity of the Bush regime and spreading revolution, I have seen and tasted how deeply a new generation in the U.S. is disgusted, disturbed and enraged by what is being done in their names. But I also know how deeply this is paralyzed by the way it appears that the only choices out there are McWorld or Jihad. How big a difference it will make for them to see and hear you, as part of a new voice emerging.
How big a responsibility those of us living in the U.S. have to bring forward resistance to “our own” government –mass political resistance that is so powerful it cannot be hidden from the victims of the U.S.’s wars, who are justifiably seething with hatred for all this brings down on them.
It is possible – and the youth more than anyone else must dare – to bring about a competing global dynamic, where our new voices reverberate across oceans and echo across continents, opening up new possibilities, giving hope and fueling forward truly emancipatory and liberating struggles, in opposition to both McWorld and Jihad , from within the imperialist citadels as well as out of the rubble of homes caused by U.S. aggression.
It is possible – and the youth more than anyone else must dare – to explore and bring forward revolutionary movements aimed at getting to a world without the grinding wars of imperialist plunder, without the massive lopsidedness of extraordinary wealth concentrated among a handful in the imperialist countries and the growing mass of exploited, degraded and expendable humanity brought about by the global system of capitalism, without its corresponding ideas such as patriarchy and false concepts of some unchanging, selfish “human nature.”
It is possible – and the youth more than anyone else must dare – to bring about a world without the enslavement of religious ignorance whether propagated by the evolution-denying George Bush or of his ideological counterparts in the Islamic clerics. Instead, a new generation must fight to, and increasingly enable, the oppressed to take up a scientific approach towards everything, including the project of humanity’s emancipation.
It is possible – and the youth more than anyone else must dare – to bring about a world where women are treated as human beings, not as slaves or property of men, where women are neither plundered as sex objects nor shrouded and veiled to protect their virginal “purity.” It is no longer tolerable – or necessary – for half of humanity to be subjugated, enslaved and brutalized in either the “modern” forms of the West or the traditional forms being reasserted in the Middle East. Instead, across the globe, the fury of women must be brought forward as a mighty force for a truly liberating revolution aimed at emancipating all of humanity!
All this will require not only fierce struggle, resistance and sacrifice against the actions of the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran, but also scientifically searching and honestly engaging the vexing problems that lie before us. All of this will require struggling and studying and thinking and dreaming beyond the confines of what today seems “possible” and “realistic.” This requires looking deeply at the structures that have brought the world to where it is today and the ideas that have reinforced all this – and what kind of revolution and communism it will take to really enable humanity to get beyond the many nightmares that are so commonplace today.
And the youth, more than anyone else, must fearlessly enter into that search –refusing to listen to the cynics who say you can't change the whole world, who try to lower your sights. History shows that the dreamers and fighters are right. Follow your principles, work to realize your deepest and highest aspirations, and follow THAT where it leads you.
As the cries of the imperialists and the reactionary fundamentalists escalate towards a confrontation in Iran, do not underestimate how hungry humanity is for another way. Play the role that youth have always played – get way out front, build uncompromising mass political resistance to any moves towards U.S. war on Iran and to the repression carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran, refuse to be confined by the limitations of what now exists, reject everything that is reactionary, challenge the passivity of others, and dare to struggle and sacrifice in the service of dreams big and liberating enough to offer real hope for humanity. Do it with urgency, do it with determination, and do it with tremendous joy --– for there is nothing that could matter more.
Sunsara Taylor
Writer for Revolution newspaper, USA

700 studenten en linkse activisten voeren actie in Iran. 30 worden opgepakt

2007-12-28T03:50:00.000-08:00

700 studenten en linkse activisten voeren actie in Iran. 30 worden opgepakt

Ondanks een sterke aanwezigheid van de veiligheidsdiensten van het Iraanse regime waren er aan de universiteit van Teheran acties op de herdenking van “studentendag” (16 Azar of 7 december is de herdenking van een groot studentenprotest 43 jaar geleden tegen de Shah). Zowat 700 studenten en linkse activisten namen deel aan het protest, 30 daarvan werden opgepakt.
Het Iraanse regime was blijkbaar vrij wanhopig in haar pogingen om de actie tegen te houden. Zo was er een inval in het huis van een linkse activist om de studenten het voorbeeld te tonen dat iedere vorm van verzet zou leiden tot repressie. Dit volstond echter niet om de herdenking van 16 Azar te verhinderen.
De steun voor het regime van Ahmadinejad neemt af terwijl er een groeiende openheid is voor alternatieven. Ook de progressieve en linkse formaties winnen aanhang. Dat maakte het mogelijk om voor het eerst sinds lang opnieuw een herdenking te organiseren van het Iraanse studentenprotest tegen het militarisme, de dictatuur en voor sociale rechtvaardigheid. De eisen van de studentenbeweging 43 jaar geleden zijn ook vandaag nog steeds actueel.

Het regime ging over tot de arrestatie van verschillende organisatoren in de hoop zo de basis af te schrikken en verwarring te creëren. De arrestaties hadden een omgekeerd effect en zorgden voor een grotere mobilisatie. De studenten waarschuwden het regime dat er op alle universiteiten, van de universiteit van Teheran tot die in Shiraz, Tabriz, Mashad, Ahvaz,... acties zouden komen die het verenigd verzet zouden duidelijk maken. De actie zou van start gaan aan de hoofdingang van de universiteit van Teheran.
De actie begon op 4 december zoals voorzien. De politie was verrast door de grote opkomst: enkele honderden activisten daagden op, ondanks de dreiging van repressie. Ondanks die beperkingen was er een vrije tribune van waarop iedereen de betogers kon toespreken. Minstens twee sprekers van de radicale linkse studentenbeweging konden het woord nemen en hun programma bekend maken. De meeste leden van de “Linkse Arbeiders”-groep werden opgepakt voor ze konden spreken.
De politie vreesde een contact tussen de studenten en bredere lagen en gebruikte daarom bussen van het overheidsbedrijf om de universiteit hermetisch af te sluiten. De hoofdingang was quasi onzichtbaar gemaakt voor buitenstaanders. Het kwam tot confrontaties met de politie, maar volgens een ooggetuige kleurde de universiteit toch rood op 4 december. Ook na de arrestaties zullen de studenten hun protest verder zetten.

Met deze actie werd aangesloten bij de radicale en revolutionaire tradities van de Iraanse studentenbeweging. Deze traditie gaat terug tot december 1953 met de grote beweging die toen plaatsvond, maar ook vandaag is er nog studentenprotest. Er werden veel slogans geroepen en de actievoerders toonden zich bijzonder vastberaden. De actie werd afgesloten met het zingen van de Internationale, het socialistische strijdlied.
Minstens 30 activisten werden gearresteerd. Onder hen: Anousheh Azadfar, Mehdi Gerayloo, Alnaz Jamshidi, Ehsan Azadfar, Nader Ahsani, Saeed Habibi, Behrooz Karimizadeh, Keyvan Amiri Elyas, Hossein Babaii, Karim Asayesh, Roozbeh Faghihi, Babak Pashajavid en Mohsen Ghamin, Roozbeh Rahimi, Javad Alikhani, Mehdi Masoomi en Raee. Stuur protestmails naar: secretariat@iranembassy.be. Stuur een kopie naar Committe.2007@gmail.com

http://www.socialisme.be/lsp/archief/2007/12/06/iran.html

Een collectief van Linkse Iraanse studenten roept op voor een manifestatie aan Iraanse en Amerikaanse ambassades

2007-12-28T03:44:00.000-08:00

Een collectief van Linkse Iraanse studenten roept op voor een manifestatie aan Iraanse en Amerikaanse ambassades
By :Luc Schrijvers

Vrijdagavond was er in de Gentse Afdeling centrum van de Linkse Socalistische Partij een Iraanse avond met Linkse Iraanse jongeren en studenten die in België verblijven. Ter plaatse was er Iraans eten. Daarna volgde er een uiteenzetting over 100 jaar socialistische beweging gevolgd door informatie over de huidige situatie in Iran. Er werden onlangs nog linkse studenten gearresteerd en gefolderd. Dat ze nog leven is te danken aan de tussenkomst van de arbeiders die zich nu ook aan het bewegen zijn.
Deze samenkomst in Gent was georganiseerd naar aanleiding van de manifestatie die zaterdag 22 december 2007 plaats vindt in Brussel. Zij roepen iedereen op om 10u30 te komen naar de Amerikaanse Ambassade, Regentlaan 27 - metro Madou. Daarna is het verzamelen geblazen om 13 u aan de Iraanse Ambassade, Franklin Rooseveltlaan 15 - tram 23 stopplaats Etoile.
Met de manifestatie willen zij betogen tegen de militaire interventie door het Amerikaans impérialisme in Iran en tegen de reactionaire Iraanse regime.
Zij noemen zich de stem van de linkse studenten in Iran. Zij willen erin slagen een algemene beweging op gang te trekken tegen de oorlog, de neo-liberale globalisering en het imperialisme.Zij vragen internationale steun om de strijd van het Iranse volk tegen de Islamitische Republiek te verdedigen !Ook vragen ze steun om de studentenbeweging te verdedigen en om 7 december te herdenken, de dag waarop drie studenten door het leger van de Shah in opdracht van Nixon werden terechtgesteld wegens hun verzet tegen de C.I.A staatsgreep in 1953.Tevens doen ze een oproep om internationale éénheid op te bouwen voor een wereld, bevrijd van oorlog, onrecht, onderdrukking en uitbuiting !
Deze manifestatie heeft steun gekregen van de Linkse Socialistische Partij - Internationaal Verzet - Blokbuster en Aktief Linkse Studenten in belgië.Zij nodigen alle geïnteresseerde personen en en andere organisaties uit om dit platform te onderschrijven en zaterdag 22 december 2007 aanwezig te zijn op de manifestatie.

http://www.indymedia.be/nl/node/25314

No to US imperialist military intervention in Iran! No to the reactionary Islamic Republic of Iran!”

2007-12-28T03:36:00.000-08:00

We have a voice!
We are an echo of the struggle of the people of the world against the politics of invasion and US imperialism’s military intervention in Iran!We are the voice of the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic of Iran!We are the voice of workers, women, teachers, students, and oppressed nations against foreignintervention and internal tyranny!We are the voice of the leftist students of Iran, an ever-growing force that aims “to organize anation-wide movement against foreign intervention and wars, as well as internal tyranny and suppression.”We “are determined to inform people of horrors such as war, but at the same time target the reactionary Islamic Republic” and “are for the basic rights of workers, toilers and oppressed nations, as well as for the liberation of women and separation of religion from the state.”At the moment, Bush and his European allies, as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran, are trying to convince people that our only choice is between neo-liberal slavery and Islamic fundamentalism. It is up to those who believe in freedom to create and fortify a new path, a new way of thinking. Imperialists and Islamic fundamentalists are two faces of the same system and any support given to one will in reality and inevitably lead to strengthening the other.At the moment, imperialist states and the reactionary religious fundamentalists are pitting people against each other in the Middle East and at the same time, they are unleashing racist and xenophobic forces against refugees, immigrants and Muslims in Europe. In such a situation, it is all the more urgent for the oppressed people of the world to raise their own independent voice, and unite further against backward religious forces in the Middle East, racism, warmongering and imperialist occupation.On 22 December 2007, in a demonstration in front of both the US and Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) embassies in Brussels, we will raise the independent voice of the people of the world. Join us against war, neo-liberal globalization, and imperialism. Join us in support of the Iranian people against the IRI. Join us in defence of the student movement of Iran and the commemoration of the Student Day (when in 1953 three students were killed by the Shah’s army for opposing a CIA-sponsored coup in Iran, on the day the US [vice] president Nixon was visiting the country.)Join us to raise the banner of internationalist solidarity for a world without war, injustice oppression and exploitation!
http://www.aworldtowin.org/wordpress/?p=217

2007-12-28T03:28:00.002-08:00

Actie aan Iraanse en Amerikaanse ambassades in Brussel
Zaterdag voerden enkele tientallen actievoerders actie aan de Iraanse en Amerikaanse ambassades in Brussel. Het initiatief voor de actie kwam van een collectief van linkse Iraanse vluchtelingen en LSP/MAS. We protesteerden samen tegen de dreiging van een Amerikaanse inval in Iran, maar tegelijk ook tegen het reactionaire regime in Iran. De afgelopen weken werden tal van linkse arbeiders en studenten bij protestacties in Iran opgepakt. We publiceren enkele foto's vanop de actie.

Små, små, små, små, små, små steg mot en bättre värld

2007-12-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

Små, små, små, små, små, små steg mot en bättre värld.

Häromdagen skrev jag om de iranska studenter som arresterades i början av december. Deras familjer har skapat en blogg där info finns på engelska, franska och tyska. Längre ner finns en lång protestlista och sedan namn på alla arresterade studenter och bilder på några av dem.Julen 2007 är följande personer bakom lås och bom för att de demonstrerade. De är verkliga individer, även om de tycks vara lite osynliga jämfört med Paris Hilton & co:Mehdi Gerailoo- University of TehranNader Ahsani - Ex-student of the University of MazandaranAnoosheh Azadbar - University of TehranIlnaz Jamshidi - Azad University of Tehran(south branchBehrooz Karimizadeh - Expelled student of the University of TehranSaeed Habibi - Ex-student of the Sharif University of TechnologyAli Salem - Amirkabir University of TechnologyMilad Omrani - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training UniversityAbed Tavancheh - Expelled student of Amirkabir University of TechnologyYaser Pirhayati - Shahed UniversityRoozbeh Safshekan - University of TehranSaeed Aghamali - Art University of YazdRoozbehan Amiri - University of TehranNasim Soltanbeigi - Allame Tabataba’ee UniversityMahsa MohebbiKeyvan Amiri - Sharif University of TechnologyHadi Salari - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training UniversityAmir Aghayi - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training UniversityFarshid Farhadi Ahangaran - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training UniversityMohsen Ghamin - Amirkabir University of TechnologySoroosh Hashempoor - Shahid Chamran University of AhvazHamed Mohammadi - University of MazandaranArash Pakzad - University of MazandaranHassan Maarefi - University of MazandaranBehrang Zandi - University of MazandaranPeyman PiranMajid Ashrafnejad - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training UniversityAli Kalayi - Azad UniversityAmir MehrzadShoan merikhi- University of MazandaranSara Khademi- University of MazandaranNima Nahvi-Technical University of BabolMohammad Saleh Ayuman- Graduate student of Political ScienceSohrab Karimi- Graduate student of Political ScienceFarshad Dustipour- Mechanical EngineeringJavad Alizadeh- Graduate Student of Political ScienceParsa kormanjiyan- Azad University of KermanshahAlireza Heidari- Azad University of KermanshahBahram Shojaii – Azad University of TehranI svensk media har jag hittils bara sett detta nämnas i Internationalen (studenterna var rätt röda). Förutom redan nämnda Mana förstås (vars ansvarige utgivare är iranier).Under 2007 hjälpte svenska regeringen demokratiprocessen i Iran på följande sätt:Den iranska utrikesministern Manouchehr Mottaki bjöds in till Sverige. Den 7 maj träffade han Carl Bildt och Maud Olofsson. Den senare skakade han inte hand med; hon är ju kvinna.Socialdepartementet bjöd in Teherans polischef Ahmad Radan till Sverige. Snubben är direkt ansvarig för senaste tidens strikta klädregler vilket har lett till gripandet av tusentals kvinnor. I november fick han besöka iranska fångar på Österåkeranstalten och notera namnen på dem.Jag avslutar med Carl Bildt. Han skriver om “små men bra steg mot en lite bättre dag när julen nu närmar sig.”

God jul Carl.

Nima Daryamadj writes in his blog :http://nordicdervish.wordpress.com/2007/12/23/studenter-2/

nothing can stop us

2007-12-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

Iran makes arrests for "illegal" university meeting

2007-12-25T02:16:00.000-08:00

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Intelligence Ministry said on Saturday it had detained several people who were planning an "illegal gathering" at Tehran University, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The ministry said "anti-government groups" had urged those detained, who it said carried fake student ID cards, to hold the rally "to create conflict, disturbances and unrest".

The ministry said it had also confiscated items including "insulting" publications, firecrackers and a large amount of alcohol, which is banned in the Islamic Republic. It gave no further details.

Liberal-minded students and academics have criticised President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for clamping down on dissent on campuses. The president and his government insist they support free speech and welcome constructive opposition.

Last month, a group of students gathered at Tehran University to protest against the detention of three fellow students who were picked up during a small demonstration at another Iranian university a week earlier.

Student protests have been relatively rare in recent years in Iran, which is embroiled in a nuclear row with the United States and is often criticised by Western rights groups for cracking down on dissent at home.

But in October, more than 100 students scuffled with police and hard-line supporters of Ahmadinejad on the campus of Tehran University outside a hall where the president was about to speak.

(Reporting by Reza Derakhshi; Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Caroline Drees)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL0815876020071208

Help free jailed students in Iran now!

2007-12-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

European Parliament urges Iran to release students

2007-12-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

European Parliament urges Iran to release students

Iran should release students arrested for planning a protest, the president of the European Parliament said on Monday. A statement from Hans-Gert Poettering also condemned the execution of a man found guilty of a crime supposedly committed when he was 13.
Poettering said a European Parliament delegation visited Tehran last week and received a list of 28 arrested students from their families.
"The European Parliament strongly supports the call for their immediate release and urges the Iranian authorities to swiftly provide adequate information to their families and lawyers about their case," Poettering said in a statement.
The whereabouts of the students arrested for planning a demonstration on Iranian students' day on Dec. 7 was unknown, he said.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry said on Dec. 8 it had detained several people who were planning an "illegal gathering" at Tehran University.
Student protests have been relatively rare in recent years in Iran, which is embroiled in a nuclear row with the United States and is often criticised by Western rights groups for cracking down on dissent.
But last month students gathered at Tehran University to protest against the detention of three fellow students during a small demonstration at another Iranian university a week earlier.
Liberal-minded students and academics have criticised President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for clamping down campus protests. The president and his government say they support free speech and welcome constructive opposition.
Poettering's statement said the European Parliament also condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the Dec. 4 execution of Makwan Mouloudzadeh.
It said the execution ran contrary to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a party, as well as to assurances given to EU institutions by Iranian authorities.
Iran hanged 20-year-old Mouloudzadeh, who was convicted of raping three boys when he was 13, despite retractions from his accusers and an order for a judicial review of his case, a Western rights group and an Iranian daily said.
Murder, rape, adultery, armed robbery, apostasy and drug smuggling are all punishable by death under Iran's sharia or Islamic law, imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Editing by Matthew Jones)

Iran: Protests Lend Momentum To Students' Struggle

2007-12-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

Iran: Protests Lend Momentum To Students' Struggle

By Farangis Najibullah

Student pressure, like this rally at Tehran University, began building in October
(Fars)

They may not be quite like the heady student protests of years past. But fresh rallies and a flurry of arrests in Iran suggest that the country's student movement is gaining steam for yet another push for change in the Islamic republic.

Student rallies began to gain momentum in early December. But they appear to be part of a wave of open dissent that began to build in earnest one year ago when -- during a speech by Mahmud Ahmadinejad at Tehran University -- students in the crowd burned photos of the president and chanted, "Death to the dictator!" Similar, if less strident, rallies followed in May and October, with the authorities responding in each case by arresting activists.

On December 4, some 250 students at Tehran University gathered to chant slogans such as “Freedom and Equality!” and “No to war!” About 20 were arrested and sent to Tehran's Evin prison. Several were released but others are still being held, students say. Similar protests spread the next day to the cities of Hamadan, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Shiraz, and Kerman, where students reportedly openly criticized Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
"Since the academic year began in October, the students' movements and activities have not stopped,” Iraj Jamsheedi, an independent journalist, told RFE/RL from Tehran. “They’ve been ongoing, at different levels, at many universities across the country. It has become a trend. And unlike in the past, I don't think their activities will die down after a short while, because their demands reflect those of the majority of the Iranian people."

'Happy Events'
Authorities had not planned any official events at universities to mark Student Day, which commemorates the death of three students during protests in 1953. That is in sharp contrast to previous years when senior leaders, including Ahmadinejad, made a point of meeting with students. Iranian media said the authorities this year instead planned "happy events" for students, such as "placing flowers on martyrs’ graves."
The students had different plans.
Student Day this year fell at the start of the Muslim weekend on December 7, so organizers were expected to mount rallies on December 9.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry on December 8 reported detaining several people whom it accused of carrying false student-identification cards and planning an "illegal gathering" at Tehran University. The ministry alleged that the detainees were plotting "to create conflict, disturbances, and unrest" at the behest of "antigovernment groups."
An unspecified number of students with ties to the Office to Foster Unity (Daftar-e Tahkim-e Wahdat), a leading reformist students' group, gathered at Tehran University on December 9 to protest the detention of their colleagues. A report by Reuters said photographs from the rally indicated protesters demanding the release of student detainees had damaged bars on one of the university's gates.
Bahar Hedayat, a member of the women's commission of the Office to Foster Unity, had predicted ahead of Student Day that young people would protest. She said they would “demand their rights, including the right to academic freedom and publish journals reflective of their opinions. They also demand freedom for political and social organizations." Hedayat, speaking to RFE/RL from Tehran, said students also are calling more broadly for democratic change, improved human rights, and the release of students imprisoned for taking part in demonstrations.
Imprisoned Youth
Parents and relatives of students detained last week in Tehran were still seeking information about the fate of their children held at Evin prison. Nasreen Musavi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that her daughter, Ilnaz, had been arrested during the protest on December 4 and that the authorities had denied her any contact with her family or a lawyer. Another student, Ehsan Azadbar, said he was arrested during the rally along with his sister Azadeh, and that the authorities had released him only after two days of interrogation. Azadeh remains in custody.
At least one student has been in prison since 1999. That year, Iran saw its largest student demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Thousands took part in demanding freedom. Clashes with police left five students dead. Similar scenes, on a smallar scale, were seen in 2003. With some shouting “Death to Khamenei!,” the supreme leader who holds ultimate religious and political power under the constitution, thousands rallied against the perceived slow pace of change under then-President Mohammad Khatami, a reformist. Scores were arrested after clashes with police and radical Islamist vigilantes.
As the authorities sharpen their current crackdown, Hedayat says that she and other students know they risk arrest, expulsion from school -- even death for campaigning for change against the country's current leadership. “The more active the student movements become, the more intense will become the pressure from the authorities,” Hedayat said.
But the latest protests will continue, she vowed, because Iranians "can no longer put up with the current political, economic, and social pressures."

We Will Make 28th December a Protest day against the Arrest of Students in Iran

2007-12-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

We Will Make 28th December a Protest day against the Arrest of Students in Iran! A call to an international protest to free students in Iran!
A call to freedom – loving Iranian abroad!
A call to international organisations around the world!
Freedom – loving people!
More than two weeks ago 43 students and political activists across the cities of Iran were either abducted or were arrested before, during and after the national student day on 7th December in Iran and all of them were imprisoned.
The arrested students who have not committed any crime but defending freedom and equality; those students who have expressed their opposition to the militarised atmosphere in the universities created by security forces; our comrades who have not committed any crime and only defended humanity and justice; the students who organised the national students day with slogans such as “No War”, “University is Not a Militaries Camps”, “No Sexual Apartheid”, “Long Live Freedom & Equality”, “Workers Unity”, have been accused of actions against country’s security including conspiracy and bombings.
It is a fact that political prisoners in horrible wards 209 and 325 of Evin prison live under difficult conditions. Every day we here news about bad health and worsening of the physical condition of our comrades. According to news we have received our friends are under torture and all physical and psychological pressure. We are gravely concerned about our comrades as their families are banned to visit them. Students’ lawyers are not permitted to meet them and they are deprived of their basic human rights.
This treatment of students by the Islamic Republic has been faced with a fierce international protest. The amnesty international has organised a campaign to free students. The head of the EU Parliament has asked for their immediate release. During the last two weeks we have received hundreds of protest letters from across the world and numerous protest actions and demonstrations against the Islamic Republic and for immediate release of the imprisoned students have been organised.
On behalf of all students, we the Freedom and Equality – seeking Students are very proud of these waves of solidarity and thank all who were with and for us in these difficult days. But the fact of the matter is that despite all these efforts, our friends are still in prison.
To release the arrested students an international action is urgently required!
We call all the international organisations and campaigns to join us on 28th December to protest against the Islamic Republic and raise your voice to free the students in Iran. Your solidarity and joint actions all around the world will strengthen our efforts and make the release of our friends and comrades possible.
The movement for freedom and equality urgently needs your support and solidarity and united action.
Long Live Freedom!
Long Live Equality!
Freedom and Equality – seeking Students of Universities in Iran
19 December 2007 / 28th Azar 1386

Angelika Beer, Mitglied des Europaparlaments, fordert die Freilassung der Studenten

2007-12-21T08:51:00.001-08:00

Während Sie in Teheran waren, haben dort rund 2000 Studenten gegen die Regierung demonstriert. Haben Sie etwas davon gemerkt?

Angelika Beer: Angehörige der inhaftierten Studenten haben uns spontan im Hotel aufgesucht. Sie waren über das Schicksal der Inhaftierten höchst besorgt, denn sie hatten keinerlei Informationen über ihre Angehörigen erhalten. Ich habe den Vorsitzenden des auswärtigen Ausschusses kontaktiert und die feste Zusage erhalten, das Parlament werde intervenieren und sich um die Studenten kümmern. Das Spannende war, dass er bei einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz öffentlich zu dem Fall Stellung genommen und gesagt hat, es könne nicht sein, dass Studenten im eigenen Land einfach verschwinden und Angehörige über ihr Schicksal nicht informiert werden. Wir haben auch die portugiesische EU-Präsidentschaft ebenso wie das EU-Parlament aufgefordert, zu intervenieren

hands off the people of iran (Hopi launch conference):

2007-12-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

The Iranian Student Movementsubmitted by Communist Students
1. Conference notes that:1.1 The student movement in Iran has mobilised huge support around radical slogans such as "No to war! Death to the Dictator!" "Hands Off The People Of Iran" "Socialism or Barbarism" and "Freedom and Equality." 1.2 The radicalism and militancy of the student movement has in no way been dampened by the regime's threats, intimidation and arrests of student activists. 1.3 Although 45 leading activists were arrested in the run-up to the recent Student's Day Demonstrations at Tehran University, around 700 protesters defiantly marched against war and repression in Iran1.4 HOPI student supporters, particularly those in and around Communist Students, are in close contact with radical students in Iran.2. Conference believes that:2.1 HOPI supporters should look to campaign for the immediate release of the imprisoned students and help to build active solidarity with the Iranian students' struggles.3. Conference resolves to:3.1 Organise a HOPI speaking tour across British universities to build the HOPI campaign and to raise awareness of this and other radical anti-war movements in Iran 3.2 Hold regular fund-raising activities for students in Iran
3.3 Where possible, look to co-ordinate action and protests with Iranian students – especially on International Women's Day and Student's Day (December 4)
http://www.hopoi.org/conference/pictures. Ben Lewis, Communist Students
http://www.hopoi.org/conference/pictures.html

An article about students situation in Iran in the Swedish newspaper International

2007-12-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

An article about students situation in Iran in the Swedish newspaper International :

Vänsterstudenter fängslade i Iran: Nu vädjar de om stöd från omvärldenDen iranska regimen har slagit till hårt mot studenternas aktioner kring ”Studenternas dag” 7 december. Ett 40-tal vänsterstudenter är nu fängslade, och familjerna oroar sig över vad som kan hända dem.Den iranska regimen har slagit till hårt mot studenternas aktioner kring ”Studenternas dag” 7 december. Ett 40-tal vänsterstudenter är nu fängslade, och familjerna oroar sig över vad som kan hända dem. Iranska studenter högtidlighåller ”Studenternas dag” till minne av de tre studenter som dödades den dagen 1953, av den nytillträdde shahen Mohammad Reza Pahlavis regim. Studenterna deltog i en protest mot besök av dåvarande amerikanske vicepresidenten Richard Nixon. Vänsterstudenter arresteras Årets demonstration leddes av ”Studenter för frihet och jämlikhet”, och regimen slog till hårt. I flygblad kritiserade man både president Mahmoud Ahmadinejads regim och den politiska oppositionen bakom den tidigare presidenten Mohammad Khatami. Studenterna motsatte sig både det överhängande krigshotet och sanktionerna, samt de hårda restriktioner studenterna utsätts för. Övervakningskameror har satts upp, murar byggts och allt fler vakter placerats ut. Vid förra årets demonstration greps ett antal studenter, utsattes enligt uppgifter för tortyr och en blev våldtagen. Tre av dem dömdes i september i år till tre års fängelse. De hade först erkänt under tortyr men hävdade senare sin oskuld. Domarna ledde till nya protestaktioner, där studenter i en rad städer krävde att de tre skulle släppas. En stödkommitté för frigivning av de arresterade studenterna har bildadts i Iran. Med namninsamling och påtryckningar försöker kommittén att påverka situationen. Hittills har den samlat tusentals underskrifter bland annat från många internationella kända personer.

Gunvur Karlström

http://internationalen.se/news.php?extend.2641

To Iranian Consulate in Kurdestan Iraq - Erbil

2007-12-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

To: leader of the Islamic republic (ayatollah seyed ali khamenye)
President mahmoud ahmadinejadMinistry of lntelligence (gholam hossyen mohsenie ejeye)
Iran embassy in eraq
To: embassador (hassa kazemye ghomieiranian)
consulate in kurdestan eraq-erbil

On the verge of commemorating 16thof Azar (Dec. 7), the student day in Iran, the body of the students’ movement, striving for freedom and equality, strongly believes in the importance of collaborating of all social movements such as the workers’ and the women’s movement in today Iran . The students have organized Sit-In protests In Tehran university and other universities in Iran as an attempt to achieve their civil and political rights.These leftist-affiliated students objected the widely violation of their rights, and the persecution and torture of other student activists. They also objected the universities atmosphere besieged by the presence of the intelligentsia. They criticised the politics of both wings in the government and the under-achievements of the 9th parliament. They also expressed impatience with any direct or indirect interference of foreign governments.These students who are pro-equality and freedom, sanctioned the up-coming government imposed elections. Along with demanding equality for both genders, they announced solidarity with the labour movement.We, the students of Erbil university- Kurdistan, Iraq, have been notified that freedom and equality-seeker students of Iran have been detained without a verdict from Ministry of Justice (dastgahe ghazayee) and have been taken to the unit 209 run under the supervision of the ministry of intelligence in Evin prison. Peyman Piran, one of these students, has been tortured by his interrogation team. His face has been injured seriously, his nose is broken and he is bleeding internally. Behrooz Krimizadeh, Saeid Habibi and Mehdi Geryeloo are being tortured under inhumane conditions and have been deprived of sleep for days. Aabed Tavanche also has been beaten and injured by his interrogators. There are a number of students kidnapped from universities in various provinces such as Mazandaran. There is no news about female student detainees and the location of their captivity.We, students of Erbil University, Kurdistan, Iraq, are apprehensive about the arrested students in Iran and the attitude of the intelligence services authorities which are in contrasts with the international Human Rights agreements and international civil rights agreements and therefore we condemn the treatment of the student detainees by Iranian authorities. We are asking the government of Tehran to release the arrested students and end their families and friends as well as the whole nation’s disturbance over this issue.We demand the judicial system of Iran to preserve its independence; to try and do justice and refuse to order jail time for students who are seeking freedom, equality, and their human and civil rights in the most peaceful and lawful manner.

The name of detainees:Females:1-Anoosheh Azad’bar, 2-Ilnaz Jamshidi, 3-Nasim Soltan Beygi, 4-Mahsa Mohebi, 5-Sara Khademi,Males:1-Abed Tavanche, 2-Peyman Piran, 3-Saeed Habibi, 4-Behrooz Karimi Zadeh, 5-Mehdi Gerayelo, 6-Nader Ahsani, 7-Ali Salem, 8-Ali Kalaye, 9-Amir Mehrzad, 10-Younes Mir’Hosseynie, 11-Milad Omrani, 12-Sadra Pirhayatie, 13-Rozbeh SafShekan, 14-Saeed Agham Ali, 15-Rozbehan Amiri, 16-Keyvan Amiri Elyasi, 17-Amir Aghaye, 18-Farshid Farhadi Ahangaran, 19-Saae Agha Khani, 20-Okhtay Hossyenie, 21-Sorosh Hashem Pour, 22-Shovan Merikhi, 23-Reza Arab, 24-Mohamad Saleh Ayomen, 25-Sohrab Karimi, 26-Javad Alizadeh, 27-Farshad Doosty Pour, 28-Javad Alizadeh, 29-Majid Ashraf Nezhad, 30-Hamed Mohamadi, 31-Arash Pakzad, 32-Milad Moeini, 33-Behrang Zandi, 34-Hassan Moarefi, 35-Parsa Kermanjyan

A Letter to the People of the World

2007-12-21T01:22:00.000-08:00

A Letter to the People of the World

December 2007

In the name of Freedom, Humanity, and JusticeStudents, Workers and People of the World!In the past week, more than 43 leftist students in Iran were arrested by the Islamic Republic government security forces before and after the annual demonstration of the Students’ Day at the University of Tehran. Most of them, as claimed by the Islamic Republic Security Service are kept at the security prison of Evin. Right now, even more students and political activists are being arrested.This was some how rare in the general atmosphere of political activity in Iran after the Islamic Revolution; but it seems very important and forcemajor for the Islamic Republic regime to END left activities and push back all the opposition radical forces from political balance in Iran.People of the World!The arrested students were all against any war-making policies throughout the world – as they shouted at the University of Tehran, December 4th, 2007 – but it seems that the Islamic regime is seeking a vaster cold war inside Iran. They started by opposing State of War on the leftist students. The next will-be-deleted activities will be workers, teachers, women and all the human rights activists. This is the repetition of the same last scenes of the previous government in Iran.People of the World!We want the unconditioned and immediate release of our captivated friends. We require more and even more foreign and domestic pressure on the Islamic Republic government. Every one declaration, protest, petition and letter from the human rights activists, political parties, independent activists and etc all over the world will help and is appreciated by the Iranian under-pressure people.

Long Live Freedom!

Long Live Equality!

http://azady-barabary-01.blogspot.com/

To the People of the World

2007-12-21T01:14:00.000-08:00

To the People of the World

On behalf of all students in Iran, we express our great appreciation for your efforts in publicizing the news related to the mass arrest of our friends and comrades and your protest against the Islamic republic of Iran. The movement for equality and freedom in Iran will never forget your support and solidarity.Freedom and Equality Seeking Students in Iran are in a battle with the Islamic Regime. Our demands which are nothing but the demands of the people of Iran have been labeled ‘actions against country’s security’. Many of our friends have been arrested and put under torture. In order to defeat us, each day they make the list of their accusations and allegations against us longer and heavier.We, the freedom and equality seeking students in the past two weeks have demonstrated that we not only peruse our goals but also will organise a national protest for the immediate release of our friends and comrades. We are just in the beginning of our battle and will not stop until all our friends will be released. To achieve this goal, we need all your support and solidarity as women, workers, students and all other people across the world. We call you to enhance your efforts in supporting our struggle.We are in the beginning of our battle. Freedom is our right! Equality if our right! Opposition to war is our rights. A humane life is our right! Education at universities and not at militarized colleges and universities is our right! Unconditional and immediate release of all arrested and imprisoned students is our right!In our struggle we need your support more and more. The banner of freedom and equality seeking students is humanity’s banner in Iran. Support us to hold this banner up. Support us in releasing our comrades.Until the release of our comrades from prisons, students’ protests will continue across the country.Freedom and Equality Seeking Students16December 2007Proclamation of the arrests on the University Students’ DayOn the threshold of the 16th of Azar (December 7) the University Students’ Day in Iran, more than 30 “Equality and Freedom-seeking Students” have been arrested. Surprisingly, 16th of Azar – the symbol of the struggle against dictatorship of the ex-imperial regime – is not tolerated by the Islamic Government either.What has happened during this ceremony – the main pivot of which was the opposition with war and sanction – is the repetition of the same scenes of the previous government.The commemoration of the University Students’ Day is the tradition of more than 50 years and the ones who have been arrested this year are the most honest children of our country. We want the unconditional and immediate release of our captivated students.Seeking Committee for the Freedom of the University Students

Noam Chomsky condemns the recent arrests of the university students in Iran

2007-12-21T01:03:00.000-08:00

Noam Chomsky condemns the recent arrests of the university students in Iran
Noam Chomsky the American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author and lecturer has condemned the recent arrests of more than 30 university students in Iran by signing the petition sent to him by the “Seeking Committee for the Freedom of University Students”.These students named “The Equality and Freedom Seeking University Students” celebrated the “University Students’ Day” by having a peaceful rally in the universities of Iran, mainly at the University of Tehran. The pivot of their rally was opposition to war and sanctions. Some of the slogans and placards in this rally were “No War”, “Equality and Freedom”, “University is not a Garrison”, “Students, Workers Unite”, “The University Students’ Movement is United with Workers’ and Women’s Movements”.

2007-12-21T00:58:00.000-08:00

Solidarity Declaration of the Socialist Students of England

To all concerned
We are writing to protest against the detention of Iranian student activists from December 2 and the repression of their political activities and. Demonstrations for “students day” were recently held in Iran by the Radical Leftist students of Iran at the University of Tehran. Repression of these activities began in the days leading up to the demonstration; many left activists were threatened by the government and were urged not to go ahead with this demonstrationWe have reports from Iranian student activists that students have been harassed, arrested and detained by the Iranian government for organising and protestingSocialist Students stands in solidarity with these student activists and actively supports their right to assemble, organize, and protest and utterly condemns the repression of the Iranian government. Socialist Students is a socialist organization with over 50 groups in universities and colleges across England and Wales we are linked through International Socialist Resistance to groups of students, youth and workers in countries such as Pakistan , Germany, Belgium , USA , Ireland and many more , we will be contacting our comrades in these countries to protest with us against these actions by the Iranian governmentSocialists, workers and youth across the world will be appalled and angered at brutal, repressive actions of the Iranian government and will be prepared to act in solidarity with those struggling against this repressionWe demand that the Iranian government immediately releases all activists who have been arrested and immediately ceases all harassment of political activists also that activists democratic rights to protest, organise, assemble and demonstrate are upheldYours SincerelyMatt Dobson Socialist Students National Organiser on behalf of Socialist Students

Proclamation

2007-12-21T00:49:00.000-08:00

Proclamation of the arrests on the University Students’ Day
On the threshold of the 16th of Azar (December 7) the University Students’ Day in Iran, more than 30 “Equality and Freedom-seeking Students” have been arrested. Surprisingly, 16th of Azar – the symbol of the struggle against dictatorship of the ex-imperial regime – is not tolerated by the Islamic Government either.What has happened during this ceremony – the main pivot of which was the opposition with war and sanction – is the repetition of the same scenes of the previous government.The commemoration of the University Students’ Day is the tradition of more than 50 years and the ones who have been arrested this year are the most honest children of our country. We want the unconditional and immediate release of our captivated students.
Seeking Committee for the Freedom of the University Students
to sign the petition send an email to the following address : seeking.committee@gmail.com *

2007-12-21T00:32:00.000-08:00

Proclamation of the arrests on the University Students’ Day

On the threshold of the 16th of Azar (December 7) the University Students’ Day in Iran, more than 30 “Equality and Freedom-seeking Students” have been arrested. Surprisingly, 16th of Azar – the symbol of the struggle against dictatorship of the ex-imperial regime – is not tolerated by the Islamic Government either.What has happened during this ceremony – the main pivot of which was the opposition to war and sanction – is the repetition of the same scenes of the previous government.The commemoration of the University Students’ Day is the tradition of more than 50 years and the ones who have been arrested this year are the most honest children of our country. We want the unconditional and immediate release of our captivated students.
Seeking Committee for the Freedom of the University Students

to sign the petition send an email to the following address : seeking.committee@gmail.com *

Appel

Au seuil du 16 Azar (le 7 décembre), journée de commémoration des mouvements étudiants en Iran, plus de 30 activistes étudiants intitulés "partisans de l'égalité et la liberté" ont été arrêtés. Fait surprenant, 16 Azar, le symbole de la lutte contre la dictature impérial, n'est pas toléré par le gouvernement islamique non plus. Ce qui s'est-il passé au cours de cette cérémonie est la répétition des mêmes scènes de répressions qu'au temps de l'ancien régime. La commémoration de la journée des mouvements étudiants est une tradition de plus de 50 ans chez les libertaires de notre pays et ceux qui ont été arrêtés cette année sont les enfants les plus honnêtes de celles-ci. Nous demandons la libération immédiate et inconditionnelle de nos étudiants captivés.
Comité pour la libération des étudiants emprisonnés.

Signer la pétition en envoyant un mail à : seeking.committee@gmail.com

Familien der wegen Studententag am 07.12.2007 verhafteten Studenten biten um

Unterstüzung

Vor dem Studnetentag am 07.12 sind über 30 Studenten, die für Freiheit und Gelichheit kämpfen, überall in Iran und während beispielosen Aktionen der Sicherheitskräfte, verhaftet worden.Unglaublich! Der Studenttag, ein Symbol der Kampfes gegen das Schah-Regime, wird von der Islamischen Republik nicht geduldet!Die Aktionen gegen die Studenten in diesem Jahr sind Widerholungen der Razzien gegen Studenten in der Schah Zeit.Sie über 50 Jahren wird dieser Tag in Iran gefeirt. Die in diesem Jahr verhafteten Studenten wollten Versammlungen veranstalten und ihre Ablehnung gegen “Krieg und Sanctionen“ laut machen.Sie gehören zu den ehrlichsten Kinder dieses Landes.Wir verlangen die baldige und bedingslose Freilassung unserer inhaftierten Kinder.
freilassungsuchende Kommittee für verhaftete Studenten
Um diese Liste unter zu schreiben,Schiken Sie eine E-mail an : seeking.committee@gmail.com

The Complete Report of the Arrests in the Latter Days and the Students Day Demonstration

2007-12-20T19:35:00.001-08:00

Yesterday the demonstration of the "Students Day" was disposed in the University of Tehran, by the Radical Leftist students of iran. Some days before the demonstration, many left activists were threatend by the government, and were urged in order not to dispose this demonstration. Since the Iranian students have been disposing this program for about 54 years (honoring 3 marthyr comrades who were killed by the former regime in the engineering faculty of the University of Tehra because of protesting against Nixon's trip to Iran) and most importantly because in the past year all the social movements in Iran such as the workers, women and students movement have been pressured back by the regime, the students decided to hold the demonstration by any mean possible.On Saturday December 2nd, 2007 mean while the students were preparing for the demonstration, the government was prepering to suppress them.The arrests started on Saturday at 9 AM when "Mehdi Gerailoo" (Student of Geophysics) and "Nader Ahsani" were kidnapped from his own home by the security forces and was taken to an unknown place. In the afternoon two of the Sociology Faculty of the University of Tehran, "Victoria Jamshidi" and "Anoosheh Azadbar" were arrested at home without any explanation. The arrestments continued until yesterday 2 PM when almost 26 students from diffrent universitys had been arrested and many are still sued. The complete list of the arrestments is attached to this letter.But the demonstration was held by the Radical Leftist students exactly on time, at 12 PM Tuesday, in the University of Tehran in front of the Engineering Faculty. The demonstration started with singing revolutionary songs by the students; many students carring posters and slogans defining their wants and aims on them such as "The University Is Not Garrison" , "Liberty of Women Is Liberty of the Society" , "NO WAR" , "Hands Off the People of Iran", "Free the Political Prisoners" , "There IS an Alternative" , "Free Our Classmates" , "The Students Movement Allied with the Workers and Women movements", "We Want Independent Unions" and "FREEDOM EQUALITY" .Then some of the radical left students made speeches: Behzad Bagheri (student of Archology) made speech about the pressures in the past year and about the arrested students.Bita Samimizad (student of phisycs) made speech against the war which might happen in Iran and about the women and workers movement in the past year.Bijan Sabbagh (student of Chemical Engineering - University of Mazandaran) made speech about the arrested students in the University of Mazandaran, Tehran, Ahvaz and ....Kaveh Abbasian (student of cinema), the representative of the students who were not allowd to countinue their studies by the government, talked about these students and the problems they faced, and about how he was almost arrested when he tried to come to Tehran for the demonstration; he reminded the government that a movement which is supported by the society can not be ruined by the system.Then Roozbeh Safshekan read the declaration of the Radical Leftist students. He then arrested IN THE UNIVERSITY by security forces exactly after the demonstration.Peyman Piran (the ex-political prisoner), Ali Ajami (student of law) and Kamran Akhshi (student of political siences) and some other studets talked about different political and social matters.The demonstration countinued in front of the main gate of the university, the students sang revolutionary songs and yelled out their wants so everyone in the street could hear: "Free the Imprisoned Students", "I'll Kill Them Who Killed my Brother", "Taking Part in Elections Is a Betray", "Down with the Dictator", "We don't Want Savage Government and Police", "Ahmadinejad! Pinouche! Iran's not gonna Be Chili" .... The crowd came back to the faculty of Law and Political Sciences and ended the demonstration. Half an hour later, the security forces started to arrest the students who were active during the demonstration; specially the speech-makers. They firstly caught "Roozbeh Safshekan" who read the declaration of the Radical Leftist students and his wife, "Mina" (His wife was released some hours later). The security forces followed students and tried to arrest "Kaveh Abbasian" and "Bijan Sabbagh" in front of the Engineering Faculty. But they were not successfull because the other students surrounded them, so Kaveh and Bijan could run away. Till 7 PM all the activists changed their appearances and the clothing and went out of the university. All of the activists are hidden now. The government is still trying to arrest them
No matter how many they arrest or what ever the do to us, our movement will go ahead.
NOTHING CAN STOP US

Long live FREEDOM and EQUALITY

List of the Arrested Students

2007-12-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

List of the Arrested Students
1-Mehdi Gerailoo - University of Tehran

2- Nader Ahsani - Ex-student of the University of Mazandaran

3- Anoosheh Azadbar - University of Tehran

4- Ilnaz Jamshidi - Azad University of Tehran(south branch)

5- Behrooz Karimizadeh - Expelled student of the University of Tehran

6- Saeed Habibi - Ex-student of the Sharif University of Technology

7- Ali Salem - Amirkabir University of Technology

8- Yoones Mirhosseini - Bahonar University, Shiraz

9- Milad Omrani - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

10- Abed Tavancheh - Expelled student of Amirkabir University of Technology

11- Yaser Pirhayati - Shahed University

12- Roozbeh Safshekan - University of Tehran

13- Saeed Aghamali - Art University of Yazd

14- Roozbehan Amiri - University of Tehran

15- Nasim Soltanbeigi - Allame Tabataba'ee University

16- Mahsa Mohebbi

17- Keyvan Amiri - Sharif University of Technology

18- Hadi Salari - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

19- Amir Aghayi - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

20- Farshid Farhadi Ahangaran - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

21- Mohsen Ghamin - Amirkabir University of Technology

22- Okhtay Hosseini - Azad University

23- Soroosh Hashempoor - Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

24- Mohsen Ghamin - Amirkabir University of Technology

25- Hamed Mohammadi - University of Mazandaran (arrested two weeks ago)

26- Arash Pakzad - University of Mazandaran

27- Milad Moeeni - University of Mazandaran

28- Hassan Maarefi - University of Mazandaran

29- Behrang Zandi - University of Mazandaran

30- Peyman Piran

31- Majid Ashrafnejad - Shahid Rajayi Teacher Training University

32- Ali Kalayi - Azad University

33 - Amir Mehrzad