Azar Majedi on challenges to the theocratic regime in Iran. 

The so-called judge of the Haft Tapeh activists trial, Moqiseh, who was one of the responsible figures of mass murder of the communist and opposition activists of the 80s, has issued prison sentences between 14-18 years and whipping for the 6 worker activists in Haft Tapeh case. These outrageous sentences enraged the society  so much so that the head of “justice” system immediately made an announcement that the sentences must be reviewed and reduced.

Iran has been in a de-facto uprising since January 2017, when more than 30 towns and cities witnessed anti-government demonstrations with radical anti-regime slogans, such as, “we don’t want Islamic Republic” “death to Khamenei” “death to Rohani” “reformists and hardliners the story is over!” The government tried to quell the unrest by arresting and murdering some of the arrestees under torture.

However, the rise of the working class protest changed the scene. Two important protests by Haft Tapeh sugarcane and Ahvaz steel plants, the last episodes of which took one month, involved workers’ families and mobilised the city behind the workers and left a deep and huge impact on the society as a whole. Esmaeil Bakhshi, a leader of the Haft Tapeh workers called workers to create their councils and demanded that the society be run by people’s councils.

It took a few months before the regime succeeded in pushing back the protest movement in these plants and arresting worker activists. Less than a year after the second arrest of Bakshi and some worker activists, Sepideh Qolyan, Sanaz Alah-yari, Amir Hossein Mohammadi fard, Amir Amir qoli and Asal Mohammadi. When the regime became confident that it has suppressed the protest movement, a short so-called trial took place. Bakhshi bravely stood up against Moqeieh, and told him that he would not tolerate humiliation of Haft Tapeh workers or his lawyer. In response to Bakhshi’s indignant reply Moqeise openly said that workers’ slogan was a communist one. The trial abruptly came to an end and a month later these harsh sentences were announced. In a separate trial Mohammad Khonifar a delegate of Haft Tapeh workers was sentence to 6 years of imprisonment and whipping.

However, the Islamic regime was deeply mistaken thinking that it has defeated the protest movement. The reaction to these sentences was so angry that immediately the head of “justice” system had to intervene. The tide has irreversibly changed. The downfall of this brutal regime is in sight.

The balance of power has enormously changed in the society. Looking back at the history of this regime one can recognise the huge change in the balance of power. This is the regime that executed around 100,000 people, including children in the 80’s, and has continued a brutal repressive rule in the country. Death, torture and acute poverty has gripped the society for too long. The fact that such heinous regime cannot imprison some activists that it openly calls communist without the fear of a revolt is very revealing.

Asar Majedi is a  Member of Hekmatist Party leadership & Chairperson of Organisation for Women’s Liberation


Iran ➖ The Tide Has Changed The Harsh Sentences Against Haft Tapeh Activists And Its Backlash

Azar Majedi on challenges to the theocratic regime in Iran. 

The so-called judge of the Haft Tapeh activists trial, Moqiseh, who was one of the responsible figures of mass murder of the communist and opposition activists of the 80s, has issued prison sentences between 14-18 years and whipping for the 6 worker activists in Haft Tapeh case. These outrageous sentences enraged the society  so much so that the head of “justice” system immediately made an announcement that the sentences must be reviewed and reduced.

Iran has been in a de-facto uprising since January 2017, when more than 30 towns and cities witnessed anti-government demonstrations with radical anti-regime slogans, such as, “we don’t want Islamic Republic” “death to Khamenei” “death to Rohani” “reformists and hardliners the story is over!” The government tried to quell the unrest by arresting and murdering some of the arrestees under torture.

However, the rise of the working class protest changed the scene. Two important protests by Haft Tapeh sugarcane and Ahvaz steel plants, the last episodes of which took one month, involved workers’ families and mobilised the city behind the workers and left a deep and huge impact on the society as a whole. Esmaeil Bakhshi, a leader of the Haft Tapeh workers called workers to create their councils and demanded that the society be run by people’s councils.

It took a few months before the regime succeeded in pushing back the protest movement in these plants and arresting worker activists. Less than a year after the second arrest of Bakshi and some worker activists, Sepideh Qolyan, Sanaz Alah-yari, Amir Hossein Mohammadi fard, Amir Amir qoli and Asal Mohammadi. When the regime became confident that it has suppressed the protest movement, a short so-called trial took place. Bakhshi bravely stood up against Moqeieh, and told him that he would not tolerate humiliation of Haft Tapeh workers or his lawyer. In response to Bakhshi’s indignant reply Moqeise openly said that workers’ slogan was a communist one. The trial abruptly came to an end and a month later these harsh sentences were announced. In a separate trial Mohammad Khonifar a delegate of Haft Tapeh workers was sentence to 6 years of imprisonment and whipping.

However, the Islamic regime was deeply mistaken thinking that it has defeated the protest movement. The reaction to these sentences was so angry that immediately the head of “justice” system had to intervene. The tide has irreversibly changed. The downfall of this brutal regime is in sight.

The balance of power has enormously changed in the society. Looking back at the history of this regime one can recognise the huge change in the balance of power. This is the regime that executed around 100,000 people, including children in the 80’s, and has continued a brutal repressive rule in the country. Death, torture and acute poverty has gripped the society for too long. The fact that such heinous regime cannot imprison some activists that it openly calls communist without the fear of a revolt is very revealing.

Asar Majedi is a  Member of Hekmatist Party leadership & Chairperson of Organisation for Women’s Liberation


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