Iran Solidarity
Francis Sedgemore, Friday 17 July 2009 at 14:46 UTC
Now that former president Hashemi Rafsanjani has spoken out against the excesses of the Iranian regime, the western media has woken up to the fact that the “gilded youth” of Tehran, together with their brothers and sisters in cities, towns and villages across the land, have not returned to lives of bourgeois domesticity. This, despite an injunction from the so-called “Supreme Leader”, backed up by thugs armed with clubs, razor blades and firearms. Iranians in large numbers continue to protest against an illegitimate government, and are demanding democratic change in their country.
They are also calling for support from the international community…
Zende bad Iran!
Feed the writer! 
Saturday 18 July 2009 at 22:32 UTC
As much as I support the protestors in Iran I can’t sign up to this programme, I’m afraid.
I’ve posted the reasons why on my blog.
Saturday 18 July 2009 at 23:41 UTC
I’ve posted my reaction to Gaw’s opposition to Iran Solidarity on his blog.
Sunday 19 July 2009 at 11:48 UTC
It’s interesting to see the various criticisms of Iran Solidarity from non-Iranian leftists and liberals (or at least the ones who aren’t up the arses of domestic Islamists).
On the one hand we have ultra-left opposition to what they regard as an unsound popular front with support from Iranian monarchists and other counter-revolutionaries. And on the other there are those uneasy with the radical secularist nature of the Iran Solidarity campaign.
Iran Solidarity is a creation of the Iranian exile community in the UK, and the reality is that this is a coalition of mostly secular left supporters of the 1979 revolution who were then stabbed in the back by the ayatollahs. This Iranian left continues to enjoy a good deal of support, both within and without Iran.
I would imagine that the majority of Iranians are at least mildly religious, but it would be a mistake to think that they will be scared off by the likes of Iran Solidarity: a campaign designed to attract support from secular westerners.
Regarding the cries of Allahu Akbar from the rooftops of Tehran, does this really mean that the protesters are primarily Islamists? I doubt it. From a secular perspective it makes sense to subvert the regime by recourse to religious slogans such as this. I’m sure the Iranians do irony as well as the rest of us.
As for the call to abolish the death penalty, this is an important issue, and it should be raised. Judicial killing in Iran is widespread; the death penalty is used to stifle political dissent, and it’s no wonder that the opposition see it as important to campaign against it.
Some westerners see Iran Solidarity as a effort to impose a western vision of secular humanism on Iran. It isn’t. Iran Solidarity is an Iranian-led call for solidarity. It may not represent the opposition in its entirety, but the history of popular fronts shows that to attempt such would be futile.
Pluralism is the key demand of those behind Iran Solidarity, even if the majority of its backers tend toward a secular liberal-left political perspective.
At the same time, however, this is an anti-fascist struggle in which the democrats of the left, centre and right should be joining hands, even if they have conflicting political ideologies, and voice their opinions in different ways.
If you cannot lend your support to Iran Solidarity, there is nothing to stop you organising an alternative, and publishing your own statement of support for the people of Iran. The important thing is that you do it.
Monday 20 July 2009 at 06:43 UTC
Fuck me. I was once involved as a witness in a hit and run incident where the driver of the stolen car was a black youth. The police wanted me to sign a statement along the lines of “the black youth then ran into me. Later, the youth, who as I said before was black ” (I’m not making this up) “then attempted to run away…” This movement’s repeated use of the word “Islamic” reminds me of this. It’s repression that’s the problem; and organisations of any religion and of none are all capable of that. I used to work for Amnesty International; I’ll not be signing this petition but going back to them instead: there’s a campaign here and many others besides that I haven’t yet had time to investigate. Dr Sedgemore is right, however, about the need for people to get involved in some capacity.
Monday 20 July 2009 at 10:37 UTC
Gadj – If the Church of England controlled the levers of power in Britain, I would arm myself to the hilt and take to the hills. Especially if the Church were run by the likes of Kentish pointy hat Michael Nazir-Ali, which looks likely if the current Archbeard of All England continues with his piss-poor leadership performance.
Iran is a theocracy – therein lies the problem, and the root of the repression. Religion is tolerable when confined to the private sphere, but not when tied to more earthly power. I am more than happy with Iran Solidarity’s repeated references to the “Islamic regime” of Iran.
I’m not sure what relevance endemic racism in the British police has to the current discussion.
Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 07:03 UTC
Francis, I’m not in favour of theocracies any more than you are, and the police racism example came into my head as an example of stating something which doesn’t help the situation very much – if they’re behaving like fascists then why not call them “fascistic”, which (I’m hoping) most people agree is A Bad Thing.
Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 10:20 UTC
Because, Gadj, there are many forms of fascism, with different roots, which should be understood and tackled in different ways.
Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 16:20 UTC
Well, good luck with that then :-) I’m all for understanding, and am glad to hear that you are too.
Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 18:41 UTC
Yes, Gadj, I’m all for understanding the enemy. Before annihilating the bastards.
Wednesday 22 July 2009 at 06:59 UTC
Annihilating the enemy, eh? Are you affiliated to some organisation, or are you now “working alone” in some Mr. Kurtz-type capacity?!
Wednesday 22 July 2009 at 09:55 UTC
If I told you that I’d have to kill you.
But no, my days of active resistance are long gone. My revolutionary boltcutters have been honourably retired, and I am left with nothing but the power of rhetoric and bloggox.