Worker-activist Afshin Osanlou fell victim to the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Worker-activist Afshin Osanlou fell victim to the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Condemn the regime of Iran for this hideous crime!

Dear Comrades,

The regime of the Islamic Republic committed another crime. Afshin Osanlou, trade unionist and political prisoner in the notorious Rajaei Shahr prison fell victim to the regime of Iran in June 2013. The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic announced his death on June 22, 2013, claiming it was due to heart attack. The family members of Afshin and his prison-mates have said that Afshin had no history of heart problem and the nurses at the hospital have announced that he had died long before the security forced of the Islamic Republic brought him to the hospital. What is clear is that Afshin has lost his life in bloody claws of the Islamic Republic. The regime of Iran is directly responsible for the death of Afshin Osanlou.

Adshin Osanlou, 42-year old, fired bus driver of Tehran Vahed Bus Transit Company, inter-city bus driver, truck driver, and a member of the founding committee of the Truck Drivers Syndicate was arrested in 2009 by the security-intelligence forces of the Islamic Republic in Tehran because of his trade union activities , and was taken to Evin prison. In the prison, Afshin goes under severe physical and mental torture and was falsely charged with conspiracy and action against “national security”. The regime of Iran sentenced him to 5 years prison term. Afshin was transferred to Rajaei Shahr prison after 3 years and was finishing his term.

Dear Comrades,

Tens of worker-activists are arrested, tortured, and imprisoned in the dungeons of the regime of the Islamic Republic. Their guilt is to attempt the formation of independent worker-organizations, to defend the workers’ rights, to fight for better wages and job security and collective bargaining and health insurance and … Their guilt is to stand to the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic and not to bend to the pressures and threats of a regime that its authorities’ involvement in multi-milliard dollars embezzlements are known by the people on the streets.

But the regime’s response to the just demands of the workers and their representatives is detention, imprisonment, torture, and charges with conspiracy and action against the “national security”. Most recently, several activists and political prisoners have lost their live under barbaric and medieval torture. Sattar Beheshti, a worker and webloger, was killed under torture less than two weeks after his arrest. Alireza Karami lost his life in the death claws of the Islamic Republic. Beside mistreatment, torture, and physical and mental pressures, the regime of the Islamic Republic has restricted the access to medical treatment for the political prisoner. By “lack of medical attention”, the regime wants to impose on activists “normal” death due to health problems and organ failure.

The regime of the Islamic Republic takes the families of the political prisoners hostage and puts them under pressure and threats with the hope of breaking the resistance of the activists. Taking revenge on the families of the prisoners has been a sick policy of the Islamic Republic. The family of the fallen comrade Afshin Osanlou has been under threat for a long time. Mansour Osanlou, the brother of Afshin Osanlou, is also a worker activist. Mansour was a prominent and founding member of the Vahed Bus Transit Company Syndicate. Due to his shining struggles, he was imprisoned, brutally tortured, and sentenced to 5 years prison term. After finishing his sentence, Mansour had to leave Iran because the Islamic regime has threatened his life. The mother of Afshin Osanlou is also under threat and pressure by the regime on Iran. The worker-activists are faced not only with torture and imprisonment, but also with pain and suffering inflicted on their families by the Islamic government.

Dear Comrades,

The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic is fearful of the formation of independent worker-organizations. The Islamic regime sees end of its parasitic life nearing when the working class and the people are united, and is trying to suffocate any attempt to build independent and democratic workers' organizations, and detained and charges the worker-activists with conspiracy against “national security”. But the struggle for the formation of trade unions has a long history in Iran, and the arrests and imprisonment of the activists by the regimes of the Shah and the Islamic Republic has been unable to stop this struggle. By the intensification of their struggle against the Islamic Republic, workers will impose their demands on the regime.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) takes the regime of the Islamic Republic directly responsible for the death of Afshin Osanlou. We strongly condemn the arrest, mistreatment, pressure, threat, torture, imprisonment, and execution of the worker-activists. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. We call on fraternal Parties and Organizations, democratic and progressive forces, labour activists, and freedom loving individuals to condemn the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic for the death of Afshin Osanlou and other crimes. We ask the comrades to express solidarity with the struggles of the Iranian worker-activists and to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned worker-activists and all political prisoners.

Shame and Disgust to the Regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran !

Release all worker-activists immediately and unconditionally!

Long live the struggles of the Iranian workers and Toilers !

Long Live Socialism !

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

July 13, 2013

www.Toufan.org

Toufan@toufan.org

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The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) Boycotts the Sham Presidential Elections in Iran and Demands Democratic Rights and Freedom for the People!

According to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, president of the country is elected by the direct popular votes and not by the parliamentary representatives. The presidential elections in Iran will take place on June 14, 2013.

Every 4 years, the Iranian authorities appeal to the citizens for their vote in order to nationally and internationally legitimize their rule. During the election campaigns, the Islamic authorities promise to improve the economic conditions of the masses and to make the future better for the citizens, but the economic- social- political conditions have been worsening for the working people year after year. When the people take to the streets and protest the intolerable living conditions, when the masses challenge the authorities, they are given the response that the “Supreme Leader” is not bound to the votes of the people, that the pillars of the Republic are based on Islam and not on the observance of democratic principles, wills, or votes of the citizens.

This lack of respect for the opinion, wills, and votes of the people has existed since the first year of the establishment of the Islamic Republic. The repetition of the farce, hypocritical, and deceptive shows by the Islamic regime has caused the people to laugh at and ridicule the Islamic Republic.

The candidates for the presidential elections have gone through filters by the “Guardian Council” and by the “Supreme Leader”. Each candidate is worse, more corrupt, more involved in embezzlement, more reactionary, and more criminal than the other. Furthermore, the Iranian masses will not make a choice between bad and worse. Making a choice between bad and worse is a vicious circle that can continue forever. As long as the Islamic Republic has been in power, there have been factions and inter-quarrels between the factions. All factions have full adherence to the reactionary Constitution of the Islamic Republic and to the rule of a “Supreme Leader”. All factions and all candidates for presidential elections supported the slaughter of the political prisoners in 1988, supported all political executions and assassinations, participated in the repression of the workers activists, opposed to the freedom of expression and assembly and formation of independent labour organizations, etc.

The strategic line of the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) is to overthrow of the criminal, corrupt, despotic, and theocratic regime of the Islamic Republic. Removing the Islamic Republic from the power will eliminate obstacles for the development of a democratic Iran, and will pave the way for the participation of the working people in the political life of the country.

At the present situation, we call on all Iranian people not to participate in the presidential elections. Through this active and vigorous call, we fully boycott the elections. The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) demands the freedom of all political parties and organizations, equality of men and women in all spheres of life, elimination of censorship, the freedom of expression and assembly, the freedom of all political prisoners, the freedom of trade union and guild activities. These just and logical demands have wide spread support in the society and will corner the regime and the “Supreme Leader”. Theoretically, these demands could be met in any ordinary bourgeois state. But the Islamic regime’s surrender to these demands- a regime with a three- decade history of corruptions and embezzlement and execution and … - is a big defeat for the “Supreme Leader”. These demands will build a powerful movement independent from the factions of the regime that puts an end to the hesitation of the masses in making a choice between bad and worse.

The recognition of the democratic rights and freedom of the masses is a pre-condition and prerequisite to any free elections.

Boycott the Presidential Elections in Iran!

No to the Regime of the Islamic Republic!

No to Imperialist Sanctions and Threats against Iran!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
May 2013

WWW.Toufan.org
Toufan@toufan.org

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The worker-activists must be released immediately and unconditionally from the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran !

The worker-activists must be released immediately and unconditionally from the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran !

Dear Comrades,

On June 15, 2012 in the city of Karaj, the Intelligence and Security agents of the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran raided the meeting place of the labour-activists. About 60 activists were arrested, beaten, and taken to prison for interrogation. The meeting was held to discuss and to find a suitable response to the delayed wage payment, lack of job security, massive layouts, and to the repression of workers who try to form independent unions.  Though most of them were released in 24 hours, nine of them are kept in prison. Since then, they have not had any contact with outside prison.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) condemns the arrest and imprisonment of the labour activists who struggle for their just and basic rights. Once again, we express our utmost disgust and outrage for the capitalist and unpopular regime of Iran. Workers have the right to fight for their deprived rights and to form their independent organisations. Any attempt to restrain the legitimate activities of the working class must be condemned by all the wage labourers and progressive forces around the world. The suppression of the masses by the reactionary regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in the interest of both the capitalist exploiters and plunderers of Iran and of the imperialists and warmongers who have worsened the living conditions of the people by their economic sanctions and threats of military invasion.

Dear Comrades,

The regime of the Islamic Republic is in deep political-economic-social crises. The living conditions of the workers and toilers have worsened every year. The set of conditions ruling the masses' livelihood have left them no option except opposing the rulers and waging fights against the entirety of the unpopular regime of the Islamic Republic. In order to change the situation, the working class that carries out the heaviest burden of the economic crisis on its shoulders tries to strengthen its power and to establish combatant and stable labour organisations and to open to the society the path of wide-spread and all-sided battles against the ruling powers. The authorities of the Islamic Republic are fearful of unity and solidarity between the workers. They have found no solution to the intolerable living conditions of workers except detaining, suppressing, and imprisoning the activists. The regime has taken these reactionary actions many times in the past but has not been able to crush the workers' struggles. The fire of the workers' and people's protest movement is inextinguishable. Many hundreds of strike, sit in, demonstration, slow work, and even direct confrontation with the regime's repressive forces are witnesses to this fact. Solidarity and unity in their independent organisations is the key point for the workers to succeed in the struggles for a better life. When this unity and solidarity is expanded to the other sectors of the workforce, when it is elevated to a higher level by equipping itself with socialist consciousness taught by the party of the working class, then it becomes such a powerful objective force that is capable of crushing the regime's reactionary repressive machinery and transferring the ownership of the means of production to the public and establishing socialism for itself and the toilers.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) supports the just struggles of the worker-activists to bring about a better and humane living condition. We praise their attempts to form independent trade unions. We condemn their arrest, imprisonment, and mistreatment. We call on our fraternal Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations, all pro labour forces, and all progressive minded individuals of the world to raise voice, in any possible way, against the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its recent detainment in the city of Karaj , and against  the captivity of the prominent leaders of the labour syndicates. We ask the comrades to express solidarity with the struggles of the Iranian worker-activists and to demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of  all recent detainees, all imprisoned worker-activists, and all political prisoners.

Only the intensification of the struggle of the Iranian masses and the genuine international support for Iranian people can force the regime of the Islamic Republic to retreat and to stop the repression of the Iranian people.

Release all worker-activists immediately and unconditionally!

Long live the struggles of the Iranian working class!

Down with the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic, by the hands of the Iranian people!

Long live freedom and socialism!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

June 22, 2012

www.Toufan.org

Toufan@toufan.org

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Toufan: The Criminal, Inhumane, Warmongering, and Illegal Sanctions on Iran

Statement by the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) on

The Criminal, Inhumane, Warmongering, and Illegal Sanctions on Iran

On Monday January 23, 2012, the foreign ministers of the imperialist European Union countries decided in Brussels to extend the economic sanctions on Iran by putting sanctions on Central Bank of Iran and by freezing the assets of the Iranian people in Europe. In order to inflict a heavy damage on the economy of Iran, they decided to place an embargo on the export of the Iranian oil to Europe.

To impose economic blockades on and to cause hunger in Iran are acts that are internationally illegal and are crimes against humanity. Imperialists want to impose their sinister, plundering, and domineering intentions on Iran and on their “axis of evils” by creating another Iraq and a second Gaza Strip. By punishing Iran, the imperialist countries want to teach a lesson to Non-Allied countries and to those who do not submit to their dictates.

In the past, the imperialists try to justify their crimes by passing illegal resolutions in the UN Security Council. But they imposed sanctions against Iran today without any UN authorization. The sanctions are plots by a gang of international plunderer against a UN-member state and are against the UN Charter. The US and EU sanctions against Iran lack any legal basis on the international arena. The US imposes on countries of the world the decisions made in the US Congress and pretends that the decisions are made by the international community. The illegal and bullying actions against Iran show the hegemonic and despotic nature of the US imperialism.

While the foreign minister of Russia, Sergei Lawrow, stated that the “unilateral actions are useless”, he added that there was no reason to make any decision in addition to collective decision by the UN Security Council. The deputy foreign minister of the racist government of Israel, Danny Ajalon, claimed in a press interview that “These sanctions have reduced the threat of war”. Coming out of the meeting that made warmongering and threatening decisions on Iran, Ms. Catherine Ashton who is in charge of the EU international relations and the foreign minister of Sweden Mr. Carl Bidlt claimed that the basis of their work was to appeal to diplomacy and negotiation!

The imperialist powers clearly lie when they claim that they recognize the legal and indisputable right of Iran to enrich uranium. The fact is that they have monopoly in producing nuclear energy. The recognition of Iran’s right to produce nuclear energy is to break the imperialist monopoly. In a deceptive psychological war, the major powers warn the world about Iran’s nuclear bomb, but they have not disclosed any document to show the existence of this bomb. German foreign minister Guido Weserwelle shamelessly said that “We cannot accept Iran developing nuclear weapons” and that “This is not a security problem for region only but it will disrupt the world security”. Wow! The non-existence Iranian nuclear bomb disrupts the security of the entire globe but many hundred known or secret warheads in the hands of American, British, French, and Israeli warmongers are nor dangerous for the world security! Apparently, there are good and bad atomic bombs! The arguments given by the representatives of the imperialist powers are fierce, threatening, and sickening.

The history of economic sanctions shows that the ordinary people of the countries on which the sanction were imposed suffered the most by the sanctions. In Iran, the inflation is rapidly rising, shortage of medicine and medical equipments is already felt, and particularly the patients with heart problems are under attack because the companies making the equipments are under the US sanctions and cannot export their products to Iran. This is not a concern for the imperialist powers. It is not important to the US President Obama and his Iranian allies if millions of people are slaughtered in the war. Also, the sanctions on Iran give an excuse to the authority of the Islamic Republic to increase the suppression of the anti-imperialist and democratic forces in Iran.

The imperialist powers think that if their sanctions cause widespread hunger in Iran, then the people will rise up and install a Western puppet regime. This is a miscalculation because the history of the Iran shows that Iranian people have always rejected submission to any forces allied to foreign imperialist powers. The Iranian masses have no feeling except disgust and hate towards sellout, spies, and for those who carry out terrorist operations in Iran.

The fact is that the imperialists’ actions against Iran are not for eliminating the Iranian nuclear bomb. Such a bomb does exist. Iran holds a key geo-political position in the Middle East region and is the center of entangled world contradictions. To control Iran is to control an entire strategic region with enormous energy resources that the US desire to plunder for decades. Strait of Hormuz is a valve for export of oil to four corners of the globe. The US imperialists wish to have control over this oil valve. The presence of the US forces in the region is a danger for the world security and is a threat particularly to the security of the Middle East. The propaganda about Iranian atomic bomb, the bomb that does not exist, is justification for aggression on Iran and for domination of the region, and Islamic Republic’s capitulation to imperialists’ demands will not change the imperialists’ nature of following their domineering goals.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) believes that the economic sanctions on Iran act against the masses and are inhumane. We take the imperialists, particularly the US imperialists, responsible for the suffering and misery these sanctions will cause. The sanctions on Iran are illegal, warmongering, and unjustifiable. Our Party strongly condemns the imperialist sanctions, embargoes, and threats against the Iranian masses. We believe that every progressive, human-loving, and patriotic Iranian must take stand against the sanctions and against the imperialist-Zionist warmongering threats, and must draw a sharp line to separate enemies from the people.

The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a reactionary and Mafia-style capitalist regime. The regime of Iran has lost all its legitimacy, and the overwhelming majority of the Iranian masses are disgusted by the regime. The task of overthrowing this criminal regime is on the shoulders of the Iranian masses. The regime change by the imperialist invading forces will be for the purpose of colonizing the country and looting the resources of the nation. The imperialist powers have never supported and will never support the freedom-loving and democratic forces anywhere in the world. Their talks about freedom and human rights are nothing but smokescreens for their criminal actions, and Iraq, Libya, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan … are testimonies to this. Hypocrisy is written on their foreheads.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

January 23, 2012.

WWW.Toufan.org

Toufan@toufan.org

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Toufan: The worker-activists must be released immediately and unconditionally from the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran !

To : The International Conference of the Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations, labour-activists, progressive organisations, and freedom loving people of the world

The worker-activists must be released immediately and unconditionally from the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran !

Dear comrades,

The criminal regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently intensified the repression of the labourers and worker-activists. In the past few months, many labour-activists have been detained, imprisoned, and tortured by the security forces of the Islamic Republic.

Shahrokh Zamani, a house-painter and decorator has been in detention since June 7, 2011. He was arrested while traveling from the city of Tabriz to the Capital Tehran by a public bus. Shahrokh was involved in establishing the independent trade union “Painters’ Syndicate” and he is a member of the “Committee to Form Independent Worker Syndicates”. Shahrokh Zamani was kept in solitary confinement for more than a month. He went on hunger strike for a week to protest his detention and mistreatment. The regime of the Islamic Republic has transferred him to Tabriz prison. No official warrant for the arrest of Shahrokh was issued and no charges are filed against him.

The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic is fearful of the formation of independent worker-organisations and of the unity of the workers with other sections of the society. The Islamic regime sees its end by the united and nation-wide strikes and protests of the labourers and is trying to suffocate any attempt to build independent and democratic workers' organisations. Following this policy, the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has harassed, tortured and imprisoned Mansour Ossalou, Ali Nejati, Ebrahim Madadi, Torabian, and other prominent trade union activists for several years. Shahrokh Zamani, together with his comrades, Mohammad Jarrahi and Seyed (both are labour activists), and two university students Nima Pourhemmat and Sassan Vahhabi are the latest known victims of this criminal policy.

Our Party believes that repression of the workers and toilers by the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran also serves the interests of imperialism and the world reaction. We strongly condemn the repressive actions of the Iranian regime.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) supports the just struggles of the labour-activists for a better working condition and we praise their attempts to form independent trade unions. We call on all fraternal Parties and the Marxist-Leninist Organisations, all worker-activists, and all progressive minded individuals of the world to express solidarity with the struggles of the Iranian worker-activists. The people of the world should be outraged over the imprisonment and treatment of the Iranian masses and labour activists and to demand the regime of Islamic Republic to free all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. Only the intensification of the just struggle of the Iranian labourers and of the genuine international support for masses can force the Islamic regime to retreat and to stop the repression of the Iranian people.

Release Shahrokh Zamani and other worker-activists immediately and unconditionally!

Long live the struggles of the Iranian working class!

Down with the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

July 16, 2011

www.Toufan.org

Toufan@toufan.org

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Toufan: Condemn the Murderous Regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Dear Comrades,
The criminal regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran executed 5 political prisoners on early hours of May 9, 2010. Farad Kamangar, Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili, Mehdi
Islamian, and Shireen Alam Hooli (female) who were kept in the dungeons of the regime for several years were given death sentences under fabricated charges. The Islamic
Republic of Iran carried out the death sentences despite domestic and international protests and campaigns for their unconditional release. These political prisoners were sentenced to death because of their opposition to the regime of the Islamic Republic.
Their executions were carried out in secret and without their families or lawyers being informed.
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) strongly condemns this hideous crime committed by the medieval regime of the Islamic Republic. We call upon our fraternal Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations, political activists, democratic organisations, labour
activists, and progressive-minded individuals to protest any form possible these barbaric crimes committed by the Islamic Regime against the sons and daughters of the Iranian people, and to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisonersin Iran.
The killings of the political prisoners are part of the Iranian regime's vain attempts to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation with the hope of preserving the political power. The mass protests of the Iranian people in the past year have frightened the regime and have further isolated it domestically and internationally. The latest crimes of the Islamic Republic will only deepen the anger, hatred, resolve and the democratic movement of the Iranian masses. In the past three decades, tens of thousand of communist, revolutionary, and progressive Iranian have fallen victims to the killing
machine of the Islamic Republic, but today a stronger generation of lionesses and loins are on the streets of Iran to demand their just rights for freedom, democracy and social justice, and to end suppression, poverty, political crimes, embezzlement, stealing, and
exploitation.
We support the rights of the Iranian masses to defend themselves in the face of the violence crimes committed against them by the brutal regime of the Islamic Republic.

Down with the Criminal Regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran!
Long Live Socialism!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

May 12, 2010
www.Toufan.org
Toufan@toufan.org

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Iran: Three major independent labour organizations sent a joint letter to the United Nations Commission of Human rights

Three major independent labour organizations- the Syndicate of Tehran and Suburb Vahed Bus Company,
the Syndicate of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company, and the Free Union of workers of Iran- have sent a joint
letter to the United Nations Commission of Human rights. They have asked the 7th session of Universal
Periodic Review of the UN to review their demands for a dignified life free from any form of suppression
and intimidation. These organizations have protested their inhumane treatment by the regime of the Islamic
Republic of Iran. In their letter, they describe the miserable economic conditions of the Iranian masses and
particularly of the Iranian working class. They have put forward several demands including:
- Unconditional freedom to establish independent worker organizations
- Unconditional freedom of assembly, strike, and protest
- Freedom of all detained or imprisoned worker-activists
- Complete equality of men and women in workplace and in all aspects of life
- Abolishment of all forms of child labours
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) support these just demands and calls on fraternal Marxist-Leninist
Parties and Organizations, all progressive minded individuals, and all worker-activists to protest the harsh
treatment of the Iranian workers by the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic. We demand the immediate
release of prominent union leaders Mansour Ossalou, Ebrahim Madadi, Alireza Saghafi, and Ali Nejati.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
February 2010
WWW.Toufan.org
Toufan@toufan.org

Below is the letter the three worker-organizations have sent to the UN Human Rights Commission.

TO: Human Rights Council of the United Nations
In the 7th session of the United Nations’ rotational review of human rights on 15th to 17th of February 2010
in its headquarters in Geneva, the human rights situation in Iran is being reviewed. The beginning of this
session coincides with the 4th anniversary of international solidarity with the imprisoned workers of the
Iranian Transit Company. On 15th February 2006, many international workers and members of trade
unions expressed their support of these detained workers and raised their protesting voice s against the
anti-union activities in Iran, to the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). During all the years after
the workers and union activists were detained, the IRI authorities have said that the imprisoned workers
would be released if they sign undertakings not to be involved in union activities. The security forces have
declared that despite the fact that IRI was signatory to international treaties, it was not to its national
interests to permit the formation of workers’ unions and syndicates, and anyone attempting to do just that
would be considered an enemy of the IRI and would be charged as such. In the past 30 years, despite the
main demands of the 1979 revolution, the financial conditions of the working class in Iran not only has not
improved, poverty and destitute aspects and lack of income has become rampant amongst them. The
situation is so bad that the International Labour Organization (ILO) has categorized Iran among the worst
3 countries in the world in terms of working conditions and the most basic rights of workers being denied.
The working situation of youth and women has reached catastrophic proportions. Lack of work place
safety, temporary monthly contracts, and blank contracts have become routine practice in hiring workers.
The minimum wages in Iran is four times less that poverty line. Families of millions of workers are
constantly desperate to earn daily substance because of delayed payments for their labors, and the huge
numbers of unemployed and ones in danger of becoming employed workers has created hell on earth for
them and their families and dependants. To them, the only way out of such inhuman conditions is to make
drastic charges in all levels of finances and social sectors. Those inhuman conditions have been imposed
on the Iranian workers when they were denied of all their internationally recognized rights in the past 30
years. Any strike, protest or attempt to organize has been faced with suppression, threats, unemployment
and national security related charges. Despite the clear and present danger of suppression and
unemployment, the Iranian workers filled the scenes with their protest against their backbreaking
conditions. In hundreds of production and industrial centers, they organized many gatherings to show that
they were not willing to continue to live in such inhuman living and working environments. We see some
aspects of their protests in the passed month where many of the participants in the street movements
consist of women, youth and their families. The 7th session of the United Nations’ rotational review of
human rights is being held at the time when the president and vice president of the Syndicate of Workers
of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Ossalou and Madadi, the Syndicate of workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar cane
Company Ali Nejati and Alireza Saghafy along with many other labour activists are in jail and a teacher
like Mr. Farzad Kamangar is sentenced to be hanged. Many participants of the May Day celebrations are
still awaiting court decisions and many other syndicate members are in a limbo of being suspended from
their works. We hope that demands of the Iranian workers of living honorable lives, away from any fear of
suppression and threatening environment, will be considered in your session and is this issue is placed on
the agenda of the 7th session of the United Nations’ rotational review of human rights. The most urgent
and most basic demands at the present time are:
- Abolishment of executions, immediate and unconditional release of labour activists and all other social
movement activists from jails
- Rescinding all charges against labour movement arrestees
- Immediate and unconditional freedom in the formation of labour unions without the need to have
permission from managements , compliance with all labour related international conventions, eradication
of all non-labour establishments from working environments, and to prosecute the suppressors and
deniers of workers’ human rights
- Unconditional rights to have strike, protest, and freedom of speech
- Complete equality between men and women at work and in all other aspects of social, economical, and
family lives
- Total abolishment of child labour and providing educational and medical environment for all children
The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company
Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company
Free Union of Workers in Iran

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Toufan: We Strongly Condemn the Criminal Execution of Ehsan Fatahian!

Once again, the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran acted barbarically and added one more page to its long criminal record. The Islamic Republic of Iran executed the young Kurdish activist Ehasan Fatahian.
Ehsan Fatahian was convicted and sentenced initially to a 10-year prison term by the Islamic courts.
But because Ehsan resisted confessing to the regime's fabricated accusations and chose instead to stand by his belief in social justice, the tyrannical regime of the Islamic Republic changed Ehsan's sentence to the death penalty. Despite strong and widespread domestic and international protests, the Islamic Republic carried out the execution, and consequently faced outrage, hatred, and public anger.
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) strongly condemns the execution of Ehasan Fatahian and expresses its utmost disgust at the regime of the Islamic Republic. We convey our sympathy to Ehasan's family.

The execution of Ehsan was carried out as the regime of Islamic Republic faced a politicaleconomic-social crises in which the struggle of the masses has intensified, and in which the chants "Death to dictator", "Imprisonment, torture, execution, has no affect anymore", etc are being heard from every corner of the towns.
Under this situation, the regime vainly thinks that imprisonment and execution of the political activists can create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation to frighten the masses and stop the democratic movement from advancing. In this political climate, the execution of Ehsan or Ehsans, as history has shown, has had the opposite result for the rulers. In the final stage of its life, the regime of the Islamic Republic can only drag the Ehsans to the gallows but cannot execute the masses of millions in their struggle.
The people of Iran, Kurd, Baluchi, Persian, Azeri, Turkeman, Arab, etc. turn their grief over Ehsan's death into a force to uproot the violent capitalist regime and continue their united struggle to remove all social inequalities and to establish democracy and social justice. The execution of Ehsan is a sign of weakness of a regime that has reached its dead end.
The fate of this anti-human regime is nothing but its violent overthrow. In tomorrow's Iran, those who ordered the killing of the people and those who had carried out will be put on trial and will be punished.
Death to the regime of crime and the execution of the Islamic Republic!
Long live freedom and socialism!

Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

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Toufan: The Participation in the Elections is to Legitimize the Regime of the Islamic Republic!

Statement on the tenth presidential elections in Iran

The Participation in the Elections is to Legitimize the Regime of the Islamic Republic!

(Excerpt)

The tenth presidential elections of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be held on June 12, 2009. The two factions of the regime, Conservative and Reformist, are trying their best to warm up the electoral campaigns. The heated debates between the factions are influenced by world crises and events. The US and European countries are watching the campaigns closely and are hoping that the incumbent president Ahmadinejad loses to his opponent, Reformist candidate Mussavi. The imperialists try to influence the result of the election by propagating an idea that if the Reformist candidate wins the election, the negotiation between Iran and the US could start very quickly and the economic blockade of Iran could be lifted. Through these kinds of involvements, the imperialists will have indirect influence on the results of the elections. In Iran, this political involvement may have the opposite result. The fact that the people of Iran are opposed to the regime of the Islamic Republic does not imply that the people are ready to overthrown the regime or even actively participate in the actions to change the government. After 1979 revolution in Iran, the struggle for freedom and democracy has continued unabated. Despite the protests by workers, students, women, and civil institutions, we cannot yet talk about a revolutionary situation in Iran. Presently, the Iranian masses are indifferent toward the presidential elections. The present situation is very different than it was twelve years ago when the people had hopes for change through reform movement and participated en masse in the elections. At that time, their participation in the presidential elections was a big blow to the regime.
Today, there is no pressure from below to frighten the top leaders of the regime into a forced retreat. The Iranian masses are disillusioned with and disappointed by the Reformers. Today, every major decision is made by the top leadership, and the people feel their participation in the elections will not influence the development of the events or their destiny and that none of the four candidates introduced by the regime represents their interests. The indifference of the masses towards the elections has alarmed the Islamic regime as it tries to pretend to the outside world that it has the support and confidence of the people.
The "Guardian Council" of the Islamic Republic has chosen four candidates among many hundreds, two from the Conservative faction and two from the Reformist, to run for elections. The "Guardian Council", not the people, has made decisions regarding the qualification of the candidates. In this situation, how can people trust and have confidence in these four candidates? The Iranian people do not recognise the qualifications of the council in the first place! This is a council to filter out the opponents and critics of the regime. The regime of the Islamic Republic knows that its election is fake and has no shame about it. However, the regime is fearful of the indifference of the masses toward the elections. The Islamic authorities try through propaganda, deception, and intimidation to force the people to go to the polls.
There are also reports that the regime is trying to lower the voting age to fifteen years. The regime is concerned about its legitimacy abroad. The regime of the Islamic Republic does not respond to the demands of the people, does not value human life, does not end the suppression of dissidents, and does not eradicate superstitions. Instead, it tries to paint its façade to show the imperialists that it has legitimacy at home. The regime has no powerful social base at home to stand up against the
imperialist-Zionist threats and aggression against our people.
Today, two main factions of the Islamic regime are quarrelling in the elections, and both are the defenders and protectors of the Islamic Republic. This quarrel is about who can protect the Islamic
Republic better. At the same time, both factions are fighting to seise and benefit from the country’s vast resources. Both factions cooperate in preserving the political and class power of the Islamic Republic.
The masses are disillusioned with the so-called the Reformist faction. The Reformers have shown that they are incapable of fulfilling the demands of the masses, and that they are more frightened by the demands than by the noise of the rival faction. When they had the support and votes of twenty million people twelve years ago, they did not even legalise the right to form trade unions. How could they now gain the support and the trust of the public and take them to the polling stations again? The former ever-smiling President Khatami played the role of a fireman when the demand for change was burning in millions of the Iranian masses. The Reformers support the economic liberalism of the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Funds, and the World Bank, and they strongly supported the privatisation of major sectors of the economy as they tried to attract imperialist investments in Iran. The Reformers signed the traitorous "Additional Protocol" of International Atomic Energy Agency on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The government of Ahnadinejad was a response of the Iranian ruling circles to the threats of the US imperialists, to economic sanctions, and to the acts of sabotage of the imperialist agents in Iran. The Ahmadinegad government placed significant importance to both domestic suppression and increased military capability. The Conservative faction based itself on the policy that foreign threats strengthen domestic unity, and they implemented this policy skillfully.
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) believes that the participation in the tenth presidential elections in Iran will be in the service of the policies of the Islamic Republic and will strengthen its unpopular regime. In the situation in which despotism rules the country, which the political organisations are
illegalised, which free presses are banned, and in which the political and labour activists are tortured and imprisoned, the talk about a free election in Islamic Republic is cheap. The rule of the Islamic Republic serves as an impediment against any democratic development in Iran. In this situation the correct policy is to actively boycott the tenth presidential elections. This policy is a principled tactic to further discredit and ill-legitimise the murderous regime of Iran. This tactic is to intensify the intercontradiction
of the regime and to weaken the Islamic Republic in its totality. Our supporters are actively agitating against the participation in the elections. We mobilise the people and convince them that this election is not free, etc. The movement to boycott the tenth presidential elections in Iran is an active movement to further expose and isolate the regime of the Islamic Republic.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
May 2009
WWW.Toufan.org
Toufan@toufan.org

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Condemn the Attacks on May Day Demonstrators in Iran!

Letter from the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

Dear Comrades,
On May 1, 2009, workers were gathering In Laleh Park in Tehran to celebrate the international working class day that the Security and Intelligence forces, along with uniform and plain-clothes police, of the Islamic Republic of Iran brutally attacked them. The repressive security forces tried to disperse 2000 workers who were already in the Park and to shut down the May Day demonstration before it started. Many activists have been savagely beaten and injured by the police. The Security and Intelligence forces have arrested more than 150 labour activists, men and women. This year May Day rally in Tehran was sponsored by several independent labour organisations and workers' right centres. The "Organising Committee" of the May Day rally had carried out extensive agitation and propaganda on this event. Several days prior to the celebration, the Islamic Republic's security forces had threatened the labour activists and had made phone calls to families of the activists in order to prevent the May Day rally. Also, the security forces based on several major companies and factories had brought to the Park to identify the participants. The Police have taken photos of the people gathered in the Park.
Also, May Day demonstration in the city of Sanandaj was attacked by the thugs of the Islamic Republic and six activists were arrested.
Following these attacks on May Day events, the police of the Islamic Republic raided the Consumer and Housing Cooperatives of the Metal Mechanics Workers of Tehran and have arrested several
members of the Cooperatives.
The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) strongly condemns the attacks on May Day events in Tehran and Sanandaj. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of recent detainees. We demand the release of all political and labour activists from the dungeons of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Dear Comrades,
In recent years, the worker-activists in Iran were able to establish independent trade unions after many years of hard and continuous struggles against the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic.
Since 1980, the Islamic regime has harassed, suppressed, beaten, and jailed the workers who tried to organise independent May Day celebrations. The capitalist regime of Iran has illegalised the formation of independent worker-syndicates. The activists who have tried to establish free and independent unions have been tortured, imprisoned, and even lashed publicly. Mansour Ossalou, Mahmoud Salehi, Ali Nejati, Farzad kamangar, … have been imprisoned for such activities.
Several independent trade unions and workers' right centres arranged the May 2009 rally in Tehran.
In response to this new development, the regime of the Islamic Republic has intensified its repression against the labour activists. On May 1st, 2009, police used buttons, electric shocks, and pepper spray on the workers gathered in Laleh Park in Tehran. The detainees from different age groups were taken to notorious Evin prison. The families of the detainees who were contacting the Islamic Revolutionary Court were told that authorities have issued bails of 50-100 million tomans (40-80 thousand Euros) for the temporary release of the each detainee!
The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has never recognised or respected the workers' rights to form their organisations, to assemble, or to strike. On the contrary, following the dictates of the "World Trade Organization", the regime has intensified the violation of even the most basic rights of working men and women of Iran. The statement issued by the "Organising Committee" of the May Day rally addresses some of the violation of the rights and suppression of the workers' activities.
"We celebrate May 1st while the capitalist system is in a deep quagmire of economic crisis,…. shifting the burden of the crisis on the back of the labourers all over the world,…" . " Extreme low wages, mass layoffs and firings, imposition of temporary contracts…., such conditions have continued for many years and their severities have increased each year".
The demands put forwards by the Committee's statement include:
-guaranteed job security, elimination of temporary job contracts, increase in minimum wage, payment
of unpaid wages,
- the right to form independent organisations, to assemble, and to strike
- full equality of men and women in all spheres of life
- prohibition of child labour
- release of all imprisoned worker-activists
- end the expulsion and exploitation of Afghan and other migrant workers in Iran
- to build international solidarity with the working class

Dear Comrades,
The demands put forward by the several workers' organisations in Iran are the demands of millions of working men and women who have been living under very harsh conditions for many years. These demands have the support of all sections of the Iranian society who fight for their long-suppressed
rights. The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) calls on all fraternal Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations, progressive and revolutionary organisations and individuals to condemn, in any suitable form, the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its attacks on May Day events in Iran. We call on you to demand immediate and unconditional release of the recent detainees in Iran. The attack on May Day demonstrators in Iran is an attack on the entire working men and women of the world. Long Live the International Solidarity of the Working Class!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
May 6, 2009
WWW.Toufan.org

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Toufan: Demand the Immediate Release of Arrested Students in Iran!

A Letter to the Marxist-Leninist and Worker Parties and Organisations

Demand the Immediate Release of Arrested Students in Iran!

Dear Comrades,

In recent days, the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has waged a wide spread and barbaric offence against the freedom-seeker university students, particularly against the students of Tehran University.

This is not the first time that the regime of the Islamic Republic confronts the student mass, the scientific asset of the society, with such a barbarism and cruelty. The capitalist regime of Iran has resorted to naked suppression and despotism in the universities in order to silence the justice and freedom seeking students' voice, a voice that reflects the general crisis of the society. But the revolutionary and combatant students ridicule the terror and arrest by the regime's military and security forces and intensify their just struggles.

On the occasion of 16^th of Azar(*), the Students Day, the students of many universities demonstrated by carrying banners and placards and issuing statements demanding equal rights for women, the withdrawal of all military and security forces from the universities, freedom of expression and pen, separation of mosque from the state, the unconditional release of all imprisoned students, and the freedom of all political prisoners and defended the political and occupational rights of workers. Alongside these just and democratic rights, the student movement condemned any imperialist aggression against Iran and opposed any interference into the internal affairs of the country.

Dear Comrades,

Due to its rotten and reactionary nature, the regime of the Islamic Republic is in fear of the student movement becoming wide spread and to link itself with the struggle of the working class and of the other strata of the society. To remain in power, the regime sees no other option except falsely accusing the student activists and creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

In the past 10 days, more than 30 left and progressive student activists were arrested and no information is released about their situation.

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) is calling on all Marxist-Leninist and worker parties and organisations and all progressive individuals to protest in any preferable form the policy of suppression and despotism of the regime of the Islamic Republic and to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all students.

Long Live the International Solidarity!

For Immediate and Unconditional Release of all Imprisoned Students!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan), Foreign Office

December 11, 2007

WWW.Toufan.org

(*)On the day of 16^th of Azar (9^th of December) 1953, students of Tehran University were gunned down when they demonstrated against Richard Nixon arrival in Iran immediately after the CIA coup de'tat. Since then, the 16^th of Azar has become the Student Day in Iran.

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The Life of the Labour Activist Mahmoud Salehi is in Danger!

Dear Comrades,

The criminal regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing its repression of the labour activists, women and the students. The Islamic Republic sees its survival in blood shedding, despotism, and imprisonment of its opponents. In the past few weeks, many freedom fighting students are arrested and imprisoned in the dark dungeons of the Islamic Republic. Extensive mental and physical torture is carried out in prisons of this medieval regime.

It is more than three months now that Mahmoud Salehi has been imprisoned because he had organized a May Day rally in the city of Saqez (Kurdistan Province) in 2004. Mahmoud is a well known labour activist who has defended the rights of the workers and the right to form independent labour organizations. He is a member of the Bakery Workers' Association of the city of Saqez. Mr. Salehi has been put under extremely harsh physical conditions.

According to the confirmed reports, he has been transferred to a hospital due to developing kidney problems. He is told that he will be returned to his prison cell in a few days. Mr. Salehi lost one kidney in previous years of imprisonment in the regime of the Islamic Republic. The life of this worker
activist is in danger.

In order to intimidate the labour activists and to create an atmosphere of fear, the authorities in Iran has decided to barbarically and physically eliminate several labour activists, students, and women. In doing this, the Islamic Republic hopes to set back the progressive and revolutionary movement of the Iranian masses.
The campaign to free Mahmoud Salehi has gained momentum. The progressive organizations in many countries are raising their voices against the Islamic Republic's treatments of the labour activists and are demanding the freedom of Mahmoud Salehi.

Our Party believes that repression of the workers and toilers by the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran serves the interests of imperialism and the world reaction. We strongly condemn the repressive actions of the Iranian regime.

Our Party calls on all fraternal Parties and the Marxist-Leninist Organizations to express outrage over the imprisonment and treatment of the labour activist Mahmoud Salehi and to demand the regime of Islamic Republic to free all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. Only the intensification of the just struggle of the Iranian labourers and of the genuine international support for masses can force the Islamic regime to retreat and to stop the repression of the Iranian people.

Long Live International Solidarity!

The Foreign Office of the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
July 18, 2007
WWW.Toufan.org

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Letter of the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)

Dear Comrades,

The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified the repression and arrest of the worker-activists, women, youths, and of university students. Using the pretext of US imperialists' military threats and of the repeated adoption of the UN resolutions to impose economic sanctions, the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic has put tremendous pressure on the Iranian masses and is responding to the just demands of the people by bullets and terror. On July 10, Mansour Ossanlou the head of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburb Bus Company (Sherkat e Vahed) was kidnapped by a group (in civilian clothes) related to the Islamic Republic's security forces. According to the reports given by his family, Mansour is now imprisoned in section 209 of notorious Evin prison in Tehran. The infamous Evin prison is known as a torture chamber of the opponents of the Shah and the Sheikh. The life of Mr. Ossanlou is in danger in the prison.

Mr. Ossanlou has fearlessly defended democratic rights of the employees of Sherkt e Vahed Bus Company and has formed an independent union for them. This brave activist has mocked the Islamic Republic's torture and imprisonment. These are Mr. Ossanlou's only guilt!

Mansour Ossanlou is a labour activist who strongly opposes any economic sanction or imperialist military invasion of Iran. For several years, Ossanlou has struggled to achieve the workers' rights, the right to strike, and the right to form organisation. He is respected by the workers and freedom-seeking people of Iran.

Our Party, the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan), calls on each of the fraternal Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations to send protest letters to Iranian Consulates and to take other appropriate actions condemning the kidnapping of Mr. Ossanlou and demanding his immediate and unconditional release. We must demand the immediate release of all imprisoned worker-activists, women, youths, students, and dissidents.

Our Party strongly and resolutely opposes any UN economic sanction or any imperialist-Zionist military action against Iran. We believe that the barbaric and suppressive policies of the Islamic Republic against workers, students, women and the freedom-seeking patriots only serve the interests of imperialists and Zionists. We strongly condemn these policies.

The Foreign Office of the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
July 13, 2007
www.Toufan.org

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Statement of The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) about the USA's Plans on the Middle East

Stop the War!
No Sanctions, No Bombs Against Iran!
March 17, 2007

The US has, directly after its occupation of Iraq, been building up several military bases close to the Iranian border.

The US has made repeated demands on the Iranian government to accommodate to US policies concerning the "new American order". Replacement of the regimes in Iraq, North Korea and Iran is, and has been, part of the Bush doctrine. Right now, as the US has failed in Iraq, its war-mongering against Iran is on the increase. The US has now dispatched two aircraft carriers to the Gulf of Persia and placed 50 warships just off the Iranian coast. The US accuses Iran of possessing nuclear arms or of aiming at producing them. This is the hysterical US propaganda against Iran, in spite of the fact that all inspectors have declared that Iran has got no nuclear arms; those statements, however, don’t suffice for G.W. Bush. According to what the US dictates, independent nations have no right to develop peaceful nuclear power for civil use. The US dictate does not concern Israel, which is a nuclear power in the Middle East. Nor does it apply to Pakistan, or India, et al. What is being said,!
is that the Tehran regime must obey the US on the Palestine/Israel conflict; must not oppose US policies in the Persian Gulf on matters concerning oil; must accommodate entirely to the IMF and the World Bank, etc. In short, Iran must unconditionally align itself with the US in the rivalry of the latter with the EU, Japan, and China. Can this be realized without any military intervention? Yes, that alternative might be possible. The capitalist clergy regime in Tehran has the character of selling out to the US for the sake of power. All factions within the Tehran regime have shown marked tendencies of compromise with the US. Examples of this are that the Islamic regime, during bombardments of Iraq and Afghanistan, has been collaborating with "the alliance Britain-US" and, according to its own statement, "the US wouldn’t succeed in Iraq and Afghanistan without help from Iran".

Iran was one of the first states to recognize the stooge regime in Baghdad. The Tehran regime has from the very beginning been acting against the resistance movement in Iraq, and has been close to the US line, while yet being accused of responsibility for the US failure in Iraq.

An invasion of Iran is, given the situation of huge US problems in Iraq and internationally, unlikely to occur. Nevertheless, the war-mongering is dangerously similar to the war-mongering that preceded the invasion of Iraq. If it is not possible, in the end, to change the Iranian regime in favour of US desires, it might finally lead to a military action against Iran. The US doesn’t care about the form or medieval character of the Iranian regime. History has shown that the US may collaborate with any kind of Satan to realize its aims and goals. Decisive to the Bush administration is that Iran chooses a pro-US line like Kuwait, Bahrain, Turkey, Qatar et al. The possible intrusion of US imperialism into Iran is of the same nature as its intrusion into Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and other countries, and must be condemned. The US has its imperialist political, economical and strategic interests, and no thinking person should believe that US meddling into Iranian affairs has !
anything to do with democracy, freedom or justice. That is nothing but sheer imperialist propaganda. The people of Iran can, by its own might, overthrow the reactionary theocratic regime and build a free and democratic society without the "aid" of imperialism. Iranians are never going to forget the 1953 event, when Prime Minister Mosadegh was overthrown by a joint US-British action following his nationalization of the oil industry. The Shah was reinstated, oppression and terror became everyday features, and the democracy movement was drowned in blood. One should not be blinded by the terror regime in Iran to forget about the colonial and barbaric aims of US imperialism.

US Out of Iraq Immediately and Unconditionally!
No Sanctions, No Bombs Against Iran!

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
www.Toufan.org

March, 2007

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