Thursday, 27 October 2011

FREE THEM NOW! November 5, global action for jailed workers in Iran!


Currently in prison: 
Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, sentenced to 6 years in prison 
Reza Shahabi in prison since June 2010 
Ebrahim Madadi, in prison since December 2008, sentenced to a 3.5 year prison 
Rasoul Bodaghi sentenced to 6 years in prison 
Ayat Niyaafar was arrested on Monday 17 Oct.

Their "crimes" 
Fighting for workers rights including rights to union activities without fear of being persecuted
Demanding to be paid their wage for the work they have done 
Demanding the right to strike and freedom of expression 
Organising May Day 
Establishing labour organisations

The attack on labour activists must be stopped! 
We demands:
·                                 the immediate and unconditional release of all jailed workers in Iran
·                                 the expulsion of delegates of the Islamic regime of Iran from International Labour Organisation (ILO)

We call on all trade unions, concerned organisations and individuals to join us in this campaign. We need to show our solidarity with these jailed workers and their families.

Sweden

Stockholm
Time: Saturday 5 November 2011, 1-3 pm
Place: In front of Embassi of Islamic Republic of Iran
Contact: Göran Gustavsson 0704009033 & Farmarz Ghorbani 0765647616

Gothenberg
Time: Saturday 5 November 2011, 1-3 pm
Place: Brunnsparken
Contact: Abe Asadi 07317178819

Borås
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 2-4pm
Place: Stora torget
Contact: Esmail Mardokhi; 0 737 59 85 66

Helsingborg
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 2.30-5 pm
Place: Stortorget
Contact: Gabi Hosseini 0760879874

Sävsjö
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011
arian mirzolfaghari 0046700773423
zolfaghariarian4@gmail.com
Details forthcoming

Malmö
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 1-3 pm
Place: Triangel
Contact: Hasan Salehi  0703171102
Faride Arman 0703638088

Karlskrona
Date: Saturday 5th November 2011,  2-4 pm
Place: Ronnebygatan 43 till 47 i Centrum
Contact: Amir Kamrani;amir_ung@yahoo.com  0046704 53 10 47      
nasserkhassaee@yahoo.com   0046762835308     

UK

London
Time: Saturday 5 November 2011, 2-4 pm
Place: Trafalgar Sq. In front of National Gallery
At 17.00 We will gather outside the BBC Farsi office

Contact: Behroz Bahari 07838156819
Alireza Rashidi 07712810675

BBC Persian: Broadcasting House,
2-22 Portland Place,
London   W1A 1AA


Canada

Toronto
Time: Saturday 5 November 2011, 1-3 pm
 Place: Yonge St & Dundas Intersection
Contact: Yadi Mahmoudi 416-471-7138
 hkki.vca@gmail.com 

Vancouver
 Time: Saturday 5th November, 3-5 pm
Place:Art Gallery, Robson side
Contact: Masoud Arjang  001-6046495453
Vancouver district Labour  council  also support this call


Netherlands

Amsterdam
Time: Saturday 5 November 2011, 1-3 pm
Beursplein
Cotact: Bahman Khani 0651273261      


Norway

Oslo
Time: Saturday 5th November
In front of Parliament
Details forthcoming
Contact:  Saber Rahimi 004798694001      
Abolghasem Kardar 00474133-3268      


Germany

Frankfurt
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011
Details forthcoming
Contact: Shahnaz Moratab  015774650186

Berlin
Time: Saturday 5th, 2-4 pm
Place: Joachimstaler platz, am U-Bahnhof Kurfürstendamm
Contact: Farzaneh Derakhshan

Cologne
Time: Saturday 5th, 4 pm
Place: In front of Dom
Contact: Mohamad Nemati 01635522356

Hannover
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011 4-6pm
Place: Kropke
Contact:  Naser kashkooli 0177 8348592

Würzburg
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 2.30-5 pm
Abdolbaset Soleimani,  baset_marx@yahoo.com
fetails forthcoming

Hamburg
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 1.30 pm
Place: Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, Glockengießerwall
Contact: Nazanin Borumand  0172-4044323

US

Washington DC
Time: Saturday 5th,
Details forthcoming


Philadelphia
Time: Saturday 5th, 1 pm
Love Park, Broad and JFK Street
Contact: Soheila Nikpour 267-439-7185

France

Lyon
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 4-5 pm
Contact : Payam Azar     
 Details forthcoming

Finland

Helsinki
Time: Saturday 5th, 2- 4 pm
Place: At 14:00 we gather in Helsingin rautatientori and at 14:20 we start our march towards Narinkkatori behind Kamppi building.
Contact: abroadcommittee@gmail.com


Cyprus

Nicosia
Time: Saturday 5th November 2011, 10-11 am
Place: In front of IRI Embassy
Contact: Amir Masoud Khaghani, 96484292
amirmasoud.khaghani@gmail.com

Limassol
Time: Saturday 5th November
Location forthcoming
Contact: Amir Masoud Khaghani, 96484292
amirmasoud.khaghani@gmail.com


Larnaca
Time: Saturday 5th November
Location forthcoming
Contact: Amir Masoud Khaghani, 96484292
amirmasoud.khaghani@gmail.com

Japan

Tokyo
The 5 and 6 Nov, Jamal Saberi Worker-communist Party of Iran's cadre and one of "Free Jailed workers Campaign" activist has speech in the railway union meeting. The labour union representatives from Brazil, USA and South Korea would be present in the meeting. And the subject of the meeting is " Jaliled Workers in Iran

Greece

Athena
Time: Saturday 5th November, 5 pm
Place: Athens Polytechnic in Patission street
Contact: Naser Aghbashloo 00306957954975 


The list is  being completed momentarily

For more information please refer to the facebook sites and websites and blogs under:
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For a FREE Secular Middle East and North Africa

AR/EN/FA/FR

76 secularists and human rights campaigners, including Mina Ahadi, Nawal El Sadaawi, Marieme Helie Lucas, Hameeda Hussein, Ayesha Imam, Maryam Jamil, Maryam Namazie, Taslima Nasrin, Farida Shaheed, Fatou Sow, and Stasa Zajovic have signed on to a Manifesto for a Free and Secular Middle East and North Africa.
In light of the recent pronouncements of the unelected Libyan Transitional Council for ‘Sharia laws’, the signatories of the manifesto vehemently oppose the hijacking of the protests by Islamism or US-led militarism and unequivocally support the call for freedom and secularism made by citizens and particularly women in the region.
Secularism is a minimum precondition for a free and secular Middle East and for the recognition of women’s rights and equality.
We call on world citizens to support this important campaign by signing on to our petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/world-citizens-defend-a-free-and-secular-middle-east-and-north-africa.
We also ask that supporters click ‘like’ on our Facebook page to support this important campaign: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Free-and-Secular-Middle-East-and-North-Africa/271164176261820#!/pages/A-Free-and-Secular-Middle-East-and-North-Africa/271164176261820 and Tweet: #freesecularMENA in support of a free and secular Middle East and North Africa.
VERSION FRANÇAISE CI DESSOUS
FRENCH, ARABIC AND PERSIAN VERSIONS BELOW
Manifesto for a Secular Middle East and North Africa
The 2009 protests in Iran followed by the Arab Spring have the potential to herald a new dawn for the people of the region and the world. The protests have clearly shown that people in the region, like people everywhere, want to live 21st century lives.
We, the undersigned, emphasise their modern and human dimension and wholeheartedly welcome this immense and historical development. We are vehemently opposed to their hijacking by Islamism or US-led militarism and support the call for a free and secular Middle East and North Africa made by citizens and particularly women in the region.
Secularism is a minimum precondition for the freedom and equality of all citizens and includes:
1. Complete separation of religion from the state.
2. Abolition of religious laws in the family, civil and criminal codes.
3. Separation of religion from the educational system.
4. Freedom of religion and atheism as private beliefs.
5. Prohibition of sex apartheid and compulsory veiling.
SIGNATORIES
  1. Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson, International Committees against Stoning and Execution, Iran/Germany
  2. Marieme Helie Lucas, Sociologist, Founder and former international coordinator of Women Living Under Muslim Laws and founder of Secularism Is A Women's Issue, Algeria/France
  3. Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson, Equal Rights Now – Organisation against Women’s Discrimination in Iran, Iran/UK
  4. Shahla Abghari, University Professor, Iran/USA
  5. Siavash Abghari, Esmail Khoi Foundation, Iran/USA
  6. Ahlam Akram, Palestinian Peace and Human Rights Writer and Campaigner, Palestine/UK
  7. Sargul Ahmad, Women's Liberation in Iraq, Iraq/Canada
  8. Mahin Alipour, Coordinator, Equal Rights Now – Organisation against Women’s Discrimination in Iran, Iran/Sweden
  9. Reza Alkrami, Human Rights Activist, Iran/USA
  10. Farideh Arman, Coordinator, Committee to Defend Women’s Rights, Iran/Sweden
  11. Sultana Begum, Regional Gender Adviser, Diakonia Asia, Bangladesh
  12. Djemila Benhabib, Writer, Algeria/Canada
  13. Codou Bop, Journalist and Director of GREFELS, Dakar, Senegal
  14. Ariane Brunet, co-founder Urgent Action Fund, Québec, Canada
  15. Micheline Carrier, Sisyphe, Québec, Canada
  16. Patty Debonitas, Iran Solidarity, UK
  17. Denise Deliège Femmes En Noir, Belgium
  18. Equal Rights Now – Organisation against Women’s Discrimination in Iran, Sweden
  19. Fanny Filosof, Femmes en Noir, Belgium
  20. Mersedeh Ghaedi, New Channel TV Programme host, Iran/Norway
  21. Groupe de recherche sur les femmes et les lois, Dakar, Senegal
  22. Laura Guidetti, Marea Feminist Magazine, Italy
  23. Zeinabou Hadari, Centre Reines Daura, Niger
  24. Anissa Hélie, Historian, Algeria/France/USA
  25. Rohini Henssman, Human Rights Activist, India
  26. Hameeda Hossein, Chairperson Ain o Salish Kendra, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  27. Khayal Ibrahim, Women's Liberation in Iraq, Iraq/Canada
  28. Leo Igwe, Founder, Nigerian Humanist Movement, Nigeria
  29. Ayesha Imam, Women's Human Rights and Democracy Activist, Nigeria/Senegal
  30. International Campaign in Defence of Women’s Rights in Iran, Sweden
  31. International Committee against Execution, Germany
  32. International Committee against Stoning, Germany
  33. Iran Solidarity, Iran/UK
  34. Maryam Jamil, Women's Liberation in Iraq, Iraq
  35. Sultana Kamal, Executive Director, Ain o Salish Kendra and Chairperson Transparency International, Bangladesh
  36. Abbas Kamil, Unity Against Unemployment in Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
  37. Harsh Kapoor, South Asia Citizens Web, India
  38. Akbar Karimian, Human Rights Activist, Iran/UK
  39. Cherifa Kheddar, President of Djazairouna, Algeria
  40. Monica Lanfranco, Marea Feminist Magazine, Italy
  41. Houzan Mahmoud, Representative of Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq, Iraq/UK
  42. Nahla Elgaali Mahmoud, Biologist, Sudan/UK
  43. Anwar Mir Sattari, Human rights Activist, Iran/Belgium
  44. Amena Mohsin, Professor, Dept. International Relations Dhaka University, Bangladesh
  45. Khawar Mumtaz, Director Shirkat Gah, Lahore, Pakistan
  46. Taslima Nasrin, Writer and Activist, Bangladesh
  47. U. M. Habibun Nessa, President, Naripokkho, Bangladesh
  48. Partow Nooriala, Poet, Writer and Human Rights Activist, Iran/USA
  49. Asghar Nosrati, Human Rights Activist, Iran/Sweden
  50. One Law for All, UK
  51. Pragna Patel, Southall Black Sisters, UK
  52. Fariborz Pooya, Iranian Secular Society, Iran/UK
  53. Protagora, Zagreb, Croatia
  54. Hassan Radwan, Activist, Egypt/UK
  55. Mary Jane Real, Women’s Human Rights Coalition, Manila, The Philippines
  56. Edith Rubinstein, Femmes en Noir, Belgium
  57. Nawal El Sadaawi, Writer, Egypt
  58. Fahimeh Sadeghi, Coordinator, International Federation of Iranian Refugees, Iran/Canada
  59. Gita Sahgal, Director, Centre for Secular Space, UK
  60. Nina Sankari, Secularist and Feminist, Poland
  61. Secularism Is A Women's Issue (International Network)
  62. Aisha Lee Shaheed, London, UK
  63. Farida Shaheed, Shirkat Gah, Lahore, Pakistan
  64. Siba Shakib, Filmmaker, Writer and Activist, Iran/USA
  65. Sohaila Sharifi, Women’s Rights Campaigner, Iran/UK
  66. Issam Shukri, Head, Secularism and Civil Rights in Iraq, Iraq/Canada
  67. Southall Black Sisters, UK
  68. Fatou Sow, Sociologist CNRS, Dakar, Senegal
  69. Afsaneh Vahdat, Coordinator, International Campaign for Women’s Rights in Iran, Iran/Sweden
  70. Lino Veljak, Professor of Philosophy, Zagreb University, Croatia
  71. Fauzia Viqar, Director Advocacy and Communications, Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
  72. Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All, UK
  73. Vivienne Wee, anthropologist, feminist and human rights activist, Singapore and Hong Kong, China
  74. Women In Black, Belgrade, Serbia
  75. Sara Zaker, Theatre Director, Bangladesh
  76. Stasa Zajovic, spokesperson Women in Black, Belgrade, Serbia
FRENCH
Manifeste pour la laicité au Moyen Orient et en Afrique du Nord
Les protestations de 2009 en Iran et le Printemps Arabe qui a suivi pourrait faire se lever une nouvelle aurore pour le peuple de la région et du monde. Les manifestations ont clairement montré que le peuple dans la région, comme partout, veut vivre au XXI° siècle.
 Nous sous signés, soulignons leur dimension moderne et humaine et soutenons de tout coeur cet immense tournant historique.  Nous nous opposons avec véhemence à ce qu'il soit détourné par l'islamisme ou par la militarisation sous l’égide des Etats Unis et reitérons l'appel pour un Moyen Orient et une Afrique du Nord libres et laiques, lancé par les citoyens et particulièrelent les femmes de la région.
 La laicité est le pré-requis minimum pour assurer la liberté et l'égalité de tous les citoyens, et cela inclue:
 1. la totale separation de la religion et de l'état.
2. l'abolition des lois religieuses en matière familiale et dans le code penal.
3. la séparation de la religion et du système d'éducation.
4. la liberté de religion et d'athéisme, définis comme croyances personnelles.
5. l'interdiction de l'apartheid sexuel et du voile obligatoire.
ARABIC
بيان من أجل شرق اوسط وشمال افريقيا علمانية
 إن احتجاجات إيران عام 2009 والربيع العربي الذي أعقبها تحمل أملاً بفجر جديد لشعوب المنطقة وللعالم. لقد أظهرت الاحتجاجات بشكل واضح أن شعوب المنطقة، كغيرها من شعوب العالم، تسعي لحياه تواكب متطلبات القرن الحادي والعشرين.
 نحن، الموقعون أدناه، نؤكد على البعد الحديث والإنساني لهذه الثورات ونرحب ترحيبا حارا بهذا التطور التاريخي الكبير. ونحن نعارض بشدّة سلب مكتسبات هذه الثورات سواء كان ذلك على يد الحركات الإسلامية أو السياسات العسكريتارية بقيادة امريكا، ونؤيد الدعوة لقيام شرق أوسط وشمال إفريقيا علمانية بارادة المواطنين في المنطقة وخاصة النساء.
 إن العلمانية تمثّل الحد الأدنى من أجل تحقيق حرية ومساواة كل المواطنين، ويشمل ذلك:
 1. فصل الدين عن الدولة فصلاً تاما.
2. إلغاء التشريعات الدينية الخاصة بالأسرة والتشريعات المدنية والجنائية.
3. فصل الدين عن النظام التعليمي.
4. حرية الدين والإلحاد كمعتقدات شخصية.  
5. منع سياسة التمييز الجنسي والحجاب الإجباري.   
PERSIAN
مانیفست برای خاورمیانه- شمال آفریفای سکولار
مبارزات سال 88 (2009 میلادی) در ایران و در پی آن "بهار عربی" این ظرفیت را دارد که طلوعی تازه را به مردم منطقه و جهان نوید دهد. اعتراضات به روشنی میدهد که مردم این منطقه، نظیر مردم هر جای دیگر، خواهان یک زندگی قرن بیست و یکمی هستند.
ما امضاء کنندگان زیر بر ابعاد انسانی و مدرن این مبارزات تاکید میگذاریم و با تمام وجود از این تحول عظیم تاریخی استقبال میکنیم. ما قاطعانه مخالفت خود را با مصادره این انقلابات و مبارزات توسط اسلام گرایی و یا  میلیتاریسم (دولتی) تحت رهبری آمریکا اعلام میداریم و از فراخوان "یک خاورمیانه و شمال آفریقای آزاد و سکولار" حمایت میکنیم که توسط شهروندان این منطقه  بویژه زنان مطرح شده است.
سکولاریسم  پیش شرط حداقل برای آزادی و برابری همه شهروندان و دربرگیرنده این مفاد است:
١-جدائی کامل مذهب از دولت. 
٢-الغای قوانین مذهبی در قوانین خانواده، مدنی و جنایی. 
٣-جدائی مذهب از سیستم آموزش و پرورش. 
٤-آزادی مذهب و بی مذهبی بعنوان اعتقادات شخصی. 
٥-ممنوعیت آپارتاید جنسی و حجاب اجباری. 
  
For more information, contact:
Marieme Helie Lucas
Maryam Namazie
Telephone: +44 (0) 7719166731
For a Free and Secular Middle East and North Africa
BM Box 2387, London WC1N 3XX, UK
2 comments:

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Iran Solidarity's message at Frankfurt Book Fair


English/Deutsch

Freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom is important…for everyone

We are pleased to announce that this year Iran Solidarity has its own stall at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

We are here to inform visitors about our work in mobilising solidarity with Iranian people who are fighting against the dictatorial regime they have been living under for 32 years. We are concerned however, that the Iranian regime has been allowed to take part in the Book Fair through its regime-owned publishing houses.

The question is why the Islamic regime of Iran can freely send its representatives to the Frankfurt Book Fair when it does not allow freedom of expression or a free press inside Iran, when it routinely bans and censures films, books and songs, when it incessantly abuses and imprisons journalists, filmmakers and artists, when it murders and disappears writers and dissidents, when it oppresses women systematically through its laws and actions, when it still stones women and men to death, when it rapes and tortures prisoners, when it has executed on average one person every 8 hours for the last 10 months?

What is such a regime doing at the Frankfurt Book Fair?

We are surprised by the ‘civility’ the regime’s henchmen and women are displaying here, something they hardly extent to their own people; like Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr who was just ‘honoured’ with 90 lashes and one year in prison for playing in the film ‘My Tehran for sale’ which was first given permission by the regime but subsequently banned. Inside Iran, the regime imprisons writers, journalists and artists – abroad it takes part in the Frankfurt Book Fair. The Iranian regime’s only claim to culture is that of a culture of censorship and brutality - and its representatives are now here to freely move and express themselves whilst the Iranian people as a whole are not.

In 1989 the Iranian regime was banned from the Book Fair after it had issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for his book ‘The Satanic Verses’. The then director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, Weidhaas, had said, "The Satanic Verses" has become…a fight for the revolutionary and progressive achievement of freedom of speech, the freedom to distribute the word and the free flow of information.” The Iranian regime was banned for 10 years and we wonder what happened? Why has the Islamic regime of Iran been allowed back in when not only the fatwa actually still stands but more importantly the regime’s record towards its own people has long been so clear and so visible to the world? 

We are very pleased that we will be here as a voice of information and conscience and we are doing our utmost to inform visitors about the brutality, misogyny and criminal character of the Islamic regime of Iran and to ask the question: What is the Iranian regime doing at an event that stands for freedom of thought and expression?

We would like to hear from you, please get in touch:

Shahnaz Morattab (Farsi, Deutsch)
Shahnaz1@t-online.de
+49 (0) 15774650186

Patty Debonitas, spokesperson (English, Deutsch)
iransolidaritynow@gmail.com
+44 (0) 7435156444



Meinungsfreiheit, Denkfreiheit, Freiheit ist wichtig...für alle

Wir freuen uns, dass in diesem Jahr Iran Solidarität einen eigenen Info-Tisch auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse hat.

Wir sind hier, um Besucher über unsere Arbeit zur Solidaritätsmobilisierung mit den iranischen Menschen, die seit 32 Jahren gegen das diktatorische Regime im Iran kämpfen, zu informieren. Wir sind jedoch darüber besorgt, dass das iranische Regime an der Buchmesse durch seine eigenen Verlagshäuser teilnehmen kann.

Die Frage ist, warum das islamische Regime Irans ihre Vertreter zur Frankfurter Buchmesse schicken kann, wenn es keine freie Meinungsäußerung oder Pressefreiheit im Iran zuläßt, wenn es routinemäßig Filme, Bücher und Lieder zensiert und verbietet, wenn es unaufhörlich Journalisten, Filmemacher und Künstler missbraucht und einsperrt, wenn es Schriftsteller und Dissidenten ermordet oder verschwinden lässt, wenn es Frauen systematisch durch seine Gesetze und Maßnahmen unterdrückt, wenn es immer noch ​​Frauen und Männer zu Tode steinigt, wenn es Gefangene foltert und vergewaltigt, wenn es in den letzten 10 Monaten durchschnittlich alle 8 Stunden eine Person hingerichtet hat? Was hat ein solches Regime auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse zu suchen?

Wir sind von der "Zivilität" die die Handlanger des Regimes hier an den Tag legen überrascht, da sie so etwas kaum ihren eigenen Leuten zukommen lassen; wie etwa der iranischen Schauspielerin Marzieh Vafamehr, die gerade vom Regime mit 90 Peitschenhieben und einem Jahr Gefängnis für ihre Rolle in den Films 'My Tehran for sale' "ausgezeichnet" wurde. Im Iran sperrt das Regime Schriftsteller, Journalisten und Künstler ein - im Ausland hat es einen Stand auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse. Die einzige Kultur die das iranische Regime vorzuweisen hat, ist eine Kultur der Zensur und Brutalität - und deren Vertreter sind jetzt hier und können sich frei bewegen und sich äußern, etwas das das iranische Volk generell nicht tun kann.

1989 wurde das iranische Regime von der Buchmesse verbannt, nachdem es eine Fatwa gegen Salman Rushdie für sein Buch "Die Satanischen Verse" erlassen hatte. Der damalige Direktor der Frankfurter Buchmesse, Weidhaas, hatte gesagt, dass das Buch zu einem „Kampf für die revolutionäre und fortschrittliche Errungenschaft der Redefreiheit, der Freiheit des Wortes und dem freien Fluss von Informationen" geworden sei. Dem iranischen Regime war 10 Jahre lang verboten worden an der Messe teilzunehmen, und wir fragen uns was jetzt anders ist? Warum kann das islamische Regime wieder teilnehmen, wenn nicht nur die Fatwa noch steht, und, noch wichtiger, die Taten des Regimes schon seit langem so klar und sichtbar für die ganze Welt sind?

Wir freuen uns sehr, dass wir hier als eine Stimme der Informations- und Gewissensfreiheit sind, und wir wollen alle Besucher über die Brutalität, Frauenfeindlichkeit und den verbrecherischen Charakter des islamischen Regimes im Iran informieren. Wir stellen die Frage: Was hat das iranische Regime auf einer Messe, die für die Freiheit des Denkens und der Meinungsäußerung steht, zu suchen?

Wir würden gerne von Ihnen hören:
Shahnaz Morattab (Farsi, Deutsch)
Shahnaz1@t-online.de
+49 (0) 15774650186

Patty Debonitas, Sprecherin (English, Deutsch)
iransolidaritynow@gmail.com
+44 (0) 7435156444
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Monday, 10 October 2011

The reigning kings of terror

Today on the International Day Against the Death Penalty, a reminder that the Islamic regime of Iran reigns as the highest per capita executioner in the world. In the last month alone they executed over 100 people, among them at least one minor and one political activist. The tsunami of executions hasn't stopped in almost a year - make your voice heard!

STOP EXECUTIONS NOW!
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Sunday, 9 October 2011

Iran Solidarity stall at Frankfurt Book Fair


Iran Solidarity has a stall at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair from 12 - 16 of October!

After Brazil, we are continuing with our Iran Solidarity Tour, this time in Frankfurt, Germany - raising awareness of the situation of people in Iran and protesting the fact that the Islamic regime of Iran will be present at the book fair with a stall of their own.

It is quite unbelievable that a regime that brutally kills off free expression and those who use it, that forbids women to sing in public, a regime that bans and censures books, films and the media in the tradition of the vilest dictatorships will be able to freely spread their views and propaganda at the fair. No doubt this will be done displaying a show of civility that the Islamic regime hardly shows to its own people. In the name of representing 'Iranian culture' we will see some well dressed, smiling henchmen of the very regime that has just honoured Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr with 90 lashes and one year in prison for playing in the film ‘My Tehran for sale’ which was first given permission (yes, films need to be approved by the regime) but subsequently banned. Inside Iran, the regime imprisons writers, journalists and directors – abroad it takes part in the Frankfurt Book Fair.

The Iranian regime’s only claim to culture is that of a culture of censorship and brutality - and its representatives shall not be allowed to run around and speak freely when the Iranian people as a whole are not.

We are very pleased that we will be there as a voice of information and protest and we will do our utmost to let every single visitor know about the brutality, misogyny and criminal character of the Islamic regime of Iran and the frankly quite outrageous fact that the Islamic regime has been allowed to have their own stall at the book fair.

Please come and say hello!

For more information please contact:
In Germany 
Shahnaz Morattab (Deutsch, Farsi)
+49 (0) 15774650186
Email: shahnaz1@t-online.de

or
Patty Debonitas (English, Deutsch)
+44 (0) 7435156444
Email: iransolidaritynow@gmail.com
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Monday, 3 October 2011

Iran Solidarity Tour in Brazil, report 1

Mina Ahadi at TEDxESPM
 























On Thursday, 29 September Mina Ahadi took part in the TEDxESPM conference in São Paulo, Brazil as part of the Iran Solidarity Tour.

18 speakers shared their personal achievements and experiences to a 300-strong audience at the day-long conference. Among an amazing collection of stories were:

The Brazilian graffiti artist Mundano who is involved in social projects and people´s movements, who proclaimed the ´street is democratic´ because there is no hierarchy on the street.

The project of Andreas Heinecke who brings the experience of being blind to people globally and thus enables a dialogue and understanding about the world of the blind.

The independent Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who has struggled for over a decade with censorship and financial monopolies and now works with a collective of volunteers to get his films made and seen.

Mina Ahadi talked about her work for Sakineh Ashtiani and Shahla Jahed and the many other faceless men and women who are the victims of the Iranian regime´s brutality. She expressed her hope that the Iranian regime will vanish as soon as possible, to see an end to executions, stoning and brutality in Iran.


Brazilian Iran Solidarity Committee formed


On Friday, 30 September a meeting with representatives of numerous Brazilian NGOs, lawyers, journalists and international law experts was held. Mina Ahadi presented her work and talked about the human rights violations in Iran. A focus of the meeting was the legal system in Iran and the situation of lawyers who have been imprisoned by the Islamic regime for their work.

At the meeting a Brazilian Iran Solidarity Committee was formed to enable a systematic and progressive collaboration towards solidarity with Iranian people.

This Monday, 3 October, there will be a meeting with the former Brazilian minister of Justice and current human rights secretary for the state of Sao Paulo, Gregori, at which Mina Ahadi will speak about the human rights violations, the ongoing strikes of 6000 oil workers in Mahshahr and the imprisoned labour activists in Iran.

Iran Solidarity & International Committee against Stoning on their Iran Solidarity Tour –
in Brazil, 1 October 2011
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