Relations with the Stop the War Coalition
Support women’s movements in Iran
Relations with the Stop the War Coalition
1. Conference notes that:
1.1 The justifications advanced by the officers of the StWC for the rejection of Hopi’s affiliation were transparently untrue and contradictory.
1.2 The decision has proved very controversial in the ranks of the coalition and many activists have defied their leadership to support Hopi.
2. Conference believes that:
2.1 The exclusion is deeply regrettable. It sends out the message that an anti-war campaign which is also critical of the theocratic regime has no place in the coalition.
2.2 That the StWC has brought discredit on the movement with this disgraceful exclusion.
3. Conference resolves to:
3.1 Urge affiliates of StWC to raise this issue and to support any moves to overturn the decision.
3.2 Encourage individual members of supporters of Hopi to become/remain members of StWC, to support its activities and to raise the exclusion in appropriate coalition forums.
Hopi priorities 2008
In 2008, Hands Off the People of Iran will prioritise:
1. Building a national network of autonomous, self-activated Hopi branches that can respond quickly to international political developments.
2. Increasing its profile and practical work in the trade union and wider working class movement with the aim of forging practical links of solidarity and support between activists in Britain and Iran. In particular, we will encourage people to support the work of the registered charity Workers Fund (Iran).
3. Continue to support the progressive movements of the peoples of Iran against the Islamic Republic regime.
4. Fighting to win a commitment from unions in this country – at a local and national level – to greet any attack on Iran with protest strikes and walkouts.
5. Campaigning against the imposition of sanctions on Iran as an act of ‘soft war’.
6. Building links with international campaigns and organisations that fight for similar goals.
The Iranian Student Movement
1. Conference notes that:
1.1 The student movement in Iran has mobilised huge support around radical slogans such as “No to war! Death to the Dictator!” “Hands Off The People Of Iran” “Socialism or Barbarism” and “Freedom and Equality.”
1.2 The radicalism and militancy of the student movement has in no way been dampened by the regime’s threats, intimidation and arrests of student activists.
1.3 Although 45 leading activists were arrested in the run-up to the recent Student’s Day Demonstrations at Tehran University, around 700 protesters defiantly marched against war and repression in Iran
1.4 HOPI student supporters are in close contact with radical students in Iran.
2. Conference believes that:
2.1 HOPI supporters should look to campaign for the immediate release of the imprisoned students and help to build active solidarity with the Iranian students’ struggles.
3. Conference resolves to:
3.1 Organise a HOPI speaking tour across British universities to build the HOPI campaign and to raise awareness of this and other radical anti-war movements in Iran
3.2 Hold regular fund-raising activities for students in Iran
3.3 Where possible, look to co-ordinate action and protests with Iranian students – especially on International Women’s Day and Student’s Day (December 4)
3.4 Mobilise for the immediate release of the students activists arrested in December 2007
Support Iranian workers
Conference notes that in the last few months, thousands of Iranian workers have been involved in protests, strikes and demonstrations against the neo-liberal economic policies of Iran’s Islamic Republic regime. Many workers and activists are currently in prison, others face trial and persecution.
Conference therefore instructs the elected steering committee to do its utmost to:
1. Expose the devastation caused by the neo liberal economic policies of the Iranian regime including privatisations, imposition of ‘blank contracts’, mass unemployment, systematic non-payment of wages etc.
2. Build active support for the ‘model’ HOPI resolution to British trade unions, which opposes imperialist war while emphasising the need for active rank and file solidarity with Iranian workers, including their struggle for independent workers’ organisations.
3. Support the efforts of Workers Fund Iran to provide financial support for Iranian workers.
4. Demand the immediate and unconditional release of workers arrested for their trade union or political activities, including Mahmoud Salehi, Mansour Ossanlou, Ebrahim Madadi and Mohsen Hakimi.
-> It was agreed that parts of this motion should be incorporated into the Hopi trade union model resolution.
Support women’s movements in Iran
- Expose the suppression of women by the Islamic regime
- Build active support for Iranian women’s movements against all misogynist and patriarchal legislation and practises
- Demand the immediate and unconditional release of women arrested for raising those demands
- Condemn all misogynist laws
- Condemn compulsory veiling and gender apartheid
- Oppose Islamic sharia law
- Linking with women campaigns in Iran and other women’s liberation movements
– This was agreed in principle, will be remitted to steering committee for better formulation