Two statements from Toufan on the demonstrations in Iran

Below are two statements from Toufan, the Party of Labor of Iran, on the demonstrations in Iran; the most recent statement is first.

Statement on Recent Events in Iran  

Forty-three years ago, in a great revolution, the people of Iran overthrew the U.S. puppet regime of the Shah.  

The February 1979 revolution in Iran removed imperialist domination from the country and achieved the political independence of Iran. Since that date, U.S. imperialists and the major NATO counties have been making every effort to divide and destroy Iran. The strategy of imperialism is that there should be no country in the region that can stand against Israel.  

The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a backward and reactionary regime. During the time of the Shah, the clergies were given propaganda and organizational resources that benefitted the interests of the West and that could be used as weapons against communism. During the revolutionary upheaval in Iran, the clergies were practically the only force capable of seizing the struggles of the people, who hated the Shah's regime and the U.S.  and British imperialists.  

By implementing the neoliberal policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, backed by internal pro-West forces in the government, spread poverty and unemployment in Iran. As a result of such policies, the class gap in Iran widened to such a degree that more than half of the people now struggle to feed themselves.  

The suppression of democratic rights, especially the suppression of women, symbolised in the policy of mandatory hijab, was high up on the regime’s agenda. With the establishment of the offensive “Guidance Patrol - Morality Police,” a huge resistance was mobilized. All the demands of the workers, retirees, teachers, and other sections of society are being suppressed. The capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic prevents labourers from establishing trade unions that would enable them to express their concerns regarding poor wages and working conditions. Iran's prisons have been crowded by leaders of workers’ and teachers’ movements.  

The inhumane sanctions by the imperialists have worsened the situation in Iran. Every day, dozens of “Mehsa Aminis” are killed as a consequence of these sanctions. The imperialists and "revolutionary" defenders of the sanctions continue to operate without a conscience.  

The rebellion in Iran today is the product of the economic and repressive policies of the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic.  

This is not the first time in the last forty-three years in Iran that a woman has been killed in a conflict with the regime or in prison. But this time, the accumulated anger of the people during the forty-three years rule of the Islamic Republic was released. The people resorted to violence in the fight against the regime.  

The murder of Mahsa Amini is insignificant to the imperialists and their Iranian mercenaries. But the imperialists have made connection between the issue of Mahsa Amini and the war in Ukraine.  Iran plays a decisive role in the construction of the Silk Road and helps to defeat NATO economic sanctions on Russia. Iran is an important pillar in the delivery of equipment, supplies, and goods needed by Russia through the Oman Sea and the Indian Ocean. The fate of the war in Ukraine is highly dependent on the destruction of the Russian allies. For this reason, the flags of Ukraine, Israel, and the USA are used in the global protests against Iran. What is the point of carrying crossed-out pictures of Russian and Chinese leaders and slogans against them in denouncing the murder of Mehsa Amini?  

The understandable and spontaneous rebellion that took place in Iran was a consequence of the accumulated people's anger. It was against the Guidance Patrol, in favour of punishment for those responsible for the murder of Mehsa Amini, and an advocate for other democratic and just demands. The rebellion turned into violent clashes within a short period of time. Unfortunately, the lack of leadership of this rebellion inside Iran provided an opportunity for counter-revolutionary and cyberspace activists outside the country to abuse the people's struggles. The counter-revolutionary Iranians abroad, including supporters of the West, opponents of Iran’s assistance to China and Russia in the construction of the Silk Road, supporters of the former Shah, the terrorist sect of the People's Mujahideen, which operates under the supervision of the United States and Israel and Saudi Arabia in Tirana, succeeded in inciting large protests abroad. They were aided by massive NATO propaganda and with the pretext of the murder of the beloved Mahsa Amini. The demonstration that was held in Berlin on October 22, 2022 was carried out with the help of the European Union and NATO. It was reactionary and anti-Iran by our assessment. Many protesters were deceived by the one-sided and widespread propaganda of the Western media. Yet, they were mobilised and organised enough to travel to Berlin at the cost of ten million euros. The nature of this demonstration was reactionary and counter-revolutionary. There were similar demonstrations globally with the same reactionary nature. Imperialism and its Iranian mercenaries are planning to stage similar reactionary shows at great expense and fanfare in Brussels.  

The policy of imperialism is to interfere in Iran's internal affairs. The policy is designed to exploit people's discontent for their own interests and to keep the protests ignited even though they are scattered and confined to young people, especially university students inside and outside of Iran. Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United States give millions of dollars to anti-Iranian media in London. Examples of this include "Manoto—I and You" and "Iran International", propaganda initiatives, which are engaged in spreading fake news and encouraging people to arm themselves and to assassinate regime agents. Their goal is not to realise the rights of women or the demands of workers in Iran. Instead, it is to create insecurity, unrest, and civil war in order to provide the Syrian scenario in Iran and to prepare the ground for invasion. Encouraging and strengthening lumpen elements in Iran and abroad and beating critics are on their agenda now. The police of imperialist countries support these degenerate elements.  

As always, our Party defends popular protests to realise rightful demands, and we will fight against their abuse by Iran's enemies, who have no interest in freedom. Our demands, which are expressed in our independent protests, are as follows.  

Equal social rights for men and women;  

The release of all political prisoners;  

The abolishment of the “Guidance Patrol - Morality Police”;  

The abolishment of the policy of mandatory hijab;  

 

Progressives must condemn the inhumane sanctions on Iran as imperialist crimes against humanity.  

Imperialist threats and preparation for a "humanitarian" invasion of Iran must be condemned as war crimes.  

We defend the territorial integrity of Iran.  

 

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) is of the opinion that the fate of every nation should be determined by the people of the nation, itself. Therefore, we desire the overthrow of the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic only by the concerted activities of the Iranian people and for the goal of securing the rights of the majority and especially the rights of the working class.  

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)  

October 26, 2022  

Some important lessons from the recent popular protests in Iran  

1. "Mahsa Amini", a 22-year-old woman from city of Saqqez went into a coma after being assaulted by the government's "Guidance Patrol". She died and left a nation in mourning. "Mahsa Amini" was not the first nor will she be the last victim at the hands of the Regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a result of the indifference of the government to the living conditions of the masses, this murder was the spark that turned into a flame all over Iran and dealt a severe blow to the Islamic Republic. Angry crowds, including youth, teachers, workers, and students came together once again and demanded the dissolution of the “Guidance Patrol” as a reactionary, repressive, and illegal organization. They used the slogan "repeal of compulsory hijab" as a flag against the rule of the capitalist Islamic Republic that has brought misery to the nation. With the vast participation of men, angry women challenged the government's indifference to their humane and rational demands by setting on fire their mandatory headscarves, a symbol of tyranny and humiliation. They challenged the Islamic Republic and its repressive police force and showed what an important role the women of our country will play in the coming revolution. The shining sympathy and general outpouring of people all over Iran show the extent to which the people of Iran hate and want to dismantle the regime of the Islamic Republic and all its oppressive organs. The murder of "Mahsa Amini" took place in a situation where poverty, skyrocketing prices, discrimination, corruption, embezzlement, sanctions, and foreign pressure plague the whole of society. The presence of dissatisfied crowds on the streets, the inflamed atmosphere, and the anger and hatred that unrolled throughout Iran sparked fear in the Islamic Republic and its police forces. The radicalization of the slogans of the people of Iran and the unity and solidarity of different layers of the urban communities are a response to the regime’s indifference and lack of respect for the will of the majority in Iranian society. This treatment added to people's anger and encouraged people to join the protests with extreme slogans in unsuitable conditions. They made demands that did not have the chance to materialize. But despite that, we must respect this courage and selflessness and learn that dedication and self-sacrifice in the struggle for freedom and social justice are necessary and essential. We must add that such sacrifice alone is not sufficient. It does not lead to liberation from the darkness of capitalist tyranny. This spirit of fighting and courage must be combined with political awareness and organization and must be guided in the best direction possible.  

2. The protests by the masses showed once again that, despite the loss of its forces and internal contradictions and international pressures, the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic is still able to collect and concentrate its forces to suppress the people's struggles and protests. The more radical and violent the people's struggles become, the more concentrated and intensive the counter-revolutionary violence will be. The repressive forces of the regime, including the Revolutionary Guards, Mobilization (Basij) forces, agents in civilian clothing, lumpen proletariat, secret terrorist gangs, anti-riot repressive forces, law enforcement officers, and dozens of open and hidden groups are mobilized to prevent people from coming to the streets to fight the regime. The regime has installed facial recognition cameras at all the strategic points of the cities and roads so they can pursue the protesters after calm returns to the streets. The suppressing policy of the regime is organized in all arenas. At this moment, the balance of power is still in favour of the government. However, the flare-up of people's protests and their scope and depth and speed of their expansion surprised the regime. Subversive slogans, as opposed to logical and specific demands that are supported by most people, will not advance the protesting movement. Chanting subversive slogans are actions without thoughtful plans. They are spontaneous and emotional, and they consequently isolate the legitimate movement of the people. The foreign media support these subversive and short-sighted actions, which only target the regime and have no beneficial plan of action for the future of Iran. They put forward slogans that will ultimately benefit their imperialist masters. The invitation to turn Iran into Libya and Iraq by the Zionist and imperialist counter-revolution in New York is one of these efforts. Unfortunately, due to the lack of revolutionary leadership, the people's protest movement was unable to draw a clear demarcation line with foreign enemies and their affiliated media and agents. It could not challenge their misuse of the people's struggle. A movement that cannot distinguish between friends and enemies is doomed to failure. The policy of imposing "mandatory hijab" and having Guidance Patrol on the streets has failed in Iran. This is also reflected in the internal differences within the government. The government of the Islamic Republic will be finally forced to ban the “Guidance Police”. This is a victory for this protest movement.  

3. The recent popular protests showed that the reactionary ruling class can suppress all movements that lack revolutionary leadership. To be victorious in a class struggle and in a social revolution, a leading and politically conscious force is needed. In order to win, the people's movement must have a headquarters in the battle. In the battle that takes place between the lower classes and the rulers, the people should have their own practical and theoretical leaders. Masses without leaders and leaders without an army can never win. Those who negate political leadership and unified command and those who promote anarchy, chaos, and liberalism are the enemies of the people. They cause the movement to fail. The current movement, regardless of its just core and legitimate cause, was a spontaneous movement. It was a temporary rebellion, filled with emotions and lacking in perspective. It easily fell into the anti-revolutionary hands of monarchists, terrorists, subversive sects of Rajavi of Mojahedin, and ethnic separatists. For enemies of Iran, women's rights is not an issue, and the lives of the Iranian people have no value. The unrest and misuse and the increase in the number of victims, which unfortunately has reached many dozens, have borne political fruit for them. Blind rebellion ends in despair. It should not be encouraged by politically conscious and responsible forces.  

The most important lesson of the recent popular protests, like the popular movements of 1999, 2017, and 2019, is that a united revolutionary party of the working class is needed for final victory over the capitalist regime of the Islamic Republic and for crushing its repression machine. The mass of the people and the working class that lacks its powerful party are the cannon fodder of the bourgeoisie. The working class cannot and will not be able to liberate themselves and other oppressed people without the organization and leadership of a communist party. Resorting to unrealizable demands in inappropriate conditions only strengthens the counter-revolution and foreign enemies who want to sanction and dismember Iran.  

25^th September 2022  

The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)