We, the undersigned Communist and Workers' Parties which have supported the struggle of Iranian people for peace, sovereignty, human and democratic rights, social justice, and against threats of imperialist attack are watching with grave concern the current developments in the country.
We note that the protests that began on 28 December in Iran, initially of the Tehran bazaar (merchants) against the collapse of the national currency,which soon spread to other cities in Iran, were about mass dissatisfaction with deep-rooted structural corruption; decades of neoliberal economic policies,which have pushed millions of Iranians into crushing poverty; suppression of democratic freedoms and rights; and decades of imperialist sanctions which have massively impacted upon the ordinary people of Iran.
We have been horrified by the scenes of brutal killings and devastation reported in the capital Tehran and other cities in Iran since 8 January, in which large numbers of people have been killed. According to Ali Khamenei, Supreme Religious Leader of the regime, thousands have been killed. Among those killed are a significant number of young people as well as members of the security forces.
The regime in Tehran has imposed a near-total shutdown of the internet in order to gain complete control and prevent the extent of violence and casualties being reported.
We are also aware that US Imperialism and the criminal government of Benjamin Netanyahu have tried in various ways to push the peaceful people's demonstrations towards violence, to use the mass protest for their own interests, and to prepare the ground for direct intervention in Iran. Imperialist-backed media have tried to promote a false discourse that the Iranian people call for the return of the monarchy and Reza Pahlavi.
We, the undersigned Communist and Workers' Parties, strongly condemn threats by the US and the Israeli criminal government of a new imperialist military attack on Iran.
We stand firmly in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people, the Tudeh Party of Iran and the country's left and progressive forces.
We stress that the future course of developments in Iran is the sole preserve of its people and must remain so.
SolidNet Parties signing the Joint Statement:
- Communist Party of Australia
- Communist Party of Austria
- Party of Labour Austria
- Democratic Progressive Tribune, Bahrain
- Communist Party of Bangladesh
- Workers’ Party of Belgium
- Brazilian Communist Party
- Communist Party of Britain
- Communist Party of Canada
- AKEL of Cyprus
- Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
- Communist Party of Denmark
- Egyptian Communist Party
- French Communist Party
- Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
- Communist Party of India
- Tudeh Party of Iran
- Iraqi Communist Party
- The Workers’ Party of Ireland (Official)
- Workers Party of Ireland
- Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Communist Party of Israel
- Italian Communist Party
- Communist Party of Mexico
- New Communist Party of the Netherlands
- Communist Party of Norway
- Communist Party of Pakistan
- Palestinian People's Party
- Philippines Communist Party [PKP 1930]
- Communists of Serbia
- New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
- Communist Party of the Workers of Spain
- Communists of Catalonia
- Sudanese Communist Party
- Communist Party of Sweden
- Swiss Communist Party
- Syrian Communist Party
- Syrian Communist Party (Unified)
- Communist Party of Turkey
- Communist Party USA
- Communist Party of Venezuela
The Joint Statement is open for further signatures
solidnet.org
