Maryam Namazie

Friday 16 July is a day of protest in Iran and other updates

* Countless groups and individuals have been calling on people in Iran to come out on to the streets on Friday 16 July via New Channel TV with slogans including ‘Down with Dictator,’ ‘Down with Khamenei,’ ‘Down with the Islamic regime of Iran,’ and ‘Free all political prisoners.’ People are being asked to come out in full force to demand freedom and an end to the Islamic regime.

* Mothers of the dead have issued their fourth statement asking people to come out to parks around the country to commemorate those killed on Saturday 18 July. Whilst giving their condolences to Parvin Fahimi, Sohrab Arabi’s mother, they are asking people to come out between 7-8pm on the Saturday also to protect the mothers. The statement says that the regime’s security threatens, harasses and throws them out, arresting those who refuse to leave and that people’s solidarity and support is needed.

* As a result of the security forces’ inability to control the protesters, the regime’s head of security – Ismail Ahmadi-Moghadam has said in an interview that new weapons are needed in combating the protesters as the traditional ones are not effective.

* According to Amnesty International, hundreds of detainees are at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Maryam speaking in Lancashire today

Date: July 15, 2009
Time: 8:00-9:30pm
Venue: The Village Centre, 59 High Street,The Square,Great Eccleston. (Nr Preston). PR3 0YB
Organisation Hosting: Lancashire Secular Humanists
Maryam Namazie will speak about the One Law for All campaign
Contact: Ian Abbott, ian@ianzere.demon.co.uk

Update: more dead or feared dead

Yaqoob Barvaieh, 27, born in Ahwaz, died at hospital today. He was shot on 25 June by a basiji from the rooftop of Lowlagar Mosque in Tehran. He was an MA student in performing arts.

Taraneh Mousavi (left), 28, was among hundreds arrested on June 19, 2009. Since than her family has had no news of her whereabouts. There are reports now that her mother was contacted by an anonymous caller from the regime’s security after three weeks of her disappearance to say that she had been hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj due to the rupturing of her womb. Her family went to the hospital but did not find her there. They say some of the nurses recall a woman there whose womb was torn but that she was removed whilst unconscious. The caller said she had tried to hang herself in prison because of her lack of honour. According to a witness who was arrested with her, she was detained in the vicinity of Shariati Street in Tehran. ‘The security forces physically and mentally abused us. Some were transferred to Evin prison and some others were released. Her interrogation took longer than the rest; she was very beautiful with green eyes. Whilst they released us and transferred others, they kept her. She was not even allowed to contact her family. Taraneh's father suffers from a heart condition and is seriously ill after the disappearance of his only child. The family have been warned not to mention that she was arrested in the protests. There is concern that she was raped and killed.

A mother of one of those who is missing reports that she were taken to a cold storage facility in Southwest Tehran which is usually used to store fruits and dairy products. She was shown pictures of hundreds of dead in an effort to identify her missing child. It took, she said, half an hour, to go through all the photographs. The mother had to pass by dead bodies piled up on each other to leave the facility. Whilst she had not located her child, she says she fainted at the sight of the dead; when she came to, she was in the car. Sohrab Arabi’s family was also show 20-60 photographs of the dead in order to have them identify Sohrab.

There are reports that one of the bodies of the dead returned to his family was covered in cement. The family believe it is to hide evidence of torture.

One blogger, Nima Namdari, has said his 47 year old uncle, Behzad Mohajer, has been missing since 15 June and they have been unable to locate him wherever they have turned.

There has been a rise in executions by the regime in recent weeks; many are fearful that imprisoned protestors and political prisoners are being executed under the pretext of other offences such as drug trafficking.

Iran Solidarity launch a success!

To see video footage of the launch, visit Iran Solidarity's website or blog.

Sohrab was buried today

19 year old Sohrab was buried today in Behesht e Zahra cemetery. His family had no news about his whereabouts for 26 days. The regime's security said no slogans were allowed and made the family end the ceremony quickly. Mourners went back to the family's home afterwards.

Here is film footage of his mother saying: You all know; they killed my child. They told me he was in Evin; they gave me the run around but they had killed him. They had shot him through the heart. They are inhuman. No one can stop me...'

More pictures of the day:

Today Launch of Iran Solidarity

Iran Solidarity is to be launched today from 1230-1330 at the House of Lords.

19 year old Sohrab Arabi killed by the Islamic regime of Iran

19 year old Sohrab Arabi is another youth killed by the regime. He disappeared after joining the June 15 protests in Tehran. His mother had been searching for him and had been had been told he was in Evin prison where she can been seen in a video footage (with a purple scarf) asking about his whereabouts from men leaving the prison upon being released.. She was awaiting his release when instead the family was contacted to collect his body.

Some reports say Sohrab died in prison under torture. Others say he was shot dead by the Baseej in the intersection of Azadi and Jenah Streets during the protests.

His older brother went to collect his body Saturday and was shown 50-60 photos from which he identified Sohrab’s body. Sohrab’s body had bullet wounds to his chest and head.

Sohrab was in 12th grade and preparing for the university entrance exam.

His memorial ceremony will be held tomorrow.

Khamenei must be prosecuted for crimes against humanity

July 8, 2009

Mr Luis Moreno–Ocampo
The Prosecutor
International Criminal Court
Information and Evidence Unit
Office of the Prosecutor
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM The Hague
The Netherlands

Dear Mr Luis Moreno–Ocampo

I am writing on behalf of the people of Iran to call on the International Criminal Court to prosecute the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, for crimes against humanity.

There is ample documentation of such crimes since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, however, the repression meted out on the recent June protesters, is sufficient evidence for such a prosecution.

On Friday June 19, during his speech at Friday prayers, Khamenei called for an end to street protests and threatened protesters saying that he would not be held responsible for any "bloodshed and chaos" that followed. The next day, the government’s security forces, including the Baseejis, Pasdaran, police forces and plain-clothed agents, poured onto the streets and indiscriminately attacked protesters. Though precise information is unavailable, we have gathered 56 names of those killed; clearly the numbers are higher. Thousands have also been arrested – we have heard reports of as many as 3,000 in Tehran alone. We have put together a list of several hundred names so far. Many more have been wounded.

Protestors Killed

The day after Khamenei threatened protesters, 27 year old Neda Agha-Soltan was shot dead by security forces on 20 June. Eyewitnesses said they clearly targeted her and she was shot in the chest. There is even a warrant out for the doctor who was on the scene, tried to help her, and first informed the world of what had happened. Others dead include Chemistry student Kianoosh Asa who was taken from his university dormitory and found dead in a morgue 10 days later, bearing signs of torture, 25 year old Hossein Tahmasbi who was beaten to death by the regime’s forces and Ashkan Sohrabi who was shot thrice in the chest and died on the way to the hospital. They are included in the list of 56 dead that is attached to my letter.

There are also reports of many who have disappeared and feared dead. Reports have quoted a prison guard saying that bodies are being taken out of Evin prison and buried in unidentified graves from no go areas in the prison that are only accessible to the Baseej and Pasdaran intelligence.

There are also reports of the families of the dead being asked to pay up to an equivalent of $3,000 to secure the bodies of their loved ones. One example highlighted in the media is that of Neda Agha-Soltan’s family who had a difficult time persuading the Iranian authorities to release her body. According to her fiancé in an interview with BBC Farsi, "She was taken to a morgue outside Tehran. The officials from the morgue asked if they could use parts of her corpse for body transplants for medical patients." "They didn't specify what exactly they intended to do. Her family agreed because they wanted to bury her as soon as possible. "We buried her in the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery in southern Tehran. They asked us to bury her in this section where it seemed the authorities had set aside spaces for graves for those killed during the clashes." This section has been labelled the section of the ‘hypocrites’ by the regime. The government has also banned her family and the families of the dead from holding public funerals.

Treatment of the wounded

We have received many reports of people wounded, including in horrific ways. Doctors and nurses at two hospitals have taken to the streets in protest to the treatment of the wounded. Many have been denied access to their families. Some have been dragged out of hospital beds and taken to prison.

Torture and mistreatment and situation of detainees

Reports of torture and rape are rampant. We have received reports saying that prisoners are being brutally tortured with the aim of killing them. According to an eye witness at a recent gathering of family members in front of Evin prison, one of the imprisoned who was released whilst people were gathered said that he had been arrested around Afsariyeh in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location. He was denied food for 48 hours. There were 500 people detained on the floor where he was and they had no access to showers or sanitation. After 48 hours, they were given bread, potato and cheese. When they complained, they were told ‘you are anti-revolutionaries; be grateful you have not been killed.’ The released prisoner said everyone was brutally beaten. A 48 year old man who was given electric shocks died whilst he was there. Many of the prisoners in his cell were badly wounded with broken arms and legs. He said he was then taken to Evin prison, where he was told: ‘you protested against the Islamic regime; we will do something to you so that you won’t be able to find your house when you are released.’ He said, in Evin, the lives of many were at risk.

We have also heard from a woman whose daughter had been beaten indiscriminately for four days and then thrown out of prison on to the streets late at night. A passerby picked her up in their car and drove her home. Since her release, she has attempted to commit suicide several times. Her mother fears she has been raped.

Several of those detained have confessed to having been influenced by outside powers on Iranian state television – clearly under duress.

I attach a list of some of those who have been arrested. Families of those arrested have been gathering at Evin Prison or the courthouse in Tehran calling for the release of their children and asking about their situation. The families have been threatened. Mothers of the missing or dead have also been gathering at several parks and have been attacked by security forces.

The Worker-communist Party of Iran has begun collecting people’s grievances against Ali Khamenei via New Channel television station broadcast in Iran and would be willing to hand over the necessary evidence to help with the prosecution of Ali Khamenei.

I look forward to your response and prompt action.

Sincerely,

Hamid Taqvaee
Secretary-General

18 Tir anniversary - an international day of protest

18 Tir (July 9) was the start of the movement to overthrow the regime; June 2009 has been the start of the revolution!

Join protests in various cities across the globe and support the people of Iran in their movement to overthrow the regime.

To see live blogging of the day, go to WPI's Blog.

Iran Solidarity!

Iran Solidarity is to be officially launched on Monday July 13, 2009 from 12:30-1:30pm in the House of Commons in London. The organisation will be established to organise solidarity for the people of Iran in opposition to the Islamic regime of Iran.

To RSVP for the launch, please contact Maryam Namazie, Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731. Iran Solidarity’s website will be launched on July 13, 2009. Iran Solidarity’s declaration and initial signatories are below.

Iran Solidarity

In June 2009 millions of people came out on to the streets of Iran for freedom and an end to the Islamic regime. Whilst the June 12 election was a pretext for the protests - elections have never been free or fair in Iran – it has opened the space for people to come to the fore with their own slogans.

The world has been encouraged by the protesters’ bravery and humane demands and horrified by the all-out repression they have faced. It has seen a different image of Iran - one of a population that refuses to kneel even after 30 years of living under Islamic rule.

The dawn that this movement heralds for us across the world is a promising one – one that aims to bring Iran into the 21st century and break the back of the political Islamic movement internationally.

This is a movement that must be supported.

Declaration

We, the undersigned, join Iran Solidarity to declare our unequivocal solidarity with the people of Iran. We hear their call for freedom and stand with them in opposition to the Islamic regime of Iran. We demand:

1. The immediate release of all those imprisoned during the recent protests and all political prisoners
2. The arrest and public prosecution of those responsible for the current killings and atrocities and for those committed during the last 30 years
3. Proper medical attention to those wounded during the protests and ill-treated and tortured in prison. Information on the status of the dead, wounded and arrested to their families. The wounded and arrested must have access to their family members. Family members must be allowed to bury their loved ones where they choose.
4. A ban on torture
5. The abolition of the death penalty and stoning
6. Unconditional freedom of expression, thought, organisation, demonstration, and strike
7. Unconditional freedom of the press and media and an end to restrictions on communications, including the internet, telephone, mobiles and satellite television programmes
8. An end to compulsory veiling and gender apartheid
9. The abolition of discriminatory laws against women and the establishment of complete equality between men and women
10. The complete separation of religion from the state, judiciary, education and religious freedom and atheism as a private matter.

Moreover, we call on all governments and international institutions to isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran and break all diplomatic ties with it. We are opposed to military intervention and economic sanctions because of their adverse affects on people’s lives.

The people of Iran have spoken; we stand with them.

Initial list of signatories:

Boaz Adhengo, Humanist and Ethical Union of Kenya, Kenya
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Coordinator, Stop Child Executions Campaign, Canada
Mina Ahadi, Campaigner, Germany
Sargul Ahmad, Activist, Women’s Liberation in Iraq, Canada
Susan Ahmadi, Mitra Daneshi, and Furugh Arghavan, Iran Civil Rights Committee, Canada
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Writer and Columnist, UK
Mahin Alipour, Coordinator, Equal Rights Now - Organisation against Women's Discrimination in Iran, Sweden
Farideh Arman, Coordinator, International Campaign in Defence of Women’s Rights in Iran, Sweden
Abdullah Asadi, Executive Director, International Federation of Iranian Refugees, Sweden
Zari Asli, Friends of Women in the Middle East Society, Canada
Ophelia Benson, Editor, Butterflies and Wheels, USA
Julie Bindel, Journalist and Activist, UK
Russell Blackford, Writer and Philosopher, Australia
Nazanin Borumand, Never Forget Hatun Campaign against Honour Killings, Germany
Caroline Brancher, UFAL, France
George Broadhead, Secretary of Pink Triangle Trust, UK
Children First Now, Sweden
Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, UK
Communist Youth Organisation, Sweden
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, Germany, and Scandinavia
Count Me In – Iranian Action Network, UK
Thomas Cushman, Founding Editor and Editor-at-Large of The Journal of Human Rights, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Wellesley College, USA
Shahla Daneshfar, Director, Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, UK
Richard Dawkins, Scientist, UK
Patty Debonitas, Third Camp against US Militarism and Islamic Terrorism, UK
Deeyah, Singer and Composer, USA
Equal Rights Now – Organisation against Women’s Discrimination in Iran, Sweden
Tarek Fatah, Author, Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State, Canada
AC Grayling, Writer and Philosopher, UK
Maria Hagberg, Chair, Network against Honour-Related Violence, Sweden
Johann Hari, Journalist, UK
Farzana Hassan, Writer, Canada
Marieme Helie Lucas, founder Secularism Is A Women's Issue, France
Farshad Hoseini, International Campaign against Executions, Netherlands
Humanist and Ethical Union of Kenya, Kenya
Khayal Ibrahim, Coordinator, Organization of Women's Liberation in Iraq, Canada
Leo Igwe, Director, Nigerian Humanist Movement, Nigeria
International Campaign for the Defence of Women’s Rights in Iran, Sweden
Iran Civil Rights Committee, Canada
International Committee against Executions, Netherlands
International Committee to Protect Freethinkers, Canada
International Committee against Stoning, Germany
International Federation of Iranian Refugees, Sweden
International Labour Solidarity, UK
Iranian Secular Society, UK
Ehsan Jami, Politician, the Netherlands
Asqar Karimi, Executive Committee Member, Worker-communist Party of Iran, UK
Hope Knutsson, President, Sidmennt - the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, Iceland
Hartmut Krauss, Editor, Hintergrund, Germany
Sanine Kurz, Journalist, Germany
Ghulam Mustafa Lakho, Advocate, High Court of Sindh, Pakistan
Derek Lennard, UK Coordinator of International Day against Homophobia, UK
Nasir Loyand, Left Radical of Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Kenan Malik, writer, lecturer and broadcaster, UK
Johnny Maudlin, writer of Neda (You Will Not Defeat The People), Canada
Stefan Mauerhofer, Co-President, Freethinker Association of Switzerland, Switzerland
Anthony McIntyre, Writer, Ireland
Navid Minay, General Secretary, Communist Youth Organisation, Sweden
Reza Moradi, Producer, Fitna Remade, UK
Douglas Murray, Director, Centre for Social Cohesion, UK
Maryam Namazie, Campaigner, UK
Taslima Nasrin, Writer, Physician and Activist
National Secular Society, UK
Never Forget Hatun Campaign against Honour Killings, Germany
Nigerian Humanist Movement, Nigeria
Samir Noory, Writer, Canada
Yulia Ostrovskaya and Svetlana Nugaeva, Rule of Law Institute, Russia
One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain, UK
Peyvand - Solidarity Committee for Freedom Movement in Iran, Germany
Pink Triangle Trust, UK
Fariborz Pooya, Founder, Iranian Secular Society, UK
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Flemming Rose, Journalist and Editor, Denmark
Michael Rubenstein, Publisher, Equal Opportunities Review, UK
Rule of Law Institute, Russia
Fahimeh Sadeghi, Coordinator, International Federation of Iranian Refugees-Vancouver, Canada
Arash Mishka Sahami, TV Factual Producer, UK
Terry Sanderson, President, National Secular Society, UK
Shahla Sarabi, Programmer, Radio Pazhvak, Canada
Michael Schmidt-Salomon, Philosopher, Author and Giordano Bruno Foundation Spokesperson, Germany
Gabi Schmidt, Teacher, Germany
Karim Shahmohammadi, Director, Children First Now, Sweden
Sohaila Sharifi, Editor, Unveiled, London, UK
Udo Schuklenk, Philosophy professor, Queen’s University, Canada
Issam Shukri, Head, Defense of Secularism and Civil Rights in Iraq; Central Committee Secretary, Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq, Iraq
Bahram Soroush, Public Relations, International Labour Solidarity, UK
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner, UK
Dick Taverne, Baron, House of Lords, UK
Hamid Taqvaee, Central Committee Secretary, Worker-communist Party of Iran, UK
Third Camp, UK
Saeed Valadbeigi, Revolution Road blogger and Journalist, Iran
Karin Vogelpohl, Pedagogue, Germany
Babak Yazdi, Head of Khavaran, Canada
Marvin F. Zayed, President, International Committee to Protect Freethinkers, Canada

No comment needed

News Update

From WPI Press Centre

Yesterday there was a gathering of several hundred family members at Evin Prison in Tehran calling for the release of their children and asking about their whereabouts. The families began shouting slogans and protesting when denied information. Ghazi Heydarifar, an official of the regime, took out his weapon and threatened them to disperse.

Today, Monday, there was also another gathering at Evin prison and the court house. Families are worried sick for their children. Pictures of family members gathered in front of the court can be seen on the left.

According to an eye witness at yesterday’s gathering at Evin, one of the imprisoned who was released whilst people were gathered said that he had been arrested around Afsariyeh in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location. He was denied food for 48 hours. There were 500 people detained on the floor where he was and they had no access to showers or sanitation. After 48 hours, they were given bread, potato and cheese. When they complained, they were told ‘you are anti-revolutionaries, be grateful you have not been killed.’ The released prisoner said everyone was beaten. A 48 year old man who was given an electric shock died whilst he was there. Many of the prisoners in his cell were badly wounded with broken arms and legs. He said he was then taken to Evin prison, where he was told: ‘you protested against the Islamic regime; we will do something to you so that you won’t be able to find your house when you are released.’ He said, in Evin the lives of many were at risk.

Yesterday, the Haft Tapeh workers carried out a strike for three hours.

News Update: Iran July 4, 2009

Protests

Tonight and nights before in various parts of Tehran there have been huge groups of people out in their neighbourhoods giving slogans 'Down with Dictator,' and 'Free Political Prisoners,' amongst others. Last night in Ekbatan, we received reports that the regime's security agents attacked the protestors but the protestors stood their ground and the security forces had to back down. In Tajrish too last night on Mojdeh Street, hundreds had gathered. We have been told that these night protests are increasing and in the deprived areas of Tehran too. It has been reported that there are such night protests in so many neighbourhoods that you can hear slogans practically all the time whilst driving around Tehran.

Torture of imprisoned protestors

We have received a report saying that the prisoners are being brutally tortured with the aim to kill them. Also pressure is being exerted on some to go on television and confess to being led by foreign powers. The regime is also doing what was done in Latin America; those who are not known are being disappeared. One Evin prison guard has said that sections of the prison are only accessible to Baseeji and Pasdaran intelligence and that the cries coming from those sections are maddening. He has said that he has seen 10 bodies a day being taken to be buried in unmarked graves.

Letter from university professors

78 university professors in Iran have written an open letter condemning the attacks and violence against the universities. They have supported ‘the students in their struggle for freedom, equality, freedom of expression and democracy’ and have urged international organisations to call for the respect of human rights.

Mothers of the disappeared, killed and imprisoned

Today and every Saturday, grieving mothers gather in Laleh and other parks in order to bring attention to their plight; they want information on their children. They issued a press release calling on other mothers to join them. In last week’s gathering of 2,000 mothers, the regime’s security forces attacked them and beat some of them but the mothers refuse to back down. They will continue gathering every week.

Execution

The Islamic regime of Iran executed 20 people today, aged 35-48, in Rajaee Shahr prison early this morning.

Misinformation campaign of the Islamic Regime of Iran, Press TV and George Galloway

TV International interview with Fariborz Pooya

Patty Debonitas: There have been mass demonstrations in Iran during the past few weeks. Many have been injured or killed and the role of the Islamic regime’s security forces, in particular the brutal Baseej militia forces, have come under increased scrutiny and been condemned. The Islamic regime of Iran, however, has stated that it is not its forces carrying out the indiscriminate violence but ‘armed imposters who have posed as security forces.’ Iran's Baseej commander, Hossein Taeb, has said that ‘Baseej forces are not authorized to carry weapons.’ Tehran’s Police Chief Azizallah Rajabzadeh has also insisted that his department has had no role in the killings. ‘Policemen are not authorized to use weapons against people,’ he has said, ‘They are trained to only use anti-riot tools to keep the people out of harms way…’

Fariborz Pooya: These ridiculous statements would be funny if the reality was not so outrageous. The track record of the Islamic regime of Iran is marred with its brutal suppression and killing of its opponents and anyone that transgresses its rules for three decades. The regime was born out of the suppression of the Iranian revolution. A hundred thousand people have been executed by this regime, many without trial, and hung in city squares or buried in mass graves.

The difference is that this time people around the world have been able to closely follow developments in Iran as a result of technology now available to the population at large. This is why despite the regime’s censorship, the world has been able to get up to date information on the people’s protests and demands and see first hand its indiscriminate violence and brutality. Despite the ample evidence, the regime continues to manufacture lies. This is part and parcel of its propaganda and misinformation machinery. People in Iran are well aware of these lies and have never believed a word of it. For example, we know that people who are arrested are often charged with sexual deviancy, being enemies of god, apostasy and or being agents of foreign powers.

So even with ample evidence available and reports of more than 250 killed, they have the audacity to say otherwise. It is part of their normal practice but for a change they have been caught red handed. The world didn’t see them hanging young Delara Darabi during her two month ‘court’ approved reprieve, the stoning of Maryam Ayoubi to death, or the flogging of May Day labour activists but they saw this without the usual manipulation by state-run media.

Patty Debonitas: Ahmadinejad has said that the death of 27 year old Neda Agha-Sultan was suspicious! He has asked the regime’s Chief Judiciary, Shahroudi, to investigate her killing.

Fariborz Pooya: Evidently Ahmadinejad has been rattled by the international outrage and sympathy for the protestors in Iran and for Neda. She has become a symbol of this protest movement and the brutality of the regime against the people of Iran. In the last couple of days there has been a surge in this type of misinformation by the Islamic regime and its state-run network, including Press TV, its English language TV station. They claim that Neda was not killed by the Islamic regime’s militia and deny that the Baseejis were on the streets of Tehran. This despite testimony by a doctor who was on the scene and attempted to save her – he first sent out news of her killing and not surprisingly there is now a warrant out for his arrest! There is also eye witness accounts that she was shot by Baseeji snipers from the front, the fact that people managed to catch them and so on. Of course all of this has been denied by the regime.

That Ahmadinejad, after 10 days, decides to go to the head of the Islamic Judiciary and ask for an investigation is a result of the outrage not as he claims because there is a ‘conspiracy against the rule of god!’ As far as we are concerned – and countless people everywhere – the responsible parties are in the government. If you recall, at a recent Friday prayers, Khamanei, the supreme leader of the Islamic regime, called for the suppression of the demonstrations and made a direct threat to anyone who remained on the streets. He ordered the killing of people, including Neda, from that platform. We know the persons directly responsible for this crime and many others are in the leadership of the regime. It’s no good denying it now. They will be prosecuted when this government is overthrown.

Patty Debonitas: You mentioned Press TV earlier; there are Press TV adverts on London buses and underground stations claiming that the station is the ‘Voice of the Voiceless.’ George Galloway, Respect MP, has a show on the station and he has also been defending the regime from that platform.

Fariborz Pooya: Press TV is the Islamic regime’s official satellite channel in English and is propagating the regime’s version of things everyday. George Galloway is on the pay of the Islamic regime now. If he supported the regime politically in the past, now they are paying him to do so. He is supportive of Ahmadinejad and by association the policies of the Islamic regime and the current atrocities including the killings. A viewer calling in to his show from South Africa said the election in Iran resembled the election during the apartheid period there in that it only allowed a certain group of people to stand for election. Galloway replied that Iran is an Islamic country and that is the qualification; every country according to him has a qualification, and this is theirs. Galloway justifies a brutal and fascistic Islamic regime in Iran. The anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and third worldist viewpoint of this so-called left has meant that Galloway has chosen the Islamic regime and political Islam over the people of Iran.

With the fall of the Islamic regime these people will disappear and will only be remembered as supporters of dictatorship. George Galloway is an extension of the inhumane propaganda machinery of the Islamic regime and he will be remembered for this.

The above is an edited transcript of an interview on TV International. To see TV International programmes, click here.