Here we go
The campaign „Antifa Teheran“ is run by some individuals and groups from the radical left in Germany. It came into life with the constitution of a new and massive protest movement in Iran, back in summer 2009.
Since its beginning, „Antifa Teheran“ represents two points in theory and action; on the one hand, the campaign critically shows solidarity towards the so called „Green movement“. Although this movement does not represent the necessary, radical criticism towards state, nation and capital, „Antifa Teheran“ sees the urgence of supporting the movement as a whole against the clerical terror-regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). On the other hand, the campaing tries to point out and critize German influence on the well-being of the IRI due to their flourishing economic, bilateral relationship. Although a new round of sanctions was put on the IRI internationally, Germany and other states keep up their businesses with the Mullah-state – which, regarding the dependence of the IRI’s trade with its oil, turns out to be a direct support of this regime. All the criticism and theoretical focus is combined with the demand of abolishing the IRI completely and without further conditions.
Since the establishment of this campaign, many different forms of presentations concerning Iran were held throughout Germany, reaching from open discussions till info-cafés. Until now, the campaign managed to set up two action-days; both of them included the showing of solidarity towards the protest-movement; the first additionally had the slogan „screw up German business with Iran“ (http://de.indymedia.org/2009/08/258142.shtml) and the second was referred to the world womens‘ day: „solidarity with the women in Iran“ (http://de.indymedia.org/2010/03/275287.shtml). Several demonstrations, rallies and actions (http://de.indymedia.org/2010/03/275177.shtml; http://de.indymedia.org/2010/03/275200.shtml) were held in different cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Göttingen and Cologne. The practical highlight of the campaign was the blockade of the Iranian consulate in Frankfurt. (http://de.indymedia.org/2010/02/272354.shtml)
Iran: Fire, Flame…and Silence?
In 2009/2010, many solidarity-groups and organizations were created, due to the simple fact, that an explosive movement of a mostly young generation caused many deep cracks into the construct of the IRI, which presented itself so firm the last years. What used to start as an election desaster first, turned out to develop into a fundamental criticism against the basic pillars of the system itself. This process of the protest made the belief into a crackdown of the IRI by the Iranian people more and more possible. But, at the end of 2010, unfortunately we have to constate, that – after many injuries, arrests and deads caused by the state – the repression- and propagandamachine of the IRI seems to have regenerated from this heavy shock. The „Green Movement“ stands still.
Urgence to act
But nevertheless, the country is still brewing. The regime’s lunatic, irrational visions of destroying the state of Israel and to conquer the Western world with Islamic State-ideology is more actual than ever. Considering analyses of several experts, the IRI is not too far from fulfilling the plan of the nuclear bomb. Nuclear bombs are to abolish anyway, but when a regime like the IRI, basing itself on one of the most antisemitic and anti-Western ideologies, heads towards the bomb, the catastrophy is guaranteed – wether it gets it, or it is stopped by a military intervention before.
And do not forget the crisis. In an economic world-system, the capitalist crisis will not stop in front of any spot of the earth. As a consequence, it also has turned down Iranian economy and therefore the wellbeing of its citizens. Inflation, unemployment and a fading perspective for many young Iranians (70% of Iran’s citizens are under 35 years old) lead to increasing poverty as well as grievance, and even worse impacts are about to come.
Combining the new allergization for critics and a new conscience of protest (despite all the repression) within the Iranian people and the catastrophic expectations concerning economy and well being of the state, the chapter Iran is not finished yet. The „Green Movement“ has to be seen as a start, a first step, because the IRI has to face serious problems on several levels in the future.
This is why we as a campaign keep on working to the subject Iran. One of our current projects in the city of Cologne is to deal with the problem of the refugees. After the big protest in 2009/2010 and its repressive smashdown, many (especially young) Iranians see themselves forced to escape from the country run by the IRI, in order to avoid prison or death-sentences. On the escape towards Europe, the first interstations turn out to be South-Eastern European countries like Greece, but especially Turkey. Currently, officials estimate a number of about 5000 Iranian refugees stuck on their way to Europe in Turkey, the real number is probably way bigger. The most of them suffer terrible conditions; hunger, diseases, illegality and the permanent fear of being deported back to Iran any time again lead to a so bad condition, that some of the refugees decided to go on a hunger strike once (http://planet-iran.com/index.php/news/21096). The help of the European states, known well for deportations themselves, is marginal or not existing. Germany for instance celebrates itself on this subject by accepting 50 refugees; considering even the official numbers of Iranians stuck in Turkey this would be 1%. Ridiculous.
In the struggle against the IRI, it is important to save lives of (young) dissidents. Like already mentionned: the chapter of protest in Iran is not closed, and the most effective way to continue working by now is to intervene in this worsening refugee-problem.
And someday, hopefully in the near future, the IRI will not recover from such a massive expolsion within its own citizenship. A fundamental change of the Iranian society caused by the people themselves would overthrow the IRI; such a crackdown of the Mullah-state, the pioneer for the organized antisemitic and islamistic front, would have tremendous effects on the whole region and the world.
But don‘t forget…
We may not forget, that the problems of refugees all over the world is existing for a very long time. It did certainly not come into life with the problems that the Iranians, who are stuck in Turkey, have to face. For many years individuals and organizations are working this field unrestly. And for now and then it is always important not to forget to point out the basic cause for this and several problems:
The capitalist society is spread all over the world and it is organized in bourgeoise states. Within all the ideologies (such as the nation) and its economical world-system containing the global competion of the states of the world for production, it is not enough for us to be a human being; it is necessary to be usable for the system and to be able to hold up the permanent terror of competition, which is a pillar of capitalist production-style. The fact, that individuals, who are not feeling comfortable in any dimension, are excluded and in many cases have to escape a country, is not a bearable condition. But the fact, that other capitalist states do not accept those escaping individuals because in a long term they are not to be usefully integrated into the national society, is worse. But is it a surprise? Considering the system we are forced to live in, not. Both show up the charateristic, systemic use for the capitalist state, which human beings have to fulfill. So, considering the refugee problem, the slogan shall not just be „open the borders“, but rather „Fuck the system!“.
Antifa Teheran | Cologne |
September 2010