It has finally happened. Someone other than me and a small handful of others who are also usually demonized as racists—actually views the Islamic/Islamist regime of Iran as an Apartheid regime and is calling for an anti-apartheid-like protest and solidarity movement against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hot damn!
Please note that this movement has been launched in the UK and amazingly, is not a protest against Israel as an allegedly “racist, apartheid” state.
There is a God after all.
I have been haunted by the information coming out of Teheran, about the murder and torture of so many young and brave Iranians—women as well as men—and our true future allies.
Maryam Namazie, the UK based leader of One Law For All, is now calling for “people across the world to stand with the people of Iran on July 25th and every day.” Maryam Namazie is no novice to organizing. On March 7th, in London, she called for a rally in Trafalgar Square which was followed by a public meeting in Conway Hall. Namazie described the rally as an “anti-racist London rally against Sharia and religious-based laws in Britain and elsewhere and in defense of citizenship and universal rights.” She also launched a petition drive which has more than 10,000 signatures.
Iran Solidarity is calling on people everywhere to step up their support for the people of Iran by joining July 25 demonstrations at embassies of the Islamic regime of Iran in cities across the globe. Since Iran Solidarity was founded last week, “over 1,000 individuals and organizations have joined, including Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Mina Ahadi, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Taslima Nasrin.
Iran Solidarity was launched in the House of Lords. Footage of the launch may be viewed here.
The leaders are also calling for “every day to be a day of solidarity with the people of Iran and are looking to have one person every day in central London for half an hour for the next year starting July 26.” They are asking people to volunteer to express your solidarity as they see fit on a day that they are available during the next 365 days. “You would need to stand alone, be over 16 years of age, and spend the half hour doing whatever you’d like to do to show your support and solidarity.
Volunteers are asked to email [email protected] with their names, email and mobile numbers as well as the dates they are available. “We aim to film or photograph all the daily acts of protest and solidarity.”
This movement is envisioned as a global movement. The organizers write: “If you do not live in London and want to take part or organise daily acts of solidarity in other cities contact us so we can help you. You can also organise a flash mob that can highlight the situation in Iran, set up information tables or mobilise support for our campaign. You can set up Iran Solidarity groups at your schools and universities, neighbourhoods and workplaces – similar to the anti-apartheid groups that helped get rid of racial apartheid in South Africa. You can join us if you haven’t already done so and get others to join…Please feel free to download Neda masks and posters and those calling for the prosecution of Ali Khamenei for crimes against humanity from our website to take to protests or for your own acts of solidarity. You can also download and hand out the leaflets and postcard available on our site.”
Namazie closes: “We have a responsibility and duty to unite to support a hugely important movement in Iran that will help the people of Iran and the world in heralding a new dawn.
We can and will make a difference; the future is ours!”
For more information, visit our website or blog or contact:
Maryam Namazie
Campaign Organiser
BM Box 2387
London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731
I applaud this effort. I suggest that we in America, in each great city, and in the great cities of Europe and the Middle East, also stand in solidarity against the apartheid regime in Iran and for Iran’s heroic protestors.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member