23.09.1999

Act to stop Iran massacre

You will undoubtedly be aware of the large number of arrests of students and political activists after last July’s pro-democracy demonstrations in Tehran, Iran. The repeated calls by the ultra-conservative faction for the death sentence on demonstrators who have been labelled mohareb (someone who fights god), molhed (heathen) and mofsed (corrupters) indicates that the lives of many of those arrested are in danger. The death sentence passed on four of those named validates these predictions.

The international campaign in defence of Iranian students was initiated by the Coordinating Committee of Workers’ Left Unity and the editorial board of Iran Bulletin. It has had the support over 450 academics, journalists, professionals, members of parliament, trade unionists, students, individuals, and over 50 organisations from across the world.

We ask you to publicise the demands of the campaign in your press. In the current national and international climate such outside pressures would undoubtedly help stop the potential executions and also the release of those already given long prison sentences. We urge you to put pressure on the Iranian regime to respect the basic human rights of its citizens.

Coordinating Committee of Workers’ Left Unity
Editorial board Iran Bulletin