Trotz aller Repression: Stahlarbeiter und ihre Familien sowie Zuckerarbeiter weiter im Widerstand. Der Sprecher der Zuckerarbeiter fordert eine Fernsehdebatte mit dem Informationsminister des Iran

„Die Rohrzucker-Fabrik Hafttape ist mit über 5000 Beschäftigten die größte ihrer Art im Iran. Sie wurde 1961 im Betrieb genommen. Im Zuge der neoliberalen Politik des Regimes wurde Hafttappe privatisiert. Seit 13 Jahren kämpft die Belegschaft, in verschiedenen Abständen, für ihre Forderungen wie: Ausstehende Löhne, Klarheit über die Rente, langfristige Arbeitsverträge usw. Zuletzt haben die Beschäftigten am 5. November mit einem Streik begonnen, bei dem es um ausstehende Löhne ging und der gegen Privatisierung gerichtet war. Die Streikenden haben einen „Unabhängigen Rat der Hafttappe-ArbeiterInnen“ gegründet und auch für verschiedene Abteilungen Vertreter gewählt. Esmail Bakhshi, der Hauptredner beim Streik und Vertreter im Rat war, wurde am 18. November mit 17 weiteren Arbeitern verhaftet. Er war 25 Tage in der Haft, würde gefoltert, geschlagen. Er wurde nach Hinterlegung einer Kaution in Höhe von 400 Millionen Tuman, (Mindestlohn ist 1,2 Millionen Tuman) freigelassen. Der Streik wurde nach 28 Tage, am 2. Dezember, mit massiven Einsätzen der Sondereinheiten des Regimes und Streikbrechern beendet“  – so der Begleittext vom 07. Januar 2019 einer Email, mit der der Offene Brief von Esmail Bakhshi an den Informationsminister der iranischen Regierung – mit der Aufforderung zu einer Debatte im Fernsehen – verbreitet wurde. Siehe dazu den Brief Esmail Bakhshis, einen (englischen, mit kurzer deutscher Zusammenfassung) Überblick zu sozialen Protesten im Iran (auch zum Kampf der Stahlarbeiter von Ahvaz um ihre Freilassung) und einen Hintergrundartikel zur Bewertung der aktuellen Bewegungen im Iran:

Aufforderung zu einer Live-Debatte im Fernsehen
an den Informationsminister der islamischen Republik Iran

Sehr geehrter Herr Alawi,
in den 25 Tagen, den ich vom Geheimdienstministerium zu Unrecht inhaftiert war, wurde mir viel Leid und Schmerz zugefügt, so dass ich mich immer noch nicht davon erholt habe. Um ein wenig zur Ruhe zu kommen nehme ich Psychopharmaka. In dieser Zeit beschäftigen mich zwei grundlegende Fragen, zerfressen mein Gehirn, Fragen, die nur von Ihnen beantwortet werden können. Es ist mein Recht und das Recht des iranischen Volkes, die Antworten von Ihnen zu hören.
Erstens: Ich wurde in den ersten Tagen meiner Festnahme, ohne Angabe von Gründen und ohne Worte bis zum Äußersten gefoltert. Die Schläge waren so heftig, dass ich in der Zelle 72 Stunden lang mich nicht mehr bewegen konnte. Weil ich so stark zusammengeschlagen war, konnte ich nicht schlafen.
Heute, fast zwei Monate nach diesem schweren Tagen, habe ich immer noch starke Schmerzen. Meine Rippen sind gebrochen. Meine Nieren, mein linkes Ohr und meine Hoden schmerzen sehr.
Interessanterweise bezeichneten sich meine Folterer als „Unbekannte Soldaten von Imam Mahdi (Messias)“. Sie schlugen und beschimpften mich und Frau Gholian* mit beleidigendem und vulgärem Vokabular. Die Psychische Folter war schlimmer als körperliche Folter, ich weiß nicht, was sie mit mir gemacht haben, meine Hände zittern immer noch. Mir wurde der Boden unter den Füßen weggezogen. Ich wurde gedemütigt und bin zu einer anderen Persönlichkeit geworden. Trotz Einnahme von Psychopharmaka bekomme ich immer noch schwere seelische und psychische Anfälle.
Ich frage ich Sie als Informationsminister und Kleriker, was rechtfertigt es moralisch, menschenrechtlich und vor allem aus Sicht der islamischen Religion einen Gefangenen zu foltern?
Zweitens: Für mich und meine Familie ist noch viel wichtiger, als die körperliche und seelische Folter die Frage des „Abhörens“ der Telefongespräche zwischen mir und meiner Familie durch Ihren Geheimdienst. Der Untersuchungsrichter sagte: wir wissen alles. Wir wissen auch, dass Ihre Frau sich mit Ihnen wegen ihrer politischen Aktivitäten wiederholt gestritten hat. Ich fragte ihn: Woher wissen Sie das? Er sagte: Ihre Kontakte wurden über lange Zeit „angezapft“.
Nun ist meine Frage und die Frage meiner Familie an Sie, als Informationsminister und als Geistlicher: Ist das Abhören von privatesten Gesprächen durch Moral, Menschenrechte und die islamische Religion vertretbar!? Mit welchem Recht erlaubt sich Ihr Geheimdienst die privaten Telefongespräche zwischen mir und meiner geliebten Frau abzuhören?
Um Ihre Antworten zu hören, fordere ich, Esmail Bakhshi, Sie, sehr geehrter Herr Alawi, zu einer Live-Debatte im Fernsehen auf.
Esmail Bakhshi 14. Day 1397 04. Januar 2019
Übersetzung auf Deutsch: Zaman Masudi

Überblick der WP Iran über soziale Proteste und Aktionen im Dezember 2018 und Januar 2019

In dieser knappen Zusammenstellung von 10 Meldungen über soziale Proteste der letzten Wochen im Iran geht es mehrfach um protestierenden RentnerInnen an verschiedenen Orten, um die Solidarität mit inhaftierten Stahlarbeitern aus Ahvaz und die solidarischen Aktionen ihrer Kollegen und ihrer Familien, und um verschiedene Solidaritätsaktionen mit inhaftierten Lehrergewerkschaftern. In ihrer Breite und Vielfalt machen sie deutlich, wie stark und kontinuierlich der soziale Protest im Iran heutezutage ist – und wie wenig die heftige Repression gegen Einzelne die Bewegungen als Ganzes zu verhindern vermag. Besonders zu unterstreichen ist bei diesen Meldungen auch, dass immer wieder heftige Kritik am kapitalistischen Charakter des Regimes geäußert wird.

1. “We don’t want parasite capitalist rule” retirees in Iran chanted in front of Islamic Majles
   (parliament)
   On 1st January 2019, a large group of retiree held an assembly in front of Islamic Majles (parliament) of Iran in Tehran to protest for their long standing demands. “capitalist government doesn’t comprehend”, “we don’t want parasite capitalist rule”, “we are all united to eradicate discriminations” and slogans against poverty, discriminations, inequality, oppressions and systematic embezzlements and theft in the system were chanted in the protest by the retiree.
   “We don’t want government of oppression, imprisonment and flogging” was another slogan. The retirees have been passionately fighting and organising against persecutions, floggings, and imprisonment of workers‘ and right activists.
   In the protest the police tried to arrest a youth but the retirees stood up to the police and chanted “police! Go catch the thieves”.
   The retirees also called for unity of different different parts of society. “The only way to freedom, unity, unity.”
   At the same time, retirees in city of Mashhad in Khorasan province held an assembly.
   #WPIranNews #FightForLife #RetiredWorkers #RetireesInIran
   Tweet: “We don’t want parasite #capitalist rule” #retirees in #Iran #Tehran chanted in front of Islamic Majles (parliament) #protest #WPIranNews #FightForLife #RetiredWorkers #RetireesInIran
2. Teachers and retired teachers in Iran campaign for adequate insurance in oppose to government’s
   proposal
   Teachers and retired teachers in Iran have started a campaign for “adequate insurance” as the government has proposed “supplementary insurance”. By 1st January 2018, over 10,300 teachers and retired teachers have signed the petition that calls for “adequate insurance”. The teachers and retired teachers reject government’s proposal and continue to insist on the
   demands they have been fighting for in the past few years: adequate insurance and free healthcare for all.
   #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #RetireesInIran #AdequateInsurance #FreeHealthcare
   Tweet: Teachers and retired #teachers in #Iran #campaign for adequate #insurance in oppose to government’s proposal #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #RetireesInIran #AdequateInsurance #FreeHealthcare
3. Teacher in Iran go on hunger strike to protest “arrest and levy”
   On 29th December 2018, Hamid Rahmati, a teacher in Isfahan was arrested for “disruption of public order” as he had attended an assembly of teachers and retired teachers on 27 December 2018 in city of Isfahan.
   At the protest of 27 December, some teachers and retired teachers were arrested.
   On 28 December, Hamid Rahmati went to office of Education Ministry in Isfahan to object to the arrests but the police arrested him for “disruption of public order” and asked for 400,000,000 Rial (9500 USD) bail, which he and his supporters regard as “levy” In objection to the “arrest and levy” he has gone on hunger strike. A campaign has started for his release.
   #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #RetireesInIran #ArrestedWorkers
   Tweet: #Teacher in #Iran go on hunger-strike to #protest “arrest and levy” #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #RetireesInIran #ArrestedWorkers
4. Steelworkers in Ahvaz, Iran are not intimidated by heavy presence of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
   On 1st January 2019, a group of steelworkers of National Steel Group of Ahvaz gathered in front of office of director of the corporation to demand release of their colleagues. Representatives of the board of directors attended the assembly and threatened the workers: “such gathering will result in longer detain of the workers”. However the workers and some of the
   families of the arrested steelworkers continued to protest and demanded release of the workers. Independent Union of Workers in Iran reported that the newly appointed head of the security of the corporation who is a high ranking cadet of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attended the gathering and threatened the workers and the families with arrest if they don’t end to protest. The workers are not intimidated by the security forces and continue to hold their grounds. After a long-standing protest and strike two of the productions lines in the factory has reopened and since restart of the production presence of members of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been significant. The workers worry that their workplace is going to be handed over to Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarter which is an engineering firm controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
   #WPIranNews #FightForLife #WorkersAndFamiles #SteelWorkers #ImprisonedWorkers Tweet: #Steelworkers in #Ahvaz #Khuzestan #Iran are not intimidated by heavy presence of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps #WPIranNews #FightForLife #WorkersAndFamiles #SteelWorkers #ImprisonedWorkers
5. Families of jailed steelworkers in Iran: “Steel mafia must be exposed”, “Free jailed workers”
   On 29th December 2018, the families of the arrested steelworkers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz held an assembly in front of the provincial governor’s office in the city of Ahvaz for the fourth day and demanded the release of the workers. “Steel mafia must be exposed”, “The workers‘ place is not in prison” and “Free jailed workers” were the dominant banners and slogans in the protest. In the 40-day strike of the steelworkers that mobilised society and the international workers‘ community, 43 workers‘ representatives were arrested. Today, 14 days later and after several protests and a wave of national and international condemnation, 36 workers have been released. The remaining 7 workers still in custody are: Gharib Hoveizavi, Tareq Khalfi, Meisam Ghanavati, Karim Siahi, Mostafa Abiat, Behzad Alikhani and Meisam Al Mehdi.
   Workers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz demand the immediate and unconditional release of their colleagues and representatives. One of the workers interrupted the speech of Mr Heidari, a member of the Iranian Majles (parliament), in a mosque in Ahvaz and objected to the arrests. On 27th December, Mehdi Yarahi, a Farsi and Arabic pop singer, and his band appeared on stage dressed in steelworkers‘ uniforms to show their solidarity with the workers. The Syndicate of Sugar Cane workers of Haft Tapeh also declared its solidarity with steelworkers and teachers in their meeting on 29 December 2018.
6. Iran: arrested teachers and retirees of 27th December protest in Isfahan have been released
   On 29th December 2018 at 2am, the teachers and retirees who were arrested during their assembly on 27th December in Isfahan, were released. The arrests were condemned by different organisations in Iran, including the Coordinating Council of Teachers‘ Associations, which announced that they would continue to protest if the detainees are not released immediately and unconditionally. The protesting teachers and retirees had demanded free education for all, quality education for all, right to organisation, release of jailed teachers, an end to “slave-like” contracts, an end to discrimination among teachers with different contracts, and receiving permanent contracts. One of the highlights of the protest was when the teachers and retirees announced their solidarity with other dissenters such as the steelworkers and sugar cane workers. Solidarity with striking teachers and workers and calls for the release of those who were arrested is becoming part of most protests in Iran. #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #RetireesInIran Tweet: Iran: arrested teachers and retirees of 27th December protest in Isfahan have been released #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #RetireesInIran
7. Workers, students and lawyers in Iran visit families of jailed teachers
   On 28th December 2018, over 50 workers, students and lawyers visited the families of jailed teachers Esmaeil Abdi and Mohammad Habibi in Tehran to support them, show their solidarity, and to assure them that the efforts to free Esmaeil and Mohammad continue. The occasion was the 3rd anniversary of the arrest of Esmaeil Abdi, a member of the board of directors of the Teachers‘ Associations of Iran, and in support of the families of four pupils who lost their lives in a fire at a school in Zahedan province. During the visit with the family of Esmaeil Abdi that took about 4 hours, they also discussed actions to further pursue their demands. Then the group went to Mohammad Habibi’s family and met with his wife, Khadijeh Pakzamir.
   At the meeting, Abdolreza Ghanbari, a jailed teacher, called from prison and spoke to the group. He condemned the recent arrests of teachers and retirees at the 27 December protest in Isfahan. The group decided to visit the families of the other imprisoned teachers, Mahmood Beheshti and Rohallah Mardani, in the near future.
   #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #ArrestedTeachers Tweet: #Workers, #students and #lawyers in #Iran visit families of jailed teachers #WPIranNews #FightForLife #TeachersInIran #ArrestedTeachers
8. Call for election to form “Islamic Council” of sugar cane workers in Iran repels the workers
   In late December 2018, after the long-running mass protests and strike of the Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers in Khuzestan, Iran, the authorities have tried to set up an election for the formation of an “Islamic Council” of workers which would stand in opposition to the already existing independent workers‘ council and its elected representatives. One year ago, the workers started to elect their representatives who consult with the workers and represent them. This was successful and opened up discussions about the formation of workers’ representation and workers’ councils in other industries in Iran. The authorities tried to force some workers to stand as candidates for the “Islamic Council” but not many have and some already withdrew their candidacy again as the “Islamic Council” is not the workers’ independent and legitimate representation and organisation. It has been reported that when some of the workers went to the Office of Labour to withdraw their candidacy, they were met by the city’s head of judiciary and head of the intelligence service who threatened the workers. They were told “You have a file with us and it will be bad for you if you withdraw your candidacy for the Islamic Council.” The workers of Haft Tapeh who managed to form their own council and elect their representatives reject the Islamic Council as it represents government politics which the workers object to. One of their main objections is the relationship between the government and the directors of Haft Tapeh
   who are embezzling funds from the company. The workers consider the formation of an “Islamic Council” as the government’s tactic to dissolve workers‘ organisations so that they can continue with plans to restart “slave-like” working conditions and complete the handover to the “embezzlers” and “thieves” of the private sector.
   #WPIranNews #FightForLife #SugarCaneWorkers #WorkersCouncil #IslamicCouncil Tweet: Call for election to form “Islamic Council” of sugar cane #workers in #Iran repels the workers #WPIranNews #FightForLife #SugarCaneWorkers #WorkersCouncil #IslamicCouncil
9. Angry farmers in Isfahan province, Iran, take their “water share” protest to the city
   On 29th December 2018, farmers of Varzaneh and Khvorasgan in Isfahan province, Iran, took their protest to the city of Varzaneh. The farmers who have been protesting for 8 days for their “share of water” came to the streets of the city and chanted “We stand, we fight, we claim our right”. Thousands of farmers lack water for their land as the authorities have diverted their water source to the private gardens of the heads of the Islamic regime and some industries and projects that are owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The authorities also do not pay the farmers any compensation for their “share of water”.
   Many farmers have lost their source of income and are left with nothing. The angry farmers have been protesting for the last 8 days. The farmers have been calling on the people for support and solidarity in their protests, blaming the government for the misery. “Shame, shame government”, “Long live farmers, down with oppressors”, and “We stand, we fight, we claim our share of the water” are some of the slogans the farmers chant.
10. Iran, Azerbaijan, Moghan city: sale of agro-industrial company to billionaire sparks protests
    On 24th December 2014, workers of Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company held an assembly to protest the sale of their workplace to a private owner and to object to the working conditions as well as to express their worries about their future. On 21st December 2018, it was announced that Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company had been sold to the Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group which is owned by a billionaire and is run privately. After several months of discussions over the sale of Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company, the authorities finally came to an agreement to sell the company to Shirin Asal. The owner of Shirin Asal Food Industrial Group is Mr Younes Jaele who is known for mobilising special armed forces against the workers of his company. The sale of Moghan Agro-industrial and Animal Husbandry Company to the private sector and to an individual such as Mr Jaele worries the workers who have already lost a lot.
    Over the past years, the state-run company dismissed 10,000 workers to make it attractive to private investors. The remaining 5,000 workers are already under lots of pressure and carry out the job that used to be done by 15,000 workers. Given the reputation of the new owner, the workers protest to prevent more poverty, more dismissals, and even worse “slave-like” working conditions. The authorities worry that Moghan’s workers could create unrest and draw attention to their situation just as the workers of Haft Tapeh and Ahvaz have done. The workers are already aware that they must involve their families and mobilise society the same way the workers in Khuzestan province have done.

• „Workers‘ Strikes in Iran: This Time it is Different“ am 02. Januar 2019 bei libcom.org ist eine Analyse der aktuellen Arbeitskämpfe im Iran aus anarchistischer Sicht, bei der vor allem versucht wird, die Unterschiede der aktuellen Bewegungen zu jenen in den letzten und insbesondere im letzten Jahr heraus zu arbeiten…