Congratulations to all of you on May Day, the International Workers’ Day. With this conference, we, as Free Them Now, welcome this day of global workers’ solidarity. Thank you for accepting our invitation and joined us in this day.
The conference also highlights our two important campaigns. One is to support the struggles and demands of teachers in Iran by emphasizing the immediate release of imprisoned teachers and the closure of security cases filed against them. The other is the global boycott campaign of the Islamic Republic regime of Iran for all its repressions and crimes.
But let me now say a few words about International Labor Day.
This year, we are celebrating the International Workers’ Day in a situation that the working class in Iran, with its discourses and its dazzling strength, stands in front of the protest line of the whole society, and goes to determine the course of future political developments.
Widespread and organized nationwide strikes such as the glorious strikes of teachers and oil workers last year, large street rallies such as the Sunday protests of retirees and rallies organized by teachers in two hundred to three hundred cities last year, protests against poverty and exploitation and the brutality of capitalism, which played a role in the declarations and resolutions of the workers and various sections of the working class, labour activists and social activists, as well as the powerful resonance of the chanting for “livelihood, dignity, our inalienable right” on the streets and the fact that more and more council movement approach are visible in these protests, are prominent indicators of this promising development.
This is how the working class today, with all its sections, has become the beacon of the whole society, and has played a historic role in advancing radical and universal changes and aspirations, including the right to a decent human life, free education and free and decent health care for all, and basic freedoms in society. And this is the class whose presence we see in the plaintiff movement and alongside the plaintiff families, we see its presence in the women’s liberation movement, on the International Women’s Day, and in defence of women’s rights, we see it in defending the children’ rights and against superstition and religion, and we see this class in protests against imprisonment, torture, repression and executions. We also see the working class everyday against all plunder and theft by the Islamic rulers.
It is in the context of such strong political and social presence of the working class and its brilliant role, that the movement to overthrow this brutal Islamic regime has taken very big steps forward and is becoming more and more humane and radical, free and modern movement. It is because of such a social role that today the working class has become the centre of gravity of the unity of social movements and 99% of society over the demands of freedom and an end to all the brutality of the ruling capitalism.
May Day, the International Workers’ Day, is a brilliant reflection of such an exciting event and development in Iran. The day of all people against the ruling parasite minority one percent. The day of the nationwide protest of the whole society against the hell of the Islamic regime, and the day of our indictment against more than forty years of crime and repressions.
My call to all workers, teachers, retirees, nurses, the new women movement, the children rights movement, the anti-death Penalty movement, and the movement for the release of all Political Prisoners, and the defenders of LGBT rights and all the people of Iran is that let’s make May Day , our united protesting day.
Last year, retirees called for the celebration of May Day, and the other workers’ sections joined them. This year teachers are calling for nationwide protest rallies for International Workers’ Day, oil workers are announcing a nationwide strike to mark International Workers’ Day, and society is full of protests and struggles.
Let us shout our common demands as loudly as possible, with our joint resolutions and statements and calls.
We are here as the voice of protest of all workers and people against the hell of the Islamic regime. We are the cry of the people’s anger against sexual apartheid and all the means of repression and crimes of this government. As an urgent demand, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned workers, imprisoned teachers and all political prisoners. In our opinion, the international boycott of the Islamic regime, this regime of repression and crime in Iran is an important step in overthrowing this regime, and we are working for it. This regime is not represented by the Iranian people. It is an oppressor and a murderer of the people. As an important step, we call for the expulsion of this regime from the ILO. We ask all of you who are in Iran to accompany us in advancing this campaign. At the international level, we also strive to bring global support with us. Fortunately, our campaign has received some supports and we are trying to get the most international endorsement and solidarity for this campaign. The Islamic Republic must be boycotted internationally. This regime must go.
Long live May Day
