Against
a tide of oppression, Iranian women stand up!
After the alleged June 12th election rigging in Iran that brought Ahmadinejad back to power, the world witnessed an uprising of the Iranian people against the oppressive regime. The series of demonstrations in major cities, soon turned into mass protests against the government’s oppressive policies and corruption. The people showed their objection to the regime’s undemocratic institutions and actions, especially in regard to women and minorities. For example, In Iran it is illegal for a woman to sing solo. Her crime is all the more serious if she is expressing opposition to the regime’s
treatment of women. So in the eyes of the government, the Persian female rapper “Gogha” (translated into “uproar”), is committing a serious crime by speaking against the regime’s oppressive treatment of women. For instance, in her song ‘A wind-up doll’ she speaks as “the voice for thousands of suppressed women” who want both social and legal equality. Iran’s statutes reflect Sharia law which promotes inequality between men and women. The government undermines a woman’s independence when it prohibits her from engaging in certain professions
Part One of a Series: Opium in Afghanistan Opium Production & International Trade
After eight years of occupation in Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has not been able to meet any of the mandates they had set out to accomplish in late 2001. These goals included the permanent defeat and dismantling of the Taliban, eradication of opium production, and establishing a democratic national government. Critically examining all of these aspects of the development of Afghanistan, it is easy to see that the ISAF, namely the US, UK and Canada, have not even begun to accomplish any of these goals. In fact, in many ways, NATO forces have often been the cause of the problems that Afghan people face every day. The growth and
by: Shafiqullah Aziz
production of opium in the country has dramatically increased during the years after invasion. The international trade of the drug now yields a four billion dollar a year business, accounting for half of the country’s GDP. Eradication efforts by the foreign occupiers have been largely unsuccessful. The US has admitted that their policies against opium production have failed because eradication efforts have only cut production by 3% and national opium production has increased by forty times its previous amount during Taliban rule. Helmand province, which is currently under occupation by the British military, has by far the highest production rate of opium in the
Shortened & Reprinted
Founding Statement
of the
by: Rashin Alizadeh
and legally binds a woman to require a man’s approval for many of her decisions. Women are inferior to men under Iranian law, however this does not stop them from putting their lives in danger to struggle for change. In an oppressive system such as this one, Iranian working class women are especially vulnerable. They suffer the double exploitation of being workers and women. They hold jobs with little security and are victims of discrimination in the workforce because many employers are unwilling to abide by laws created to appease the country. Not only have eradication efforts been a complete failure here, but the cultivation of opium has more than tripled in recent years. It seems that the British are not only complacent, but somewhat, or perhaps even wholly involved in the export and trade of opium in the region. With strict border control in Iran, and a heavy military presence in the province itself, how else could so many smugglers be successful in their illicit business? It is very hard for any logical person to believe that the opium is smuggled out of the country without the help of military and government officials. The UN issued a report in 2009 detailing the worldwide effects of opium exported from Afghanistan. The report found that Afghan opium caters to fifteen million drug addicts worldwide, leading to the death of 100,000 people every year. These shocking statistics clearly exhibit the extent of the Afghan drug trade as virtually the sole source of the world’s opium supply. The simple steps that could be taken by the ISAF forces to stem the growth and distribution of this drug would have far-reaching positive effects against drug abuse throughout the world. Unfortunately, the international coalition has exhibited no genuine interest in decreasing the supply of opium. The narcotics industry in Afghanistan is not only allowed to exist, but is actively supported by the military and government forces of the ISAF and the Afghan government.
demands of women. So the female employees have a choice between no income, or giving up their rights. Therefore, the group with the strongest motivation to rebel, due to their lack of material interests within the current system, has to struggle to speak up. The oppressive institutions compel women to be obedient to those above them “before and under the law” according to the rule of (Islamic) law. We cannot change the past, but we have the ability to change the future. Ghogha and other women and men like her have the potential to change this oppressive system which thrives on suppressing society’s most vulnerable—most of whom are women.
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WORKER’S ORGANIZE give up their hard-won wages, working hours or to even accepts layoffs. At the same time, the probusiness politicians of the Liberal and Conservative party have taken over 100 billion dollars of our tax money, out of our pockets, to bail out these fat cats. What is clear is that unless we begin to organize ourselves, and begin to fight for our interests, we are going to see our living standards as a whole greatly reduced. Building a union, here in Ontario, is quite straightforward but not necessarily easy. A union vote occurs once 40% of workers in a given workplace have signed union cards. This union vote, if a majority of workers vote in favor of a union, results in union certification. The Afghan-Iranian Youth Network is committed to helping workers unionize their workplaces, but the effort to win a union and to make it effective lies with workers themselves. If you are interested in setting up a union, begin talking to trusted workmates and get in touch with us at afghaniranianyouth@gmail.com or, by phone, at 647-204-5312. We will assist workers, of any nationality, by helping get union cards signed and by bringing our experiences from other union drives to the table.
Afghan-Iranian Youth Network
The Afghan-Iranian Youth Network has come together around the following basic points, uniting our work as we move forward: • We are united in our opposition to the Islamic dictatorship ruling over Iran. Furthermore, we are firmly opposed to any type of foreign imperialism in Iran, particularly in the form of military aggression and economic destabilization. • We also express a fierce opposition to the imperialist occupation of Afghanistan by UN-mandated NATO forces, and as an organization based in Canada, we hope to play a particular role in exposing and challenging Canadian imperialism. While we support the resistance of Afghans, we make our opposition to the reactionary forces of political Islam clear. • We refuse to decide between foreign imperialism and reactionary Islamic forces back home, rather, we actively support the progressive movements in our countries. • We are determined to take up the issues that affect our Diasporic communities, as well as those of the broader working class people of Canada. We call on all youth to get active and organized within the network, and to become active in their communities, workplaces and schools. The Afghan-Iranian Youth Network and our publication, “Nedayeh Mardom”, are grassroots initiatives. We need your involvement to continue to grow and to build a movement that can fight for a better society. Afghan-Iranian Youth Network
layout editor
PEDRAM MOSSALLANEJAD
editorial committee
SHAFIQULLAH AZIZ FARSHAD AZADIAN REZA ESHTERAKI BAHAR JAVID
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writers
RASHIN ALIZADEH NAVID LAL NILA ZAMENI ARMAN NOORY
The Afghan-Iranian Youth Network is a grassroots youth initiative. The only way we can continue to grow is with your involvement. The paper is completely funded by members and supporters. To get involved with the paper, or to become a donor, please contact us by email at
ISSUE #3
AfghanIranianYouth@Gmail.com
FEBRUARY 2010