Interpol plots with Iranian regime

This revelation follows in the wake of the December 26-27^th protests in Iran which drew millions onto the streets nationwide. Clashes with police led to military units being ordered to fire on demonstrators, an order which is alleged to have been disobeyed.

A spokeswoman for the campaign and website Stop Terrorism (http://stopterrorism.org) said: “At the request of Iranian authorities, INTERPOL has labelled a number of leading members and supporters of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran - Hekmatist as criminals and terrorists, and has published their pictures and personal information on their website.

“By taking sides with the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) secret police, INTERPOL is making the life of Iranian opposition inside and outside of the country insecure and dangerous. This institution will then be responsible for the outcome of this policy. INTERPOL’s decision is the first step in providing a ‘legal’ and an ‘international’ permission to the IRI’s secret police to attack any opposition and their family members.”

The list of those wanted includes ten exiles currently residing in Sweden. Khaled Haji Mohammadi, a longstanding communist and one of those named by INTERPOL, said: “I don't know what sort of political or economic agreement Iran may have with INTERPOL, but it's very surprising that INTERPOL would abide by the demands of a request from a regime that has executed so many of its critics.”

What began as a wide scale opposition movement against US ally Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - which saw the mobilisation of millions and the creation of the Shoras, a form of democratic workers’ councils, - ended with the ascendancy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the creation of the IRI.

By 1982 Khomeini had largely eliminated all opposition, including the organised workers’ movement and executed or exiled many of its leaders. The regime has since not hesitated to arrest and torture labour leaders such as famed trade unionist Mansour Osanloo, leader of the Steering Committee of the Trade Union of the Vahed Bus Company, who is currently incarcerated in Evin prison. Presidential elections last year led to extensive street protests in which hundreds of thousands took part. The elections were widely regarded to have been rigged in the favour of the current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who defeated rival Mir Hossein Mousavi. Despite renewed state oppression, the protest movement again exploded last December as millions took to the streets for Tasoa and Ashoora,  traditional Shiite days of mourning.