Patogh provides a forum for youth and members of the Iranian community to engage in energised discussion and debate on current and emerging issues, explore and express their creativity, and benefit from interaction with each other.
All features of this program are made by contributions from volunteers and members of Iranian Progressive Youth.

Second Anniversary of the Green Movement:
With: Saeed Habibi: human rights activist, former chairperson of the Iranian student union
Farshin Kazeminia: researcher, political and economic analyst
Behnaz Mehrani, psychologist, women’s rights activist, member of the one million signatures campaign

پاتوق فرصتی برای گردآمدن و گفتگوی جوانان و جامعه ایرانی حول موضوعات روز است تا هم از مصاحبت و هم اندیشی و هم از هنرها و خلاقیت یکدیگر بهره ببریم. پس از نزدیک به یکسال برگزاری ماهانه پاتوق، بالاخره موفق به ارائه اولین نسخه تصویری این گردهمایی شدیم. امیدواریم شما که در کنار ما حضور نداشتید بتوانید از این گفتگوها بهره ببرید. تهیه این برنامه و تمامی امور مربوط به آن بطور داوطلبانه از طرف دوستان و اعضا شبکه جوانان پیشرو صورت گرفته است

موضوع گفتگوی این بار
دومین سالگرد جنبش سبز
نسبت جنبش سبز با جنبشهای دانشجویی، کارگری و زنان چیست؟

با حضور
سعید حبیبی: فعال حقوق بشر و دبیر پیشین اتحادیه دانشجویی تحکیم وحدت
فرشین کاظمی نیا: پژوهشگر، تحلیلگر سیاسی و اقتصادی
بهناز مهرانی: روانشناس، فعال حقوق زنان، عضو کمپین یک ملیون امضا

Full edited version! نسخه کامل تدوین شده

Shorter parts: Cartoon, Column
بخش های متنوع: کاریکاتور، ستون

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AWARDS CEREMONY

IPY Essay Contest 2011
Prospect of change in Iran

You can read the essays & related info here:

www.essay.iranpy.net

Sponsors: Hivos, Radio Zamaneh , Foundation for Iranian Studies

The first three winning essays will be presented during the ceremony

more info at www.iranpy.net/change

Leiden University
Faculty of Law
Lorentzzaal
Steenschuur 25

Tuesday, 14 june 2011
Doors open: 4 pm
Start: 4.30

Confirm your attendance at the Facebook event here

Iranian Progressive Youth
www.iranpy.net
contact@iranpy.net

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We call for the immediate release of Hedayat who objected human right violations of the Iranian regime

Published: 5 April 2011 in ESU

The European Students’ Union (ESU) expresses its solidarity with the imprisoned Iranian students’ union leader Bahareh Hedayat, who celebrates her 30th birthday today, 5 April, in jail and calls upon the European Commission and UNESCO to increase pressure on Iran to release Hedayat. Hedayat has spent her days in prison since December 2009 after protesting against the regime in Iran and trying to expand the activities of the violently oppressed Iranian student movement.

Bert Vandenkendelaere, ESU’s Chairperson said: “We call for the immediate release of Hedayat who objected human right violations of the Iranian regime. She stood up for students’ rights and female rights without fearing the hard consequence of a 9 1/2 years jail sentence in complete isolation from her friends and family and in very bad living and healthcare conditions.”

He continued: “Student representatives in Europe have very good working conditions, compared to their Iranian colleagues. We therefore call upon all of our dialogue partners, and especially UNESCO and the European Commission, to demand the release and protection of student representatives in Iran.”

9 1/2 years in jail

Around midnight on 31 December 2009, after fraudulent elections in Iran, Hedayat was arrested by Iranian authorities for the fifth time in four years. She received a sentence of 9 1/2 years for participating in legal, peaceful and civil society activities undertaken by the Daftar-e Takhim-Vahdat, Iran’s pro-democracy student movement, and for challenging the existing discriminatory laws against women.

In addition, Hedayat was arrested on charges related to trying to expand the relations of the Iranian students’ movement with the international student movement, which included communication with ESU amongst others with a message to ESU for the 70th anniversary of the International Student Day, on 17th of November 2009.

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PERSBERICHT

Download PDF: IPY persbericht 30 jan 2011

Rosenthal neemt symboolmaatregel op de barbaarse executie van de Nederlandse burger Zahra Bahrami

Op dinsdag 1 februari 2011 om 11:30 uur organiseert de Iranian Progressive Youth een manifestatie op het Plein in Den Haag, als protest tegen de ondermaatse reactie van de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken op de executie van Zahra Bahrami. De woordvoerders  van de Tweede Kamer fracties zullen tijdens deze manifestatie een toespraak houden.

Minister Rosenthal is ontzet door de executie van de Nederlands-Iraanse Zahra Bahrami en heeft de ambtelijke contacten met Iran bevroren. Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken heeft nog nooit zo resoluut op Iraanse mensenrechten schendingen gereageerd. Desondanks, vindt de Iranian Progressive Youth, het signaal uitermate zwak.

Het gegeven signaal is vooral onvoldoende aan een staat die heeft gelogen over de rechtsgang van een ter dood veroordeelde in de periode waarin het aantal doodstraffen en onaangekondigde executies sterk is toegenomen. Tevens laat Rosenthal met zijn ondermaatse reactie de mensen in Iran volledig in de kou laat staan.

Het bevriezen van ambtelijke betrekkingen zoals aangekondigd door de minister komt snel neer op een symbolisch besluit tegen een daad, die de wensen en waardigheid van de Nederlandse staat heeft ondermijnd en de Nederlands-Iraanse burgers heeft geïntimideerd.

Op vrijdag, één dag voor de executie, beweerden Iraanse autoriteiten dat de zaak van Zahra Bahrami nog niet was afgehandeld. Een dag na de executie stelde de Iraanse ambassade dat de executie van een Iraanse onderdaan de Nederlandse autoriteiten niets aangaat. De onverwachte executie, valse inlichtingen, het naderhand ontkennen van de Nederlandse betrokkenheid en het negeren van zorg over de Nederlandse staatsburger eisen een sterk optreden van Nederlandse regering.

De IPY roept Kamerleden op Kamervragen te stellen en opheldering te vragen over de gang van zaken rondom de veroordeling en de rol die Nederlandse heeft gespeeld in de executie van Zahra Bahrami. Daarnaast eisen wij minister Rosenthal om alsnog alle beschikbare diplomatieke middelen tegen Iran in te zetten waaronder het verbreken van alle diplomatieke banden, het uitwijzen van de Iraanse ambassadeur in Den Haag en het terugroepen van de Nederlandse ambassadeur in Teheran.

’s-Gravenhage
30 januari 2011

Contact:
www.iranpy.net
contact@iranpy.net
0643800738

Ierdere Persbericht: PERSBERICHT Zahra Bahrami

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—
Iraninan Progressive Youth is een vereniging van jonge politiek betrokken Iraniërs in Nederland, die krachtens haar statuut de belangen van de Iraanse gemeenschap in Nederland tracht te behartigen.

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“Prospect of Change in Iran”. Share your ideas and prospects concerning the possibilities of change in Iran. The top three essays will be published in accredited journal(s) and will also receive a cash prize

You can read the essays & related info here:

www.essay.iranpy.net

Prospect of Change in Iran

http://iranpy.net/change/

Share your ideas and prospects concerning the possibilities of change in Iran. The top three essays will be published in accredited journal(s) and will also receive a cash prize

Since the Presidential Election in Iran in June 2009, there has been an ongoing debate among and between different national and international political and social groups about the possibilities of change in Iran. Nevertheless, the issue has not been dealt with from an academic perspective sufficiently and adequately.

The Iranian Progressive Youth (IPY) is an independent association which aims at establishing a platform for political, cultural and social activities with special focus on the Iranian struggle for freedom and democracy. As part of its ongoing efforts, IPY has organized an International Essay Contest among students and researchers from different disciplines and has called for answers to the following question:

What are the ways to bring about a democratic change in Iran?

The IPY “International Essay Contest” encourages the interested parties to investigate and explore their ideas – from the idealistic to the realistic – in response to this question from either one, or a combination of, the following perspectives:

1. The role and prospect of the Civil Society;
2. The influence of the Political Structure;
3. The position and responsibility of International Community.

The top three essays will be published in internationally accredited journal(s) and

• the first-prize essay will receive  €500 and the IPY Essay Award + Zamaneh Essay Award;
• the second-prize essay will receive  €250;
• the third-prize essay will receive  €150.

Moreover, all the submitted essays will be published on the essay contest’s website.

Participation in this essay contest is open to any (former) student and researcher of any institution of higher education in any field and discipline.

The theme of the essays should be directly linked to Iran and the 2009 Presidential election and its aftermath and will be judged on two criteria:

1. Scientific quality, especially in deepening the understanding of the subject and its social relevance.
2. Innovative elements, creativity and originality in subject matter and its effects, and/or delving into a subject that has been presented but not explored in sufficient depth.

Submitted essays must:

1. be in English or Dutch;
2. be between 1500 – 2500 words. Essays longer than 3000 will not accepted;
3. be in Word Document format (.doc and not .docx) (font ‘Times New Roman’, size 12, double spacing);
4. be delivered digitally to essay@iranpy.net / CD-ROM, Floppy Disks, videos and tapes are not accepted.
5. be received by 10th April 2011 9:00 PM GMT

The participants are requested to download and fill out the ‘Participation Form’ from the essay contest website. (link)

IPY will appoint a jury which will consist of 3 university teachers/professors from Dutch Universities in different fields and 3 Parliamentarians from the Dutch Parliament and the European Parliament. The IPY Board holds one vote in this jury.
The members of the jury will be announced in due time.

Participants in the contest will receive a confirmation of their submission. The authors of the selected essays will be informed by 25th April 2011; the essays which have not been selected will receive a notification around the same time.

Only papers that meet all the conditions mentioned in this document will be assessed.
The decision of the jury is not subject to appeal.

For more information about the contest refer to Essay Contest Weblog , or contact us at essay@iranpy.net

Confirm your attendance at the Facebook event here

Sponsors: Hivos, Radio Zamaneh , Foundation for Iranian Studies

Iranian Progressive Youth

www.iranpy.net

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Deze brief is naar aanleiding van de door de Iraanse Staat uitgevoerde executies samengesteld en tijdens een manifestatie aan het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken overhandigd

Aan de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken

Postbus 20061
2500 EB Den Haag

28 december 2010,  ’s-Gravenhage

Excellentie,

Tot onze verbijstering en enorme verdriet heeft de Iraanse staat hedenochtend twee politieke gevangenen namelijk de heer Ali Saremi en de heer Ali Akbar Siadat geëxecuteerd. De Iraanse Staat heeft deze executies niet tevoren aangekondigd. Inmiddels zijn enkele nabestaanden van de slachtoffers gearresteerd.

De heer Saremi (62 ten tijde van executie) was een van overlevenden van de massamoord van de politieke gevangenen in 1988. Hij werd voor het laatst tijdens de herdenking van de slachtoffers van de voornoemde massamoord gearresteerd en uiteindelijk op grond van de Islamitische wetgeving ter dood veroordeeld.

Het staat buiten kijf, dat beide slachtoffers geen eerlijk proces is gegund. De slachtoffers zijn in de processen achter gesloten deuren veroordeeld zonder zich conform internationale standaarden te mogen verdedigen. Het inherente recht van een ieder om van zijn of haar familie voor de tenuitvoerlegging van een doodvonnis afscheid te nemen, is evenmin gerespecteerd.  Hierdoor heeft Iran nogmaals haar verplichtingen op basis van de internationale verdragen, waar zij partij van is, nagelaten.

Deze onverwachte executie vormen eveneens de aanleiding om zorgen te maken over de situatie van 25 ter dood veroordeelde  politieke gevangen in Iran, die de tenuitvoerlegging van hun doodvonnissen afwachten. Deze gewetensgevangenen lopen ieder moment het risico om onverwacht naar de executiekamer te worden gebracht.

Tevens willen wij van deze gelegenheid gebruik maken om uw aandacht te vestigen op de zorgwekkende situatie van de studenten in de Iraanse gevangenissen. Sinds afgelopen week is de prominente studentenactiviste Bahareh Hedayat, genomineerd voor de prestigieuze Student Peace Prize, in hongerstaking gegaan uit protest tegen de onmenselijke omstandigheden van de beruchte Evin-gevangenis. Al maanden wordt haar bezoekrecht ontzegd.
Recente berichten melden tevens dat ze een operatie aan haar galblaas behoeft. Deze wordt echter door de autoriteiten genegeerd.  Door deze nalatigheid is haar gezondheid ernstig in gevaar gebracht.

Om gelijksoortige redenen heeft een ander gevangen studentenactivist, Mahdieh Golrou, zich aangesloten bij deze hongerstaking.  Bahareh en vele andere Iraanse studenten werden tijdens de massale protesten van 2009 gearresteerd. Sindsdien hebben vele van deze studenten onder arbitraire arrestaties, martelingen en executies moeten lijden.

Een rechtenstudent, Habibollah Latifi, zou afgelopen zondag in Sanandaj gevangenis, Zuid-westelijke provincie Illam, worden geëxecuteerd. Deze executie is vanwege de wereldwijde protesten tijdelijk uitgesteld. Echter kan hij ieder moment, zoals andere lotgenoten, met de dood worden geconfronteerd.

Als burgers, van een vrij en democratisch land, geloven wij dat we de verantwoordelijk hebben om de stem van de Iraanse burgers Internationaal kenbaar te maken. Daarom verzoekt Iranian Progressive Youth, een netwerk van jongeren van Iraanse komaf, die krachtens haar statuut de belangen van Iraniërs in Nederland behartigt, u Excellentie gezien de urgentie en intensiteit van deze crisis om op een passende wijze op deze systematische mensenrechtenschendingen en onrechtvaardigheden te reageren.

Hoogachtend,

Vereniging Iranian Progressive Youth

P.s, Deze brief is naar aanleiding van de door de Iraanse Staat uitgevoerde executies samengesteld en tijdens een manifestatie aan het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken overhandigd.

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In response to a solidarity massage to Iranian students from occupant students in Britain, Iranian students in Iran and abroad have drawn up a message of solidarity to the British students.

In response to a solidarity massage to Iranian students from occupant students in the universities of UCL, Manchester, Sheffield, SOAS, Brighton, Goldsmiths and Bath:
( http://blog.ucloccupation.com/2010/12/08/835/) Iranian students inside the country as well as those studying abroad have drawn up a message of solidarity to the British students who are protesting against cuts and privatisation of Education system as well as universities.

Addressed to protesting students in England

Dear friends

We have received your statement of solidarity* and it is indeed beyond all words that how encouraging and heartening we have found it. Your message found us almost on the Students day in Iran, a day in which once again, despite the unprecedented presence of repressive forces, we uttered the voice of our protest in all universities throughout Iran and, yet again, we showed that not only a year of threats, suspensions, arrests and tortures has not brought us to a standstill, but it has only made us more determined to pursue our struggle for freedom, justice and human rights more tirelessly than ever. Our determination for persisting in our cause only increases when we witness that our fellow students in other countries have also chosen to oppose the unjust and discriminatory education policies instead of conforming to the existing order. As we have been following your protests during the past months, we have perceived the common humanistic essence of our struggles and that of yours. This commonness indicates that there exist the chains which tie together human emancipatory endeavors beyond political borders, ties which have become evident, during the student movements. Not only this has offered hope for a better future in our country, but it bears a promise that living in a better world is possible.

Surely there will be those who tell us: “But is a better world possible?” In their view, privatization of the educational system and dominance of the rules of market over universities are immutable parts of the inevitable fate of human societies. Yet we know, better than ever, that the existing conditions are not part of the natural process of humanity, but the artifact of the neoliberal policies and the consequence of their hegemonic dominance within the past decades.

Policies that have forfeited human rights for the profits of free capital flow, and have deprived human societies of their inalienable rights; such as rights to public health care, to free education and to stable employment, which have been gained through centuries of enlightenment and relentless endeavors of successive generations. The devastating consequences of such assaults threaten invaluable human accomplishments; be it in the developed world or in the developing countries. All the same, the extension of neoliberal privatization policies to Iran proceeds to pass similar imposed laws towards privatizing the education and universities.

For this reason, we, the Iranian students, hand in hand with you and our fellow students all around the globe, have a message for those who deprive us of equality in possession of a fairer existence, and replace it with equitability in dispossession. We tell them that living in such a world is not our destiny. For we believe that free and equal existence, for humanity regardless of where they dwell, is possible. We are determined to step toward creating just such a world. Undoubtedly, to get through this path, we have to reinforce our ties beyond drawing up statements of solidarity and arrange an organic relationship in order to exchange our experiences and our capabilities.

Our dear friends, in the great endeavor that you have begun, we, all those who believe in a better world, shall be on your side. We believe that your resoluteness will carry you through your path and brings about your success. We shall prevail.

A group of students and graduates from University of : Tehran, Polytechnic, Sharif, Elm va Sanaat, Khajeh Nasir, Allameh, Razi of Kermanshah, Azad of Sannadaj, Ilam, Gilan, Rasht,Mazandaran, Nooshirvani of Babol, Bouali Sina of Hamedan. A group of Iranian students and graduate from University of : Polytechnic of Milano, Pisa, Bremen, Aachen, Freie Universität of Berlin , Applied sciences of Munich, Bochum, Essen-Duisburg, Leibniz University of Hannover, Vienna, Düsseldorf, Toronto, York, Mc Gill, Amsterdam, Free University of Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, Delft, HAN University of  Applied sciences,  The Hague, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham

* Solidarity with Iranian Students: http://blog.ucloccupation.com/2010/12/08/835/

** Due to security reasons individual signatures have not been mentioned.

خطاب به دانشجویان مبارز در انگلیس

دوستان عزیز؛
ما پیام اتحاد و همبستگی شما را دریافت کردیم* و از توصیفمان خارج است که این پیام را چه میزان دلگرم کننده و نیرو بخش یافتیم. پیامی که همزمان با بزرگداشت روز دانشجو در ایران به دستمان رسید؛ روزی که با وجود صف آرایی بی سابقه نیروهای سرکوبگر، بار دیگر فریاد اعتراضمان را در تمام دانشگاههای ایران بلند کردیم و نشان دادیم که یک سال تهدید، تعلیق از تحصیل، حبس و شکنجه ما را از پای ننشانده و تنها عزممان را برای مبارزه در راه آزادی و عدالت و حقوق انسانی راسخ تر کرده است. در میانه راهِ ایستادگی و پیشروی، شورمند می شویم وقتی شاهد آن هستیم که دوستان دانشجوی ما در کشورهای دیگر نیز، به جای تبعیت از سلطه ی نظم مستقر، راهِ اعتراض به قوانین تبعیض آمیز و ناعادلانه آموزشی را برگزیده اند. پی گیری مبارزات شما در ماههای اخیر و جوهر انسانی مشترکی که میان مبارزات شما و خود می یابیم، به ما نشان می دهد که رشته هایی ناگسستنی، تلاش های رهایی- بخشِ انسان ها را در فراسوی مرزهای جغرافیایی به هم پیوند می دهد، رشته هایی که اینک بار دیگر در عرصه مبارزات جنبش های داشجویی نمایان شده است؛ و این نه تنها ما را به فردایی بهتر در کشورمان امیدوار می سازد، بلکه نوید بخش آن است که زیستن در جهانی بهتر ممکن است.
اما مسلما کسانی هستند که به ما و شما خواهند گفت: “مگر برای جهان وضعی بهتر از این قابل تصور است؟!” از نگاه آنان خصوصی شدن نظام آموزش و یا تسلط سیاست بازار بر دانشگاهها نیز بخشی از تقدیر گزیر ناپذیرِ جوامع بشری است. اما ما بهتر از هر زمان دیگر می دانیم که وضعیت موجود به هیچ رو تقدیر بشر نیست، بلکه برساخته ی سیاست های نئولیبرالی و محصول فراگیر شدن سلطه آنها در دهه های اخیر است؛ سیاست هایی که هر روزه حقوق انسان ها را قربانی منافع گردش آزادِ سرمایه کرده و جوامع انسانی را از حقوق مسلمی که حاصل قرن ها روشنگری و تلاش و مبارزه مستمر نسل های متوالیِ انسانهاست، محروم می کنند؛ حقوقی مانند بهداشت عمومی، آموزش رایگان و حق برخورداری از اشتغال پایدار. آثار زیانبار چنین تهاجمی، دستاوردهای ارزشمندِ بشری را در همه جای جهان تهدید می کنند، خواه در کشورهای متروپل و توسعه یافته و خواه در کشورهای پیرامونی و توسعه نیافته، کما اینکه در ادامه فرآیندِ خصوصی سازی نئولیبرال در ایران، قوانین تحمیلیِ مشابهی در جهت خصوصی سازی آموزش و دانشگاهها، در کشور ما نیز در حال پیشروی هستند.
از این رو ما دانشجویان ایرانی، همصدا با شما و همه دوستان دانشجویمان در سایر نقاط جهان، به کسانی که برابری در برخورداری را از ما سلب می کنند و در عوض، همسانی در محرومیت را جایگزین آن می نمایند می گوییم که جهانی این چنین تقدیر ما نیست، زیرا باور داریم که زیستِ آزاد و برابرِ همه افراد بشر، در هر جای دنیا که باشند، ممکن است و ما اراده کرده ایم برای ساختن چنین دنیایی قدم برداریم. بی تردید در این مسیر بایستی پیوندهایمان را از سطح اعلام حمایت و همبستگی فراتر برده و به برقراری روابطی ارگانیک برای هم اندیشی و تبادل تجربیات و امکاناتمان اقدام کنیم.
آری دوستان، در مصاف ارزشمندی که آغاز کرده اید ما و همه آنانی که به جهانی بهتر باور دارند را همراه و همصدای خود بدانید، تا لحظه پیروزی.

جمعی از دانشجویان و دانش آموختگان دانشگاه های : تهران، پلی تکنیک، شریف، علم و صنعت، خواجه نصیر، علامه، رازی کرمانشاه، آزاد سنندج، ایلام، گیلان، آزاد رشت مازندران، نوشیروانی بابل، بوعلی همدان

جمعی از دانشجویان و محققینِ ایرانی دانشگاه های: پلی‌ تکنیک میلان، پیزا، برمن، آخن، آزاد برلین، علمی کاربردی مونیخ، بوخوم، اسن – دویسبورگ،هانوفر، دوسلدورف، تورنتو، یورک، مک گیل کانادا، وین، آمستردام، آزاد آمستردام، لیدن، اوترخت، دلفت، لاهه، علمی کاربردی آرنهم – نیمیخن، شفیلد، ناتینگهام

* پیام همبستگی دانشجویان انگلیس
 http://blog.ucloccupation.com/2010/12/08/835/

** توضیح: به دلیل ملاحظات امنیتی، از انتشار اسامی امضا کنندگان خودداری شده است
 

Related Posts

1. Calling to Commemorate Iranian Students Day »

A group of Iranian student associations abroad calling for ceremonies to be organized across the globe on December 7th, 2010 in support of Iranian Student Day (16 Azar)

With Iranian National Students Day –  December 7th (16 Azar) – fast approaching, a group of student activists abroad are calling upon all Iranian students abroad to simultaneously organize gatherings in order to commemorate this important day across the globe. The student associations are requesting that Iranian students abroad echo the voices of the oppressed students in Iran who have been silenced in their quest for justice using the international arena to organize wide spread activities to commemorate Iranians National Students Day, defending and highlighting the demands of the student movement in Iran.

The content of the statement by a group of Iranian student associations abroad calling for ceremonies to be organized across the globe on December 7th, 2010 in support of Student Day (16 Azar) is as follows:

We welcome Students Day this year knowing fully well that the universities in Iran remain entrenched in their resistance towards tyranny and authoritarianism. Iran’s student movement remains the principle axis of the conflict between the defenders of liberty and the despotic henchmen in power. Although the universities have endured numerous wounds inflicted upon them by the ruling government, nevertheless, the flame that was lit so long ago in the quest for truth and fostering wisdom and critical thinking continues to burn.

December 7th (16 Azar) symbolizes the plight of students such as Ghandchi, Shariat Razavi and Bozorgnia, who were killed by the Shah’s forces in 1953. It is a day in which various generations of the student movement come together to defend the autonomy of the universities and foster democracy, freedom, human rights and justice.The student movement, proud of its seven decades of continuous and tireless efforts to promote our nation’s traditions and enlightening our lives, now finds itself facing so many restrictions. Today, students are even denied the basic right to organize and celebrate a day named after those who will be instrumental in building the future of our nation.

In recent years we have witnessed a daily increase in pressure by the government against peaceful, civil activities within the universities. Students are either arrested on baseless accusations or deprived of an education and suspended from school. The authorities fabricate scenarios as a means to distort the legitimate activities of students and falsely charge them with activities such as involvement in a soft revolution, relationships with so called seditious groups, or connections to foreign forces, depriving them of academic freedom and their fundamental civil rights.

As members of Iranian student associations abroad, it is our duty to echo the voices of the oppressed students in Iran who have been silenced in their quest for justice using the international arena to organize wide spread activities on December 7th, 2010 to commemorate Student Day, defending and highlighting the demands of the student movement in Iran.

We strongly believe that the Iranian students abroad, bear the heavy responsibility of utilizing all avenues to mobilize universities abroad and support and compliment the activities of the student movement in Iran. Improved cooperation among Iranian students and universities abroad can greatly enhance the quality and quantity of Iranian student organizations across the globe. This is essential in revitalizing the Iranian student movement outside the country – one that can become a significant cornerstone in the quest for freedom in Iran.

Let us come together in support of the student movement in Iran and transform this year’s Students Day (16 Azar) into a major milestone and turning point in the efforts of Iran’s students in the recent years. To this end, we propose the following focus for a global campaign in support of Students Day in Iran:

1. The unconditional and immediate freedom with dignity of more than seventy imprisoned students.

2. Abolishing disciplinary committees responsible for the temporary and permanent expulsion of students from their right to education.

3. Academic freedom and an end to human and civil rights violations within universities.

4. An end to ideological, governmental intervention in the research and teachings as related to the field of Humanities.

5. Defense of the autonomy of universities.

6. An end to governmental interference in the management of universities.

7. An end to the widespread dismissal and early retirement of independent university professors and their replacement with less qualified henchmen.

8. Nullification of the dissolution of Iran’s University of Medical Sciences.

9. An end to government intervention in the structure and fabric of universities.

10. An end to political, ideological, sexist and religious discrimination in the student admission process.

11. Reflection of the views and philosophy of Iran’s student movement in matters pertinent to the country.

12. Mobilization of Iranian student associations abroad.

13. Supporting international sanctions against state officials who have engaged in the systematic human rights abuses and violations against the Iranian people.

Details regarding the exact time and location for Student Days ceremonies in various cities will be announced at a later date. Individuals and students who wish to support this cause may do so by emailing us at 16azar.ec@gmail.com

Iranian Progressive Youth: Time and location for Students day  in Holland will be announced soon.

You can watch and read more about our Last Year’s  Event for International solidarity with Iranian students’ movement here.
 

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Towards forming an independent and decentralized organization of Iranian youth and students abroad

IranPY reports:

Call for dialogue

Towards forming an independent and decentralized organization of Iranian youth and students abroad

From the 1^st till the 3^rd of October different groups of Iranian students gathered at the Freie Universitat Berlin to discuss issues pertaining to Iran’s democratic movement and its suppression by the Islamic Republic. Participants were from various European countries and the conference also welcomed a number of individuals from outside the Continent. The conference style structure consisted of numerous important panels devoted to various pivotal themes and topics. Panel speakers presented thought provoking papers and engaged in insightful and useful question and answer sessions. Panels were all held in Persian except for a special international panel which was in English and involved non-Iranian student organizations.

The Persian speaking panels, discussions and debates dealt with the following themes:

1. 1. The difficulties of the current situation; requirements and prospects for transition.
2. 2. The necessity to form an independent, decentralized organization of Iranian youth and students abroad.
3. 3. Revisiting activism of youth networks abroad, particularly in the past year (achievements, shortcomings and possibilities for a more widespread self-organization of these networks.
4. 4. A glance at the international experiences regarding the organization of youth and students (with emphasis on experiences of the self-organized international groups).
5. 5. Alternative models for independent, decentralized organization of youth and students abroad (with emphasis on organizing from below: how and why).

 The English speaking panel was moderated by Omid Tofighian and included Sölvi Karlsson, spokesperson for the European Students’ Union, Pedram Shahryar, spokesperson for International ATTAC network, Aura Iustina Pana, spokesperson for National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania (ANOSR) and Pouya Alagheband who shared his experiences of working with Iranian refugees in Turkey in conjunction with various support institutions. The presentations, discussions and debates dealt with the following themes:

1. 1. What value does an international panel discussion have for a conference on human rights and social justice in Iran?
2. 2. The results of contemporary Iranian human rights and social justice activities in contrast to the success of Iranian activities in other fields?
3. 3. The reasons behind the success of non-Iranian activists and how Iranian groups can benefit from them.
4. 4. Creating new approaches to different issues as a result of collaborations.
5. 5. International techniques, methods, structures, strategies.
6. 6. Support for victims of the Iranian regime inside and outside the country.

 The inclusion of an international panel inspired dynamic new angles and possibilities for Iranian activists abroad. It became more obvious that the central issues concerning Iranians were also global concerns. By highlighting particular abuses and problems created by the Iranian government the Iranian youth and student movement can attract international movements and organizations concerned with the same problems on a global scale.

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1. Calling to Commemorate Iranian Students Day »

Our monthly event:  Debate & Discussion, Art & Music

When:

Saturday, Nov 13, 2010
15.30 - 22.30

Where:

Cultural Center Mezrab ( Art Cage )
Domselaerstraat 120
Amsterdam, 1093,
Netherlands

The theme for this evening is:
perspectives of civil society in Iran
Introduction by: Sohrab Razzaghi, professor of political science, human rights activist.
language: Persian

Also the music group “Radif” will perform for us this evening.

15:30 Start
16:00-18:00 Discussion (Be on time! Or you will miss a part of the discussion.)
18.00 to 19.00 Dinner
19:00 Music, song and … (do not forget to bring your musical instruments!

Recommended Literature:
ATTACK ON CIVIL SOCIETY IN IRAN

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5604926,00.html

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5708005,00.html

Confirm your attendance at the Facebook event here

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