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Western Feminism’s Silence on Gaza

“Consider the outcry from UK feminists over the tragic case of Iran’s Mahsa Amini, who was punished for her ‘improper’ hijab, leading to her death.  Like many, I was incensed by the injustice she faced. The global reaction to Amini’s ordeal sparked a significant feminist movement, with solidarity in the UK, as   activists staged  dramatic hair-cutting protests in the heart of London.  Yet, the dire situation facing Palestinian women and children in Gaza has not benefitted from similarly loud and passionate advocacy. It’s as though feminist ire and power selectively rears its head for issues that fit a decidedly western narrative of liberation – leaving others, such as those in Palestine, in the shadows. Draped in the lofty notion of ‘liberation’, it often imposes western values on women around the globe, leaving chaos in its wake.”

US Wants Saudi Arabia and Israel to Get Cosy

Abraham Accords “were less peace deals than just straightforward trades. In some cases, they were ransoms: unelected Arab leaders would recognize Israel, a state they no longer had any ideological stake in opposing, in return for a significant diplomatic concession. Morocco would enter the accords in return for the United States recognizing their  occupation  of Western Sahara. Sudan would sign their name to the deal in  return  for the United States removing them from the state sponsors of terrorism list. Saudi Arabia, the geopolitical kingmaker of the Gulf Arab states, is gunning for the biggest payout of them all .”

Protest and Workers Struggle in Iran

“At its peak, the uprising attracted global media coverage, which tended to reduce it to a liberal feminist struggle for legal rights already enjoyed by middle-class white women in the Western world.” “ Over 90 percent of national industries have been sold to the private sector…” “80 percent of workers’ employment contracts have become temporary.” According to the  the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA)  report of 2022 , 95 percent of workers in Iran are on fixed-term contracts. “At this point, state intervention is limited to repression aimed at protecting the interests of the capitalists closely tied to the regime.” “Iran ranks 102 in the world in workers’ safety.” The reason Workers at Crouse manufacturer of car parts are on “extremely low wages lies in the fact that women make up 70 percent of the company’s labor force.  They must work on their feet for 10 hours per day, and the use of cell phones is prohibited..” Protest and labour struggle Related Protesting Clerical Welfarism in I

Iran: The Grand Ayatollah Upsetting the Establishment

One of the striking aspects of Boroujerdi's vision is his focus on the history of Iran before Islam, which is counter to the administration and those clerics close to it, who attempt to ignore ancient Persian civilisation. Boroujerdi highlights the significance of the Cyrus cylinder, a sixth century BCE document recognised by the United Nations, which notes that the texts "indicate that everyone is entitled to freedom and choice and that all individuals should respect one another". "I praise the Cyrus cylinder, while some people believe that [there is nothing valuable before Islam]. This is not right," Boroujerdi has said. Cyrus II of Persia  (c. 600-530 BCE), commonly known as Cyrus the Great, founded the Achaemenid Empire, the First Persian Empire. Excavated at Babylon in 1879, the cylinder was inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform on Cyrus's orders. It promotes human rights, tolerance, courage and the respect of minorities. Boroujerdi also defends the Mahsa

Unrest and Repetition

“From the point of view of the regime, it may well be that riots are welcome , for they guarantee  renormalisation , they permit social ‘bantustans’ to remain such, and they deflate discontents that could otherwise be perilous. Naturally, for them to perform this stabilizing function they must be subject to outward condemnation: vandalism should be denounced, violence should spark indignation, looting should cause disgust. Such reactions justify the ruthlessness of the repression, which becomes the only means to beat back the tide of barbarism. It is under these conditions that riots serve to ossify social hierarchy.” “A social system is not only characterised by its internal structure, but also by the reactions it provokes: a system founded on commandments can, in certain moments, imply reciprocal duties of aid carried out honestly, as it can also lead to brutal outbursts of hostility. To the eyes of the historian, who must merely note and explain the relationships between phenomena,

Counter-Revolution in the 21st Century

Let’s not forget that state and social movements relation are governed by the political economy of a given period and how confident – and far – could the state go in repression and beyond the daily oppression. We should also differentiate between security states where regimes use all necessary means to survive and the advanced capitalist states where maintaining the status quo means rotation of governments, which have significant resources at their disposal, powerful media and interest groups that marginalise and vilify dissent. That also apply globally where international capital, international institutions and organisations and states work together to support or divert and co-opt this or that social movement when it suits their interests.  ‘ How elites are crushing dissent ’ in Britain or France should be read differently from how regimes in Egypt, Iran or Russia exercise repression. After all, the title of the article does not apply to Britain, Germany, or even to France, where ther

A New Iran Has Been Born

“My wish, perhaps like the wishes of millions of Iranians, is to see that these neglected demands of the diverse social groups and classes in this country are fulfilled, with the least cost to human lives and their material infrastructure and without any interference of foreign powers.” An interview with Asef Bayat

Sunak: Another Representative of British Imperialism

During a Conservative Friends of Israel event in August, Sunak said there was a  “very strong case”  for the UK moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and recognise the latter as Israel’s capital.  Sunak  opposed  the labelling of Israel as an apartheid state. “Like any nation, Israel is not perfect - but it is a vibrant multi-ethnic democracy with a free press and the rule of law. It stands as a shining beacon of hope in a region of autocracies and religious extremists.” “He would want to see maximum sanctions put on to see whether Iran could be persuaded or forced into a wider agreement that goes beyond just the nuclear programme," Fox said. He  announced plans  to treat those who “vilify Britain” as extremists to be referred to the controversial counter-terrorism programme.  **** And as usual, most Brits will be complicit in the British regime’s criminal actions. And more than usual, they will be busy with their immediate meeds, the cost of living, etc. turning a blind