Solidarity with Protests; Dictators Must Go, Human Rights Must Be Respected

Concurrent with the continuation of popular protests in many countries, a group of young political activists in Berlin held a protest rally calling for the release of political prisoners, an end to oppression and dictatorship, the elimination of discrimination, and the establishment of justice around the world.

The rally, declared as “Solidarity with Demonstrators Across the Middle East and North Africa,” took place this evening on December 7 (December 16 in the Persian calendar) at Hermann Platz, one of Berlin’s central squares, at the invitation of a group of “international political activists” and with the attendance of numerous activists and political and social leaders.

The rally participants, carrying placards in Persian, Arabic, Turkish, English, German, Spanish, and Chinese, pointed out that the demonstrations of people from the Middle East to North Africa, Latin America, and Hong Kong have transcended the national borders of these countries, and called for an end to “people’s oppression, corruption, sectarianism, authoritarianism, and occupation.”

The rally participants also condemned state violence against people in these regions of the world and announced that they are united and collectively opposed to any form of political oppression, disrespect for human rights, and the erosion of civil liberties.

At this solidarity rally, the memory and tribute were also paid to all those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and human dignity.

The rally participants were from Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Kurdistan, Jordan, Sudan, and Algeria. Among the gathered crowd, many young Germans, French, and Latin Americans were also present, and they all chanted these slogans in different languages: “Shoulder to shoulder, against racism,” “Bread, freedom, and social justice,” “Political prisoners must be freed,” “From Algeria to Syria, against dictatorship,” “Bread, peace, freedom,” “All means all,” “Forced labor, unemployment, forced hijab,” “Anti-woman government, down down,” “Let us build a better world with our sisters,” and “Death to the Islamic Republic.”

In different sections of this rally, which had a “transnational” approach with the presence of young people and political activists from various countries, some youth spoke as “the voice of protest” of their compatriots about the state oppression of people, the arrest and killing of youth.

The continuation of the struggle against non-democratic governments, an end to oppression and street violence, unity and solidarity to combat poverty and economic injustice, recognition of human rights and women’s rights, as well as efforts for a better life in the shadow of security and freedom of expression were among the most important demands of the rally participants in Berlin today.

Continued Violence Against the Iranian People

Along with young political activists and civil activists from various countries, many Iranians also attended this rally. Some had also come to the Berlin rally from other German cities.

Ghasem Poladyan, a resident of Hanover, told Deutsche Welle about the importance of this rally and the declaration of solidarity with protesters in different countries, saying that the Iranian people have lost their patience and have very strong motivations for peaceful struggle.

He added that unfortunately the regime does not tolerate even peaceful protests and any rights advocacy, and has resorted to “massacre.”

Bahram, a student who was forced to leave Iran after being “blacklisted,” said that unfortunately the Islamic government in Iran has “blacklisted” the Iranian people in various ways and “prosecutes” everyone who protests in any form. He added that the rulers of the Islamic Republic know no way other than “violence,” and the result has been that people are forced to choose the path of “fighting fire with fire.”

Hamid Nozari, head of the Political Refugee Center in Berlin, also told Deutsche Welle that today’s solidarity rally, which is an initiative by young political activists from various countries, is against dictatorship and discrimination in all countries that oppose the legitimate aspirations of their people.

Source: DW