COMMUNIST and workers’ parties have declared solidarity with the Iranian people who are facing brutal repression after taking to the streets against the theocratic government.

As of yesterday, 35 parties had signed up to a joint statement spearheaded by Iran’s Tudeh party.

The communist parties of Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Britain, France and Germany have all signed, as has the Palestinian People’s Party and Cyprus’s Akel.

It says: “Tens of thousands of people in many towns and cities across Iran protested against the policies of the autocratic regime” after cuts to government food and fuel subsidies.

“Those who came out were predominantly young and from poor working-class districts demanding fundamental economic, social and cultural change — jobs, a living wage, dignity, respect and justice,” it says.

At least 22 people were killed in the protests and more than 3,700 arrested. A Tudeh source said yesterday that at least 12 people arrested in the protests “have died in detention without any clear explanation.” 

The statement condemns “the use of repressive measures against civilian protesters” and demands that authorities publish the names of all those detained and release them immediately.

It also demands “an end to the use of all forms of torture” and “the removal of all military and security units from university campuses,” where they were installed to prevent students joining the protests.

The parties backed protesters’ demands for “an end to privatisation, unemployment and corruption — all outcomes of the neoliberal-driven austerity policies of the regime.”

The statement rejects “any foreign intervention whatsoever in the internal affairs of Iran,” stressing: “The future of Iran should be decided by the Iranian people themselves alone.”