Source > International Viewpoint
“Woman, Life, Freedom.” This slogan is the banner of the uprising. Of Kurdish origin, it links up with the cultural and political demands of national minorities oppressed by the central government. It also makes the connection with all the feminist struggles of recent decades. When the oppressed raise their heads, all the marginalized and exploited components of society move forward. Women are supported by men who also aspire to freedom and equality. This slogan has real revolutionary potential. It expresses a radical rejection of theocratic dictatorship and patriarchy. By chanting “Death to the dictator, whether the guide or the Shah,” the demonstrators express their desire to put an end to all forms of dictatorship.
Protesters don’t give up
Every day and every night, protesters act in various forms and confront the regime. Women, youth, especially university students and high school students, and workers find modes of organization and contestation adapted to the conditions of repression.
At a time when the country is hit by an unprecedented economic, social, and political crisis, and the corruption of dignitaries is reaching new heights, workers are trying to find ways to strike and generalise this. On December 5, 6 and 7, the country experienced particularly well-supported strikes in the universities, among truck drivers (in struggle since November 26), in some petrochemical sectors, in cement and steel factories in Isfahan, and among bus drivers in Mashhad. Many bazaars have been closed.
Fierce repression
The Islamic Republic has lost all legitimacy and has only repression, rape, torture, the death penalty and massacres to maintain itself. In more than 160 cities, large and small, repressive forces are attacking protests. In Kurdistan and Sistan-Balucthistan, a veritable war is being waged against peaceful and determined demonstrators. The Revolutionary Guards do not hesitate to fire on the crowds, use heavy weapons, surround the cities, install a climate of terror and kidnap young protesters.
The toll is heavy: more than 500 dead including 60 teenagers and more than 19,000 arrests. In many cases, families do not know where their loved one is detained or their stage of health. In detention, rape and torture are systematic.
In retaliation for strikes, workers in struggle are dismissed and arrested. They face intense pressure on their families and exorbitant legal costs.
Repression goes a step further
Despite the crackdown, the regime has failed to quell the uprising. To save their power and privileges, its dignitaries have decided to take it to the next level. The judiciary holds “show trials” and sentences detainees to long prison terms. Death sentences are multiplying. Already, two young demonstrators have been hanged, and others will be hanged in the coming days.
The Islamic Republic is accustomed to this: at least 35,000 opponents were executed in 1981–1983 and 4,500 political prisoners in the summer of 1988. At the time, Ebrahim Raisi (the current President of the Republic) was among those responsible for ordering the executions. The bloody machine currently unleashed will only be stopped by a strong and immediate international campaign against the death penalty, as well as by a massive mobilization in Iran, especially that of workers.
Developing solidarity
In particular, we must demand a halt to executions and the release of all political detainees. We must also undertake concrete initiatives to support workers and all those who fight for equality, democracy and social justice.
It is urgent that the radical left, youth organizations, feminist and trade union networks take internationalist initiatives of solidarity with the ongoing uprising.
Translated by International Viewpoint from l’Anticapitaliste la Revue
The Anti*Capitalist Resistance Editorial Board may not always agree with all of the content we repost but feel it is important to give left voices a platform and develop a space for comradely debate and disagreement.
Art Book Review Books Campism Capitalism China Climate Emergency Conservative Government Conservative Party COVID-19 Creeping Fascism Economics EcoSocialism Elections Europe Event Video Far-Right Fascism Film Film Review Fourth International France Gaza History Imperialism Israel Italy Keir Starmer Labour Party Long Read Marxism Marxist Theory Migrants Palestine pandemic Police Protest Russia Solidarity Statement Trade Unionism Trans*Mission Ukraine United States of America War
The UK state is not unitary from the point of taxation. There is significant fiscal devolution – council tax and its equivalent is devolved to all four polities, and property sales taxes devolved in Cymru and Scotland. Scotland has significant influence over income tax rates and bands, but the ability to create new taxes is largely controlled by Westminster though a Tourist tax has been approved. Interestingly, Corporation Tax was devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Tories (largely to encourage it to match the very low rates in the 26 county Republic of Ireland state). However VAT, National Insurance and many other taxes are UK-wide (not just “Britain”) and controlled by Westminster.
The STUC has identified measures https://www.stuc.org.uk/news/news/stuc-launch-tax-proposals-to-save-scotlands-public-services/ under current devolution arrangements that could be used to tax wealth more by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Greens have in the last few days introduced an exemplary measure into the housing bill at Holyrood to remove the exemption on the monarch’s properties being taxed in Scotland (he owns 80), a symbolic gesture but not politically insignificant, and have proposed a new council tax band for mansions. The Scottish Socialist Party has long proposed removing the regressive council tax and replacing it with a redistributive Scottish Service Tax.
This is all in advance of the devolved Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026. Polls tell us voters in Cymru strongly support the extension of the fiscal powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament to Senedd Cymru, as a minimal demand, and also elect a new Senedd on a new PR system in May 2026.
The campaign for a wealth tax will therefore have a totally different character and demands in the different parts of “Britain” (which has not been a fiscal or economic unit for 225 years by the way). There are no Anglo-centric “one size fits all” fiscal solutions, even within the current form of the UK state.