Hands Off the People of Iran
Encyclopedia
Hands Off the People of Iran (HOPI) is a leftist anti-war
group led mostly by exiled Iranian
and British socialists
, based in the United Kingdom
. It is opposed to Western military intervention in Iran
, which it considers imperialist
. It also criticises the government of Iran, while advocating radical anti-government secularist groups in that country. The organisation's chair is Iranian exile Yassamine Mather of the Centre for the Study of Socialist Theory and Movements at the University of Glasgow
.
wrote an open letter to the British anti-war movement, calling for genuine solidarity with the Iranian people. By 2007 HOPI was fully established, consisting predominantly of Iranian exiles who campaign for regime change in Iran but are against external military intervention, believing military occupation
to be the worst condition under which liberation can be achieved. HOPI's founding conference was held in December 2007.
At the Founding Conference, a National Steering Committee was established consisting of seventeen members from a range of different political organisations and political traditions. These include members of the Green Party, Labour Representation Committee, Jewish Socialist Group, Permanent Revolution, Centre for the Study of Socialist Theory and Movements at the University of Glasgow
, Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee)
, Workers Left Unity - Iran
, Revolutionary Workers of Iran, Anarchist Federation
(pc) and Women’s Campaign Against All Misogynist Laws in Iran.
An Irish branch of HOPI, chaired by Anne McShane, organised a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Dublin in June 2009.
, was denied affiliation with the Coalition.
; ASLEF, the train drivers' union and Peter Tatchell
,.
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
group led mostly by exiled Iranian
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and British socialists
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is opposed to Western military intervention in Iran
Opposition to military action against Iran
Organised opposition to a possible future military attack against Iran by the United States and/or Israel is known to have started during 2005-2006. Beginning in early 2005, journalists, activists and academics such as Seymour Hersh, Scott Ritter, Joseph Cirincione and Jorge E...
, which it considers imperialist
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
. It also criticises the government of Iran, while advocating radical anti-government secularist groups in that country. The organisation's chair is Iranian exile Yassamine Mather of the Centre for the Study of Socialist Theory and Movements at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Formation
The initiative for Hands Off the People of Iran came from a number of Iranian exile organisations in 2005. On March 16, 2006, Workers Left Unity - IranWorkers Left Unity - Iran
Workers Left Unity – Iran is an Iranian far left political party in exile.The group describes itself as an alliance of:*Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran *Iranian Communist Fedayin League*Socialism and Revolution Tendency...
wrote an open letter to the British anti-war movement, calling for genuine solidarity with the Iranian people. By 2007 HOPI was fully established, consisting predominantly of Iranian exiles who campaign for regime change in Iran but are against external military intervention, believing military occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
to be the worst condition under which liberation can be achieved. HOPI's founding conference was held in December 2007.
At the Founding Conference, a National Steering Committee was established consisting of seventeen members from a range of different political organisations and political traditions. These include members of the Green Party, Labour Representation Committee, Jewish Socialist Group, Permanent Revolution, Centre for the Study of Socialist Theory and Movements at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee)
Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee)
The Communist Party of Great Britain is a political group which publishes the Weekly Worker newspaper. The party favours the creation of a unified "Communist Party of the European Union"...
, Workers Left Unity - Iran
Workers Left Unity - Iran
Workers Left Unity – Iran is an Iranian far left political party in exile.The group describes itself as an alliance of:*Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran *Iranian Communist Fedayin League*Socialism and Revolution Tendency...
, Revolutionary Workers of Iran, Anarchist Federation
Anarchist Federation
Anarchist Federation is the name of several organisations:*Anarchist Federation *Anarchist Federation *Anarchist Federation *Italian Anarchist Federation*Iberian Anarchist Federation...
(pc) and Women’s Campaign Against All Misogynist Laws in Iran.
An Irish branch of HOPI, chaired by Anne McShane, organised a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Dublin in June 2009.
Expulsion from Stop the War Coalition
Shortly before Stop the War Coalition's 2007 AGM, HOPI, alongside another organisation Communist StudentsCommunist Students
Communist Students may refer to two existing organisations:* Communist Students * Communist Students...
, was denied affiliation with the Coalition.
Affiliates and Supporters
Prominent affiliates or supporters of HOPI include the Public and Commercial Services UnionPublic and Commercial Services Union
The Public and Commercial Services Union is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in government departments and other public bodies although some work for private companies.- Membership and organisation :...
; ASLEF, the train drivers' union and Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
,.
See also
- Opposition to military action against IranOpposition to military action against IranOrganised opposition to a possible future military attack against Iran by the United States and/or Israel is known to have started during 2005-2006. Beginning in early 2005, journalists, activists and academics such as Seymour Hersh, Scott Ritter, Joseph Cirincione and Jorge E...
- Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in IranCampaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in IranCampaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran is a group of academics, students and professionals of Iranian and non-Iranian backgrounds formed to oppose sanctions on Iran by the United States.-History:...
External links
- Hopi's website featuring news on the campaign
- HOPI's YouTube channel