10-23-06, 9:03 am

The threat of war and conflict is dominating life in the Middle East. The US, the EU and their NATO allies use war and military coercion as their main tools to subjugate their opponents.

The disagreements between the US administration and the Iranian regime over Iran’s nuclear industry have masked a sharp deterioration in the situation of political freedoms and human rights in Iran.

We have noticed that in recent months as the tone of the US language towards Iran has become more hostile, the violations of human rights have intensified. The Trade union movement has been attacked and a number of independent publications have been closed down, the student movement has been attacked and coerced, and leading intellectuals and personalities have been arrested.

We the under-signed parties and organisations condemn the US threats against Iran and declare our opposition to any interference in the internal affairs of Iran. We believe that the disputes between the two countries should be resolved diplomatically and on the basis of the UN Charter.

We call on the Iranian regime to respect the human and democratic rights of its citizens and abide by the UN conventions on human rights and its obligations under international treaties. We call for the release of all political prisoners.

We condemn the threat of war and declare our support for all efforts to promote peace and genuine disarmament in the Middle East.

Signed by:

Party of Democracy and Socialism- Algeria Communist Party of Austria Democratic Progressive Tribune - Bahrain National Liberation Front- Bahrain Communist Party of Bangladesh Communist Party of Belgium Workers Party of Belgium Communist Party of Canada Communist Party of Catalonia Communist Party of Chile Communist Party of Columbia AKEL- Cyprus Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia- Czech Republic Communist Party in Denmark Communist Party of France Communist Party of Finland Communist Party of Germany Communist Party of Greece Synaspismos - Greece Communist Party of Ireland Party of Communists of Italy Communist Party of India Tudeh Party of Iran Communist Party of Iraq Communist Party of Israel Communist Party of Luxemburg Party of Communists of Mexico New Communist Party of Netherland Communist Party of Norway Young Communist League of Norway Communist Party of Poland Portuguese Communist Party Party of Independence and Labour- Senegal Communist Party of Spain Communist Party of Peoples’ of Spain Communist Party of Sudan Communist Party of Sweden Communist Party of Syria Attajdid Movement- Tunisia Communist Party of Turkey Communist Party USA