Worker-Communist Party of Iran
Encyclopedia
The Worker-communist Party of Iran founded 1991, is a political party that seeks the revolutionary overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the establishment of a 'Socialist Republic' in its place. The party's primary slogans are "Liberty, Equality, Workers' Rule", "Down with the Islamic Republic", "For a Socialist Republic", and "The Basis of Socialism is the Human Being".
WPI owns a 24 hour TV station called New Channel
which is mainly in Persian but also broadcasts some programs in English, Kurdish and Azeri Turkish. The WPI declared New Channel
the first 24 hour communist TV station in the world. The Communist Youth Organization is the youth wing of WPI. The current leader is Hamid Taqvaee; some other important figures are Mostafa Saber, Mina Ahadi
and Maryam Namazie
.
left to form a new party. The main founder and leader of the party was Mansoor Hekmat
, who died in 2002. The founding declaration of the party has four signatures: Mansoor Hekmat
, Koorosh Modarresi, Reza Moghadam and Iraj Azarin. The latter three individuals have since left the party.
During the 4th Congress of Party, Modaressi did not nominate himself for leadership again saying that he would like stand down in favour of Hamid Taqvaee who, as the only candidate, was then appointed automatically.
. Together they formed a new party called the Worker-Communist Party of Iran-Hekmatist. They claim to be closer to the ideas of Mansoor Hekmat, though this is denied by the leadership of the WPI, who declared themselves to be the real followers of Hekmat's ideas.
The conflict between the two parties is still ongoing and the WPI leadership sometimes sarcastically refer to the WPI-H as 'anti-Hekmatist'. In return the WPI-H claim that WPI represents a retreat to the "traditional left" and is a "populist" party.
: International), an eight page Persian publication which is published every Friday. However, the party is also responsible for the following publications:
In March 2006 the WPI started a theoretical journal named Besooye Socialism (in Persian: Toward Socialism). The first issue was published in October 2008.
(LWPI) which was formed in 2004 after the major split in the WPI. It is a sister party to WPI. LWPI Current Leader, Osam Shukri is a member of Central Committee and politburo of WPI.
WPI owns a 24 hour TV station called New Channel
New Channel
New Channel Television is a 24 hour Communist TV station which is opposing Islamic Republic of Iran. It is a de facto organ of Worker-Communist Party of Iran. It claims to be first 24 hour Communist television in the World....
which is mainly in Persian but also broadcasts some programs in English, Kurdish and Azeri Turkish. The WPI declared New Channel
New Channel
New Channel Television is a 24 hour Communist TV station which is opposing Islamic Republic of Iran. It is a de facto organ of Worker-Communist Party of Iran. It claims to be first 24 hour Communist television in the World....
the first 24 hour communist TV station in the world. The Communist Youth Organization is the youth wing of WPI. The current leader is Hamid Taqvaee; some other important figures are Mostafa Saber, Mina Ahadi
Mina Ahadi
Mina Ahadi is an Austrian human rights activist. As an Iranian born Communist political activist she is a current member of the Central Committee and Politburo of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran....
and Maryam Namazie
Maryam Namazie
Maryam Namazie is a human rights activist, commentator and broadcaster. Namazie has served as the executive director of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees. She is spokesperson for the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain. The campaign is opposed to faith based laws...
.
Status
WPI is banned in Iran as are other parties opposed to the Islamic Republic. It nevertheless boasts members in worker, student and other sections of Iranian society. The party maintains a presence in Western countries - having official organizations in Germany, UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, France, Finland, Denmark and Canada. It also has members in the United States, Turkey and Pakistan, to name just some. Using these countries as a base, the WPI works with the Iranian community to further its immediate aims - to isolate the Islamic Republic.Foundation
WPI was formed in 1991 after some members of the Communist Party of IranCommunist Party of Iran
The Communist Party of Iran is an Iranian communist party which is active in the fight against the Islamic Republic of Iran.It was founded in 1983 in Iranian Kurdistan after Komalah merged with Union of Communist Militants...
left to form a new party. The main founder and leader of the party was Mansoor Hekmat
Mansoor Hekmat
Mansoor Hekmat was an Iranian Marxist theorist and leader of the worker-communist movement. He opposed the Shah and, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, led the Worker-Communist Party of Iran , which is opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran...
, who died in 2002. The founding declaration of the party has four signatures: Mansoor Hekmat
Mansoor Hekmat
Mansoor Hekmat was an Iranian Marxist theorist and leader of the worker-communist movement. He opposed the Shah and, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, led the Worker-Communist Party of Iran , which is opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran...
, Koorosh Modarresi, Reza Moghadam and Iraj Azarin. The latter three individuals have since left the party.
Debate on leadership
After the death of Mansoor Hekmat in 2002, there was a debate in the party over whether a new leader should be announced or not. This led to the formation of two factions, one centred on Hamid Taghvayee, who was defending "Collective Leadership"; the other around Koroosh Modaressi who believed that party should choose a leader immediately. The Central Committee subsequently voted for immediate election of a leader. Taqvaee and Modaressi nominated themselves and Koroosh Modaressi was chosen.During the 4th Congress of Party, Modaressi did not nominate himself for leadership again saying that he would like stand down in favour of Hamid Taqvaee who, as the only candidate, was then appointed automatically.
Major split in August 2004
The leadership debates eventually led to the exodus of more than half of the members of Central Commititee and most of the Kurdistan Committee in August 2004. The defectors chose the leadership of Koroosh Modaressi, who was then Chairperson of the Political Bureau. This move was supported by the leadership of the Worker-Communist Party of IraqWorker-Communist Party of Iraq
The Worker-Communist Party of Iraq is a Marxist political party in Iraq and amongst Iraqi exiles. Rebwar Ahmed is the current leader of this party. It was Established in July 1993 through a merger of communist groups....
. Together they formed a new party called the Worker-Communist Party of Iran-Hekmatist. They claim to be closer to the ideas of Mansoor Hekmat, though this is denied by the leadership of the WPI, who declared themselves to be the real followers of Hekmat's ideas.
The conflict between the two parties is still ongoing and the WPI leadership sometimes sarcastically refer to the WPI-H as 'anti-Hekmatist'. In return the WPI-H claim that WPI represents a retreat to the "traditional left" and is a "populist" party.
Publications and papers
The WPI's main newspaper is Anternasional (in PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
: International), an eight page Persian publication which is published every Friday. However, the party is also responsible for the following publications:
- Javanane Komonist (in PersianPersian languagePersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
:Communist Youth), published every Tuesday (in Persian) this is the official paper of the Communist Youth Organisation; - WPI Briefing, an official publication in English. Similar papers are also published in German and Dutch.
- Kargare Kommunist (Communist Worker), which mainly covers workers' issues.
- Workers in Iran, an English newsletter concerning the latest news from the workers' movement in Iran.
- Iskra, a Persian paper published by the WPI Kurdistan Committee.
In March 2006 the WPI started a theoretical journal named Besooye Socialism (in Persian: Toward Socialism). The first issue was published in October 2008.
Participation in allied groups and campaigns
Since the establishment of the party, WPI members and cadres have created and joined many organisations and campaigns on different issues. Such organisations are usually very close to the party. These are as follows:- The Communist Youth Organisation.
- The International Federation of Iranian Refugees, known as Hambastegi (solidarity) is a vast organisation that was formed before the establishment of WPI but today is close to party. IFIR is struggling for refugees' rights, especially those who come from Iran. IFIR has a weekly paper in Persian named Hambastegi Haftegi (Weekly Solidarity) and a monthly paper (also in Persian) named Hambastegi Mahane (Monthly Solidarity).
- Children First NowChildren First NowChildren first, is an international organization that is active for, and in defense of children rights.Children First has origins and activities linked to Iran, but as an organization which has some of its principles in opposition to the principles of The Islamic Republic Of Iran, it does not have...
emerged from Children First (which was formed by Mansoor Hekmat and Soraya Shahabi) and is a campaign for children's rights in Iran. It publishes a Persian paper called Koodakan Moqadamand (Children are Precedent).
- The Marx Society of London was formed By Mansoor Hekmat and Koroosh Modarresi after a long series of debates following the major split in the WPI in August 2004. It is working closely with WPI. The Society concentrates on theoretical issues in Marxism. Other Marx Societies (also close to WPI) have been formed in other countries, such as Canada.
- Anjomane Zede din (Anti-Religion Society) is a secularist group formed in August 2005. it is very close to WPI and has its own paper, called in Persian, Sekolar.
Sister parties
Leftist Worker-Communist Party of IraqLeftist Worker-Communist Party of Iraq
The Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq is a small political party in Iraq, formed in 2004.The party was formed by a group of communists, some of whom were members in the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq soon after the WCPIraq decided to support the Worker-Communist Party of Iran - Hekmatist; the...
(LWPI) which was formed in 2004 after the major split in the WPI. It is a sister party to WPI. LWPI Current Leader, Osam Shukri is a member of Central Committee and politburo of WPI.