In Sympathy and Solidarity with People of Palestine
The loss of Yaser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization
and of the Palestine Authority is catastrophic for all the supporters
of freedom and equality in the Middle East and the world. For
half a century he led the struggle of the people for revival of
their national identity, for emancipation from occupation and
Zionist colonization, and for establishing a democratic and secular
Palestinian state. His life was intertwined with the enormous
suffering of his people. In spite of outstanding power inequality
and daily all-encompassing attacks by Israel, the United States
and other powers, he did not fear the hardships and always stood
strong on the essential rights of the Palestinian people to achieve
national independence.
We are speaking as Iranian exiles who suffered the oppression
of the Shah and the Islamic Republic regimes. We witnessed both
regimes, each in its own method, collaborating with the opressors
of the Palestinians. Both regimes tried hard to prevent Palestinians
from achieving a real freedom. In this hard situation we stand
by the struggle of the Palestinian people and we believe that
peace in Palestine is only possible if Palestinians have full
right to defy occupation and to achieve self-determination.
The movement for liberation of Palestine has now gained international
dimensions. It is a struggle that has the respect of all activists
who support justice. The struggle of the Palestinian people is
indeed our struggle. In these sensitive historical moments we
consider ourselves Palestinians. Today, we share in their sadness
and mourning; we share in their worries for their future. We hope
that the magnificent struggle of the people and the support of
the world will force the government of Israel to withdraw from
the occupied territories and to respect international treaties.
Peace will be established based on the free and equal votes of
people in this region.
November 17, 2004
Please contact: palestine2004iran@yahoo.com
Signatures: More than 230 signatures
