If you support this open letter, reply to office@hopoi.info, stating your name, place of residence and any political positions you might hold. Please pass this on as widely as possible.
"We, the undersigned, urge the officers of the Stop the War
Coalition to reconsider their decision to reject the affiliation of
Hands Off the People of Iran and Communists Students (one of Hopi’s
affiliated organisations). Failing this, the decision of this
sub-committee should be overturned by the next meeting of the Steering
Group or at the next AGM on October 27.
Both organisations were told in identical emails by StWC chair Andrew
Murray that their aims and campaigning priorities are "entirely hostile
to the Coalition" (October 12). We believe this is very wrong.
Hopi’s founding statement has two core elements. First, total and
unconditional opposition to any imperialist military attack on Iran or
sanctions.
Second, Hopi insists that at the same time we must be critical of the
reactionary Ahmadinejad regime. It actively supports the struggles of
the women’s, democratic and workers’ movements against their regime, is
in daily contact with Iranian activists and organises fundraising
events for workers in Iran, many of whom go without wages for many
weeks.
Hopi is totally opposed to Bush-style regime change - and positively
campaigns for democracy from below. If this makes us a ‘hostile’
organisation in the eyes of some StWC officials, then the Stop the War
Coalition must re-assess its campaigning priorities."
”As long-standing supporters and affiliates of the Stop the War Coalition we are concerned to see reports that Hands off the People of Iran (HOPI) has been denied the right to affiliate.
Although we are not connected with Hands off the People of Iran, we can see nothing in its stated aims, of opposing any attack on Iran while remaining in opposition to that country's Islamicist regime, which is any way incompatible with membership in the Stop the War Coalition. We are not alone in this, as evidenced by the well-known anti-war campaigners who are listed among supporters of Hands off the People of Iran, as well as the Iranian refugee groups who are affiliated and have loyally taken part in Stop the War marches with the rest of us.
We therefore fail to understand how STWC chair Andrew Murray can tell HOPI supporters that their aims are "entirely hostile" to those of the Coalition, nor do we see what right he has to reject them for membership.
Up till now, the Stop the War Coalition has thrived as a broad alliance of many different groups who, whatever their other differences, are united in opposition to the war and occupation in Iraq. We have rejected the slander from supporters of the war that being opposed to British and US invasion meant we must be supporters of Saddam Hussein' s dictatorship. Why then accept the equally false notion that one must be either for war on Iran or in support of its government and president? We doubt whether most Stop the War supporters would do so.
At a time when the neo-cons in Washington and their allies in Britain and Israel are beating the drums for war, this exclusion risks dividing and weakening the anti-war movement, as well as opening it to false smears from opponents.
We therefore urge the Stop the War Coalition executive to rescind this decision, and to acknowledge that the exclusion of Hands off the People of Iran was a mistake, for which the STWC should apologise to them and to the Coalition' s supporters in general..
Charles Pottins on behalf of the national committee of the Jewish Socialists' Group
“As a long-standing supporter of STWC, present on almost all the London marches against war in Afghanistan and Iraq, I urge the officers of the Stop the War Coalition to reverse their decision to reject the affiliation of Hands Off the People of Iran (Hopi) and Communists Students (one of Hopi’s affiliated organisations) . Failing this, the decision should be overturned by the next meeting of the Steering Group or at the next AGM on October 27.”
Tim Oxton, Colchester
“I was dismayed to receive an e-mail stating that HOPI's application to affiliate to the Coalition has been rejected, apparently on political grounds.
I always understood that the three central planks of the STWC's campaign were (1) opposing war, (2) opposing racism and (3) defending civil liberties and free speech. Whatever disagreements one might have with HOPI's political programme, it seems to me that they clearly support all three of these aims and as such should be allowed to affiliate.
It defeats the whole purpose of a broad-based anti-war campaign if the Coalition starts rejecting genuine anti-war organisations because they are not politically "pure" enough, particularly when the organisations in question are based in the country currently under greatest threat of military attack by Bush and co.
Human life is too precious for us to indulge in such sectarian squabbles. I urge you to reconsider your decision.
Dr. Sue Blackwell, NEC University and College Lecturer’s Union
“I am very concerned about your decision to refuse HOPI membership to the coalition. It seems to me that this decision is one that can only weaken the coalition. In my opinion, the more organisations involved in the movement, the more noise we can make, and the more influence we can have!
I do not believe that excluding certain groups can have any positive effect, and I do not see any reasons why HOPI would have a negative impact on conference or future actions of StWC. Maybe you could enlighten me?”
Lewis Coyne, Liverpool School Students Against War
May I inquire into the reasoning behind excluding Communist Students and the Hands off the People of Iran from the Stop the War Coalition? It just seems a bit nonsensical to exclude certain groups from the movement, as the most overriding issue should surely be to get as broad a base of support as possible? Shunning certain groups from the movement will do nothing to build confidence or cohesion in the Coalition, and therefore can only be seen as a self-defeating measure in the eyes of the casual observer. Thanking you in anticipation of your reply.”
Russell Smith, Student Union Representative, Elmwood College, Scotland
“I am both surprised and saddened by the decision to reject the affiliation of both Hands of People of Iran and Communist Students. The statement in your letter of October 12th that these organisations are "entirely hostile to the Coalition" is not supported by the evidence. As far as I’m aware, both agree with the main reason for which the StWC was formed, viz. opposition to the war in Iraq and the continuing occupation.
The fact that their view of the Iranian regime is different from that of some component groups of the StWC, i.e. the Socialist Workers Party and the Communist Party of Britain is entirely irrelevant. As its name suggests, the Stop the War Coalition is just that – a coalition. As long as groups or individuals support the main reason for which the StWC was set up, disagreements on other matters are irrelevant.
Unless this decision is quickly revoked, then the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the StWC has become the property of particular political groupings who are seeking to narrow its base and membership.”
Tony Greenstein, Brighton & Hove UNISON Unitary Branch/Brighton & Hove District Trades Union Council, Secretary B&HUWC
“I was very much perturbed upon hearing the news that Communist Students and Hands Off The People of Iran are to be denied a formal role within the Stop The War Coalition. The reasons for coming to such a decision bear no weight whatsoever, and I fail to see how you can excuse yourselves for such behaviour.
You have claimed to have carried out a "study" of HOPI material and have thus decided that the campaign is "entirely hostile to the Coalition". This is truly a remarkable statement, as even a brief scan of the HOPI website will reveal a staunch opposition to imperialist war. It would be helpful if you could perhaps highlight which document is "hostile" to the STWC and explain just what is so threatening about it.
Ultimately I believe this is yet another opportunist measure instigated by certain factions on the left to water down anything they think might be "too scary" for workers in general to stomach. You're repeated brushing over of the authoritarian and very capitalist nature of the regime in Tehran proves this. While it might be easy enough for some to look upon the current balance of power as a contest between large nations (which are bad) and small nations (which are good) Marxists will always take a class based, scientific viewpoint. I suspect it's this very principle that is the real problem for you.”
Dan Read, Portsmouth
“I've read the protest by HOPI against your decision to refuse affiliation. I'm not a member of theirs, but an activist who has taken part in many local actions against the wars on Iraq and Afganistan, and attended national Stop the War demonstrations. I've read their statement and yours, and on the face of it I cannot understand the logic of your position, nor can I find any further information on the STW website.
I imagine that behind this spat is some traditional left sectarianism, possibly on both sides. However I think you have to justify explicitly in what way HOPI is hostile to the SWC, or withdraw your objection, so we can all get on with opposing the US and Britain's imperial ambitions in the Middle East.
Brian Light
“I wholly endorse your letter & feel the actions of the StWC is a failure of leadership at this critical point in time. We need to build, not break-up, any opposition to the impending greater war to the mess we're already involved in.”
A J Silvera, Minehead
”We, the rank and file of the Communist Workers League, strongly protest the exclusion of Hands Off the People of Iran and Communist Students UK from the Stop the War coalition in the UK. This blatant disregard for the original intent and aims of the StW coalition and the underhanded way in which the exclusion took place is outrageous. We strongly urge the members of the officers / steering committee to honor the original decision to INCLUDE these organizations.
The actions of the apparent majority on the committee indicate a desire to exclude on a strictly political basis. Answers to why the named organizations were included for so long and then excluded at the last minute remain unanswered. That is unacceptable.
We strongly denounce the exclusions, we support HOPI and the CS and we are urge all comrades, in or out of our organization, to stand up and express their outrage as well.”
Devlin for The Communist Workers League
”The organization Hands Of the People of Iraq has alerted me to your rejection of their request for affiliation with the Stop the War Coalition. For the same reasons as they have stated in their open letter (http://www.hopoi.org/petition.html), I do not understand the motivation behind this rejection. Surely their political motivation may not be shared by all of the Stop the War Coalition members, but I do not see why this is a problem. As long as the very general aims of the STWC are met, does it really matter how they see further development of the political situation in Iran? And does STW actually agree with the situation as it is now? I certainly don’t and I have seen myself as an STW member for quite some time now. I hope the Coalition can publish a more detailed motivation for their decision to reject the HOPI affiliation to easy my current confusion or even better, repeal it.”
Dr Fleur Visser, Worcester
“I would like to express my support of Hopi Eire in regards to its stance in opposing the current Iranian regime. In my opinion it would be paradoxical to oppose a US military attack without clearly stating that this opposition does not by default support the barbaric regime in place there.”
Maryjane O'Leary, Cork
“I would wish to support the open letter urging the officers of the Stop the War Coalition to reconsider their decision to reject the affiliation of Hands Off the People of Iran and Communists Students. Failing this, the decision of this sub-committee should be overturned by the next meeting of the Steering Group or at the next AGM on October 27.”
Dave Church, Walsall, Democratic Labour Party
“I have recently been forwarded the open letter from HOPOI with regard to the rejection of their affiliation. I would be interested to get a response direct from someone at Stop the War Coalition as to the reasons for this rejection. I understand that the two main elements of the Hands of the People of Iran campaign are firstly total and unconditional opposition to any imperialist military attack on Iran or sanctions and secondly a belief that at the same time we must be critical of the reactionary Ahmadinejad regime. I am told that HOPOI actively supports the struggles of the women’s, democratic and workers’ movements against their regime, is in daily contact with Iranian activists and organises fundraising events for workers in Iran, many of whom go without wages for many weeks.
I believe these are good aims and that calls for a non-critical stance on the Iranian regime is to side-line the human rights of the people of Iran in the name of anti-imperialism.
As I have said this is what I have heard from other sources, I look forward to hearing the actual position taken by Stop the War Coalition on this issue.
Debbie Payne, Norwich