Reza Shahabi’s Message on the Occasion of the Iranian New Year (Norouz) 1393

Published on March 19, 2014 by the Committee to Defend Reza Shahabi

The year 1392 (1) ends while workers’ families continue to suffer through hard times due to searing inflation in excess of 40 percent, uncontrollably rising prices, and lack of appropriate programs to improve the economic and social situation.

At the end of the year, I do not wish to talk about the difficulties, harshness and disappointments that have been published in both visual and written media, and which I too have mentioned in my previous writings.

What I do want to say is that if we workers do not come together and form our independent workers’ organizations to spread awareness among our class, we won’t be fit to fight the capitalist system; however, unity and solidarity will open bright horizons in front of us.

In the past few years, the working class has struggled, shoulder to shoulder, to achieve freedom, democracy and social justice, as well as a dignified life. And it has paid dearly, the price extracted from us through imprisonment, torture and expulsion, among other means. Now we – workers, teachers, women, students, and freedom-loving people – we need to unite to attain our final objectives, which are justice, freedom and equality. With slogans like “Where is my independent organization?” “Where is my bread?” “Where is my work?” and “Where is my dwelling?” [we need to] struggle together with unity and solidarity.

While wishing a happy new year to all labouring workers, my colleagues in the Vahed Company, labour activists, and all honourable and freedom-loving people, I, as a worker and as the Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the Vahed Syndicate, who have been incarcerated for four consecutive years, also ask all of them to unite to bring an end to all manifestations of the tyrannies and oppressions perpetrated by the capitalist system against workers and laboring people.

Reza Shahabi Zakariya
Worker of the Vahed Bus Company and Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the Vahed Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company
Imam Khomeini Hospital
18 March 2014

(1) The Persian calendar’s year 1392 corresponds to March 2013-March 2014 in the Gregorian calendar.

Translation from Farsi to English by Mission Free Iran