The Fire Next Time

Makhmour Refugee Camp: A Sanctuary amidst Conflict

In distressing news, the Makhmour Camp, which has been frequently targeted by Turkish airstrikes, is now facing a siege by the Iraqi army. On May 20th, special army units accompanied by armored vehicles attempted to encircle the camp with wire fences and establish towers in strategic locations. However, the residents of the camp strongly opposed these measures, leading to clashes with the army. One person was injured as a result of the army’s attacks, further fueling the determination of the camp residents, who are now in their first week of resistance.

Obstruction and Repression: Greek Law Forces Mare Liberum’s Dissolution

In a somber announcement, the human rights monitoring group Mare Liberum has announced its withdrawal from Lesvos island, the end of its operations, and the dissolution of the association. The decision came after five years of operation in the Aegean, during which the group faced multiple forms of sabotage, obstruction, and repression.

Ankara’s “Hospitality” Strategy: Syrian Refugees in Turkey

As the upcoming presidential election draws near, political parties are making a variety of promises on how to handle the refugee crisis. Unfortunately, one of the topics dominating election news is the potential deportation of refugees back to their home countries in order to stem the flow of movement across borders.

Iran’s new Labor Legislation: not Exploitation but Slavery

Alarming reports have emerged, revealing troubling provisions within Article 15 of the bill, whereby employers are granted the authority to remunerate newly employed individuals with wages amounting to a mere fifty percent of the minimum wage sanctioned by the Supreme Labor Council during the initial three years of employment.

May 24, 2023May 26, 2023

Strike Under Repression: Iranian Oil Industry Project Workers’ Challenges

Project workers in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry face a unique set of challenges when it comes to organizing and mobilizing for better working conditions. These temporary contract workers, often lack the stability and support of permanent employees, making them vulnerable to financial and political pressure. Workers experience different forms of organization that are often innovative and may even have the chance to be tried once. However, project workers have developed innovative ways to withstand these challenges.

May 9, 2023May 9, 2023

Iran: 76 Children Killed and 272 Tortured in Brutal Crackdown on Protests

The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) has released a damning report on the alarming increase in cases of abduction, torture, and killing of children by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran. The report highlights the worsening situation since September 2022, following the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini while in government custody.

May 2, 2023May 4, 2023

Taliban, IRI: Two Approaches on Women’s Education Rights

Iranian parliament members suggest that if the Taliban continues to restrict women’s education, Iran’s universities can assist them. However, they also suggest that the availability of education should be balanced with existing resources and conditions, and private universities could be a viable option for women’s education. In Iran, the government has been promoting the privatization of education for years. While Taliban deny education to women in Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran may permit them to receive study visas and attend private schools and colleges, as long as they can afford it.

April 16, 2023April 16, 2023

Refugee Camps in Greece: From Asylum to Imprisonment

The brutal reality of refugee camps in Greece has been exposed by the EODY workers’ union, who have issued a damning statement about the conditions faced by asylum seekers. According to the union, the government is turning Reception and Identification Centers into real prisons, complete with double NATO-style military fencing, card and fingerprint entry gates, and surveillance systems. Asylum seekers are being forced to live in these structures, with their freedom severely restricted, even though they have committed no crime.

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023

The Intersection of Industrial Power and Immigration Policy

In recent years, Greece has seen a reconfiguration of its migrant concentration camps, with new camps being erected on islands and existing camps being converted into “closed controlled centers” surrounded by walls. These military-style camps are part of a broader racist-colonial system operating within Greece and throughout Europe.

April 2, 2023April 2, 2023

Gender Apartheid in Iran:
New Bills Against Women

The head of the Judicial Commission of the Islamic Council of Iran has announced an alarming development: non-compliance with the hijab will soon result in an SMS warning, followed by fines and the blocking of the offender’s national ID card, rendering them unable to access social services until the imposed fine is paid. This plan is being unveiled at a time when reports from Iran indicate that many women have been emboldened to shed the mandatory hijab, particularly following widespread protests.

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023

Iran: Fighting for Higher Wages

Amidst the turmoil of Iran’s economic crisis, the government’s recent move to raise the minimum wage has been met with skepticism by independent labor organizations. As the poverty line in the country reaches nearly 8 million tomans (fluctuating between 150 and 155 euros) per month, and the poverty index surpasses 50%, the minimum wage has been increased to just a little over 5 million tomans (between 100 and 105 euros) per month.

March 23, 2023March 25, 2023

Urban Rage: When Injustice Reigns

More than half of humanity now resides in cities. By 2050, this number is expected to double, creating an unprecedented level of urban growth. Will these cities be places of justice and equality, where prosperity and quality of life are available to all? Or will the urban future be one in which cities benefit the global 1 percent at the expense of the many, where growth and opportunity are coupled with exclusion and repression? The rising level of urban unrest worldwide may be a sign of the direction in which cities are moving.

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023

From Hope to Despair: The Failure of the EU-Turkey Statement

In 2016, the European Union (EU) and Turkey reached a deal known as the EU-Turkey Statement, aimed at managing the large influx of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe from conflict zones in the Middle East and North Africa. Under the agreement, Turkey agreed to take back all refugees and migrants who arrived in Greece illegally, while the EU pledged to provide Turkey with financial assistance and visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.

March 19, 2023April 11, 2023

Greece’s New Immigration Bill: Facilitating Entry, Ignoring Rights

The new Immigration bill. What a fascinating piece of work. It’s like watching a magician perform a sleight-of-hand trick, distracting us with one hand while the other is doing something entirely different. In this case, the government is proposing to overhaul the legal framework governing immigration in Greece, while simultaneously erecting insurmountable barriers to the protection of the rights of immigrants who have been living in the country for years.

March 16, 2023May 23, 2023

Iranian Feminist Network on the Jina Revolution and Beyond

A global network of feminist collectives and activists, known as “Feminists for Jina,” is amplifying the voice of the ongoing “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” Revolution in Iran and working to strengthen its transnational elements. The group comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, united in their goal to fight for equality and freedom.

March 10, 2023March 10, 2023

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