Articles 2025
Terrorism or mental disorder? Manipulating the Narratives Mass Shooting in Sweden
Terrorism or mental disorder? Manipulating the Narratives
Mass Shooting in Sweden
Azar Majedi
On Tuesday 4th of February 10 people were killed and several others injured in a mass shooting at an adult education centre in the city of Örebro, Sweden. A significant number of students are immigrants who attend the school to learn Swedish or various professions. The police quickly ruled out what they described as “ideological” motive.
“Officers said he had no links to gangs and is thought to have acted “Without any ideological motive.”
“They also do not believe the attack was motivated by terrorists.”*
Some reports stated that he suffered from mental disorder. The official and broadcast narrative is that he was a loaner with mental health issues, as it’s usually the case with white non-Moslem mass shooters! This is at best ignoring and at worst a deliberate covering up of the real motive behind such murderous attack.
Firstly, there is a video of the attacker chanting: “Leave Europe!” This slogan is enough to call the motive at least racist. Furthermore, you don’t have to be a psychiatrist to understand that anyone who takes a gun and shoots into a crowd, regardless of their proclaimed motivation, must suffer from a mental illness or disorder. The mental illness explanation is a deliberate sidetrack from the real issue. Why would this “psychopath” attack a group of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East who are associated with Islam? The deep-rooted racism and hatred of refugees, Muslims, Arabs, blacks, and Africans is the narrative that has dominated the brain of this psychopath and has been promoted in the society by the ruling class.
Creating division, hatred and hostility in society is a classic and well-known method of the bourgeoisie. In times of crisis, this method becomes more widespread and intense. And this is the situation we are now facing in the world and in the West. The rapid growth of fascism in the West is astonishing. Right-wing and even officially fascist parties are coming to power in Europe. Repression and censorship are rampant. Poverty and deprivation have spread enormously. Governments openly and brazenly speak of the forced migration of hundreds of thousands of refugees to the slave camps they have erected in Africa. The pretence of "humanitarianism" and respect for democracy has been completely abandoned.
It is in these circumstances that we are witnessing the rise of violent attacks on groups of people. This painful and frightening event raises two questions once again: 1- the root of the growth of such events and 2- why are the police, the government and the media treating these crimes differently?
The rise of fascism, the deepening of hatred and hostility
Whenever racist and right-wing propaganda rises, so do blind, hate-based crimes and racist incitement against refugees and immigrants, especially from the Middle East, Africa and Muslim background, has spread rapidly throughout Europe, including Sweden. In recent years, Swedish society has shifted sharply to the right. It joined NATO last year and is considered one of the active forces inciting NATO's war with Russia. The government is currently in the hands of a right-wing-fascist coalition.
Such attacks and crimes happen in a negative and hateful environment. With the aid of media and by creating fear and hatred in society, creating artificial confrontations between different sectors based on race, religion and nationality the ruling class resort to spreading false narratives. Provocative and hostile propaganda against refugees and immigrants and against Muslims has been growing in Sweden and Europe for years. Demonization of Muslim people, especially Muslim men, Africans and Arabs has reached disgusting dimensions.
One way to counter this atmosphere is to question and expose this propaganda. For example, during the racist-fascist riots in England, we witnessed widespread demonstrations against racism and in support of refugees. The project of forcibly sending refugees to Rwanda was initiated and pursued by Britain. However, numerous attempts by the government to implement it were unsuccessful due to large demonstrations and pickets. Now Germany has decided to benefit from the facilities for the detention of refugees in Rwanda. Sensitivity and awareness of this issue are of great importance. One way to counter the rise of fascism is through exposing their lies and objectives and by organising protests and actions. Active defence of human rights of refugees must become an important issue in our struggle against fascism, censorship and state’s suppressive measures. The Western world now treats refugees like slaves. This is a disgrace to humanity. Fascism is investing in this. It must be reversed.
Muslim and non-Muslim attacker
Whenever the aggressor is Muslim or of Muslim descent, it is immediately and without any investigation labelled a terrorist operation and a terrorist attacker. This is what the police say, what the media reports, and what the people describe. If the attacker is black, or the attack happens inside the ghettos where most refugees live, the crime will be describe as “gang” crime. If he is non-Muslim and white, they call it a crime committed by a loaner who suffers from mental disorder. There is no need to go into great detail. Let's just look at a few recent events.
In the latest case (in Sweden) the police declared that the attack was individual and not related to terrorism or gangs. How did the police, who declared that they are still investigating and do not know the reasons and motives, come to such a decisive conclusion so quickly that they have eliminated terrorism and gangs and called the motive purely personal? Let us recall that in recent months there have been two individual attacks on groups of people in Germany. In the first case, a young man from Afghanistan was identified as the perpetrator of the incident. Immediately, everyone from the media to the authorities, including the Iranian left, called this person a terrorist and the operation a terrorist one. No one has yet conducted any investigation into the motives of this person and his connection to an Islamic terrorist group. The cry of Islamic terrorism was unabashedly raised and a call for a war against Islamic terrorism and against Muslims was issued.
A few months later, a similar action was carried out in Germany, this time by an immigrant from Saudi Arabia. The cry of terrorism was not raised, but silenced. Why? This person was a well-known Ex-Muslim and, by his own admission, hated Muslims. In a short time, terrorism was renamed "psychosis" and pages were written about his mental problems and that he was not a true Ex- Muslim.
Every year, there are few hundred mass-shootings in America. (Last year there were 488 cases.) Hundreds of people are killed. They are usually categorised as “Psychosis", "trauma" and “PTSD” related crimes, and soon forgotten by the media and government officials.
If trauma and PTSD are supposed to be the root and reason for so many crimes committed by "white people," which is very likely to be the case, why is a similar action not considered "psychosis" or trauma by an Afghan, Iraqi, Syrian, Libyan, Palestinian, and Sudanese whose entire lives have been imbued with the deepest and the most painful traumas due to the bombs and crimes of the United States, Israel, and NATO? Targeted racism, creating prejudice, and open discrimination against certain people are the answers to this question.
Categorising criminal offenses in this manner is highly discriminatory and biased. When the police, officials or media categorise an attacker who is Moslem as a terrorist, they deprive the offender of any possibility of impartial justice. They issue a verdict before trial by branding the attacker as a terrorist. Moreover, this method intensifies and provokes racist and blind violence by creating a false fear against a section of the population.
The dominant narrative of Islam has blinded the eyes to such an extent that any logic, fairness, impartiality and indiscriminate justice, have been set aside. The word Islam and Muslim immediately sounds the alarm of terrorism in the traumatised brains of anti-Islamists. Over the past thirty years, American imperialism in its war of destruction against Middle East, calling it “The New World Order” has created and promoted a false narrative: “the clash of civilisations”, The West against Islam. By doing so, it has demonised millions of people simply because they believe in a certain religion or belong to a society in which that religion is dominant. Over the past thirty years, a dark and demonic image of these people has been transmitted to the world. It is true that Islamic terrorist groups have committed brutal crimes, but these groups are created by America, Israel and the West. Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Hamas all three emerged from the CIA, Mossad and MI6. The Islamic Republic was imposed on the Iranian people's revolution through a regime change by the West. Just as the former leader of ISIS-Al-Qaeda has now become the President of Syria with a change of decor.
We must try to expose and reject the dominant false and provocative narratives. We are in a dangerous situation. Each of these events, large and small, is a warning of a dark and bleak future; these alarms must be taken seriously. The effort to build a solid barrier against fascism and right-wing reaction that is attacking society from all sides must become a priority for leftist and communist forces, as well as progressive and freedom-loving movements.
*BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgp43j4l92o
8th of March a socialist heritage celebrating freedom and equality
8th of March a socialist heritage celebrating freedom and equality
It is 8th March, the International Women's Day. On this day, we once again emphasize our commitment to eliminating sexual oppression and to continue our fight for liberation and equality. We live in an extremely dire situation, internationally and in the Middle East. In the world we live in, it is of utmost importance to emphasise our egalitarian and liberating horizon and values. it is befitting to voice our humane goals On 8th of March.
This day belongs to the socialist movement. It was the socialist movement that declared the day as the day of freedom and equality of women, and it is due to the relentless socialist struggle that 8th of March has become identified with women’s equality throughout the world. The UnitedHi, Nations chose this day as women’s day, not out of radicalism or dedication to equality and freedom, but rather with the intention of watering it down.
Women's liberation movement in Iran was born at the same time as the Islamic regime; Islamic regime gave birth to its antithesis, its staunchest enemy, i.e. women’s liberation movement. This movement has taken deep roots in society. It has faced ups and downs over the past forty years. At one time, the national Islamic reformist movement became widely active and tried to steal the stage in order to silence the radical left tendency. The left was fighting to completely de-Islamise the laws and the state, to overthrow the Islamic regime and has been fighting for real equality. The demand and slogan "equal blood money for men and women” demanded by national-Islamic reformists was among the masterpieces of this period; Organising religious ceremonies and prayers and kissing the hands of criminal mullahs in the parliament was their activism! Shirin Ebadi was one of their heroes (a friend of the regime at the time she received the Noble peace prize.) We exposed them and pushed for the deepening of radicalism in the women's liberation movement. Our role was effective.
In the next round, these national Islamic women activists went abroad. They toured Western countries and received awards, donations and funds from Western states or foundations. Their position was still the same: "Islam does not contradict women's rights," (Shirin Ebadi’s famous declaration after winning the Noble peace prize in 2003). It did not take long before they gradually replaced their veils with hats and then tousled their hair. (Masih Alinejad is a famous example of this.) Different stunts are used to enable them to keep up with the times! With the rise of the revolutionary movement against the Islamic regime, they changed course from timid defenders of the regime to joining the right wing opposition, the national-fascist movement defending the previous regime.
Women's liberation movement is a solid pillar of the revolutionary movement against the Islamic Republic. The world felt the existence and weight of this movement in street protests, in burning the hijab, and in breaking sexual apartheid. A striking feature of the women's liberation movement in Iran is the large and active presence of men in it.
The balance of power has changed dramatically. Women's liberation movement in Iran succeeded in the de facto overthrowing of hijab. All the regime's efforts to attack women without the hijab and the "hijab and Chastity" bill are a desperate attempt to save face. The Islamic Republic is tangled in a predicament, it has lost the war on hijab and sexual apartheid, but as these two phenomena are its flag and ideological identity, it needs to keep it alive.
On the other hand, the right-wing opposition, who are counting on US regime change to rise to power, are trying to dilute and "hijack" the women's liberation movement. The word "Woman" is being superficially glorified in this scenario. All kinds of “human rights” and Nobel peace prize have been bestowed upon these figures. Their model-like photos are published in Western fashion and political magazines.
In1979 Iranian revolution, US and the West brought Islamists to power in Iran, a regime change imposed on people who had risen against tyranny, inequality and poverty. This time, US and the west intend to change the regime back to the old one. National fascists are the main actors of the regime change scenario and they use the narrative of "women against Islam” in the most superficial and fake way; (Or, even more superficial, woman’s body against Islam!) The West is very “creative”; professionally making up false narratives, refurbishing and customising movements and creating leaders ; just as they once made ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and then with a minor plastic surgery, exchanged their robes and turbans for Yves Saint Laurent suits and were installed into the Syrian government.
We need to be aware and vigilant. We should expose their narrative. This is a trap to abort the revolutionary movement for freedom and equality of the masses of the people, the working class and the women's liberation movement. In the current critical conditions of the region and the world, increased vigilance is needed to put a barrier against this regime-change trap in the struggle for the revolutionary overthrow of the Islamic regime. Socialist ideals, that is, freedom and equality are deep rooted in Iran. These goals must be formulated and expressed loudly. Unity and solidarity must be expanded. Revolutionary organisation must be formed. A huge and decisive battle is ahead of us.
Even if we ignore theory, history has consistently shown that freedom and equality under capitalism are impossible. Leave aside the vast majority of the world under oppression and dictatorship thanks to US imperialism, look at the western world, the cradle of democracy and prosperity. 80 years after the end of a devastating world war that led to horrific genocides in every corner of the world, to holocaust, and the US celebrated its end by dropping atomic bombs on Japan, after promising that it will "Never happen again!", celebrating human rights and democracy; fascism is rapidly on the rise to complete power.
Repression and censorship are rampant; poverty and deprivation have engulfed millions in the "prosperous" West. Western statesmen are beating the drums of war. Thousands have been killed in Palestine; the flames of war have engulfed the region. The Middle East has practically become a ruin, an open mass grave. The cleansing of a nation is proceeding in the most brutal way possible before the eyes of the world. This is capitalism. Capitalism came to power by bleeding society and has continued to exist by enslaving millions of people. This is the nature of capitalism.
Women's liberation movement in Iran must raise the flag of socialism, the flag of real freedom and equality, not a formal or cosmetic one. If the west and their allies have not been able to implement the regime change yet is because of the existence of the socialist aspirations within Iranian society. Let us believe in our strength. Let us rely on our united and organised force. Let us not allow our demands and ideals to be diluted, hijacked or distorted.
8th March is a suitable occasion to consolidate and strengthen our movement; a movement that strives for the freedom and equality of humans from the yoke of slavery and exploitation, injustice and oppression.
Long Live Women’s Liberation!
Long live Freedom, equality and prosperity!
Organisation for Women’s Liberation
5 March 2025
Öcalan's message - Submission or the beginning of the end?
Öcalan's message
Submission or the beginning of the end?
A few weeks ago, the Turkish Foreign Minister threatened to launch a military attack if the PKK (Kurdistan Worker Party) and YPG (The People’s Defence Unit) did not leave Syria. It did not take long before rumors of Öcalan's peace proposal to Turkey and his request to lay down arms and disband the PKK were spread by the PKK leadership on February 25. The party leadership went to meet Öcalan in prison and came out with his message. Öcalan called on the PKK to lay down arms, disband itself and participate in democracy in Turkey. He announced that the era had changed. The era of "real socialism" was over. This must refer to the end of the Cold War!
The end of an era or surrender?
This message provoked protests from a tendency that could perhaps be called left-wing nationalism. By resorting to legal issues, they practically invalidated this message, arguing that a prisoner does not have the freedom to make independent decisions, and bypassed one of the important political issues in the region's geopolitics with legal arguments. In their view, this move means surrender. It means the end of a life and a career. They see their own destruction in this message.
This is not a legal issue. It is political. In the current situation in the region, the PKK leadership has decided or has been forced to abandon the Peshmerga/guerrilla struggle in an attempt to be accepted as an official player in the regional politics and play a role. Öcalan's role is simply giving a seal of approval to this project. That's all. This decision is not Öcalan’s as a sole speaker of PKK. This is the decision of the PKK leadership that Öcalan has announced. In a sense, it should even be said that it is not the decision of the PKK leadership either. The decision has been communicated to them. The United States, together with the powers involved, have reached this decision. The PKK has no autonomous administrative power in Kurdistan, nor does it have decision-making power within its own organisation.
But why is this project necessary? As we have mentioned in numerous previous discussions, the Middle East is undergoing a fundamental change. The old actors are either replaced or appear on the scene in a new guise or, better said, a new decor. Netanyahu with the support of Western politicians and media has been talking about the "new Middle East" for a year and a half now.
The genocide and national cleansing in Gaza and now the West Bank began with this purpose and are ongoing. The beginning of the occupation of Lebanon, the destruction and occupation of Syria, the rule of ISIS/Al-Qaeda in Syria and the threat of war against Iran are part of the new Middle East project. The rise of Saudi Arabia and the sheikhdoms as an important economic and political centre (an example of the new role of the sheikhdoms in the region's geopolitics is the holding of political summits on Syria, Palestine and even Ukraine in Doha and Riyadh, and Bin Salman's displays of power in relation to regional issues) is another development in the region. The transformation of the Islamic movement, changing the appearence of ISIS-Al-Qaeda in Syria, the paralysis of Hezbollah and Hamas and the modernization of Islam in Saudi Arabia and the sheikhdoms are all elements of this new project and the new Middle East. In the new Middle East, the Kurdish question must also be redefined and take on a new form.
The Kurdish question was created after the end of World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire with the participation of Britain and France. Generally, when talking about the Kurdish question, the role of the governments that directly implement national oppression, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, is mentioned, and the role of the creators of this question, Britain and France, is less mentioned. After winning the war and defeating the Ottoman Empire, Britain and France seized the "right" to divide and determine new relations in the Middle East. If you look at the history of colonialism and the role of Britain, for example, the fragmentation of the region according to race, religion, ethnicity and language has occurred in all corners. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are all tragic historical examples. The Palestinain question, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians was also created by Britain. The people identified as Kurds were deliberately divided into four countries.
The Kurdish question or national oppression has emerged in different forms in the four countries of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Here, the intention is not to enter into history. But it is necessary to define the context in which the Kurdish question emerges. Because each of the above countries has different conditions and the position of Kurdish nationalism in it is different.
Iraq
In Iraq, Kurdish language teaching has been legal in schools since 1931. After the bombing of Iraq by United States and its allies, Iraqi Kurdistan was recognized as the Kurdistan Region under the support of the United States in 1992 and enjoyed autonomy. The Kurdish nationalist parties, the Democratic Party belonging to the Barzani family and the Patriotic Union affiliated with the Talibani family, are the rulers of Kurdistan. This autonomy was formalised in 2005, after the overthrow of Saddam’s regime by the United States. The fact that Jalal Talabani was the president of Iraq from 2006 to 2014 is evidence of the changing position of the Kurdish question in geopolitical equations and the manipulation of Kurdish nationalism by the United States. With the establishment of an autonomous government with its own parliament and the teaching of the Kurdish language, national oppression has been eliminated in the “Kurdistan Region”. Numerous oppressions are imposed on the people of Kurdistan, but national oppression is not one of them.
One of the "benefits" of the "Kurdish" government in Iraqi Kurdistan is the complete exposure of the nature of nationalism. The poverty and oppression that have been imposed on the people of Iraqi Kurdistan during these three decades is far greater than during the Baathist rule in Iraq. Honor killings of girls and women under Kurdish nationalism have been more numerous than during the rule of Arab chauvinism. Workers, teachers, and peoples’s protest have been suppressed and are yet another proof. In addition, the theft, looting, and corruption of these parties are nauseating. The two ruling parties in Iraqi Kurdistan have best exposed the reactionary, oppressive, and corrupt nature of nationalism.
Turkey
Perhaps it can be said that the Kurdish issue in Turkey has created the most tension in the region. The guerrilla/Peshmerga war began in the 1980s at the initiative of the PKK. Many people have lost their lives directly or indirectly as a result of this war over the past four decades. The government has intensified its oppressive and repressive actions not only in Kurdistan but also in the entire country under the pretext of this war. The “conflict” between Kurds and Turks and the expansion of repression under the pretext of fighting terrorism have been a winning card for the Turkish government.
The Peshmerga war has long demonstrated its futility. Not only has this war failed to reduce national oppression, but it has also exposed the lives of the people of Kurdistan to much greater restrictions and repression. The celebration of people in Diyarbakır after hearing Öcalan's message is a good sign of this. The end of the armed struggle, which has for years been in a state of stalement, is in the interests of the people of Kurdistan and all of Turkey. If the Turkish government agrees and adheres to the agrement, there will be more political freedom, fewer restrictions, and easier for people to organise politically. In other words the fight against the ruling fascist state becomes more obtainable. The solidarity of the working class of Kurdistan and the whole of Turkey is a necessary condition for pushing back fascism and tyranny in Turkey and improving the lives of the masses of the people.
Some immidiately object: So what about the Kurdish question? It depends on what is meant by the Kurdish question and what is one’s aim. Nationalism wants a share of power. If possible the whole, if not any slice it can get: federalism or autonomy with varying degrees of independence is the answer of nationalism to the national question. And the protest and criticism raised by the "left" nationalism is about the size of the share.
From the point of view of worker-communism, the most humane and democratic way to solve the national question is to present and create conditions in which the people of Kurdistan can express their opinion in a free vote on secession or living together with equal rights. Implementing the opinion of the majority of voters solves the national question and national oppression.
“As a general principle, the worker-communist party stands for people of different national origins to live as free citizens with equal rights within larger national entities. This strengthens workers' ranks in the class struggle. Nevertheless, in cases where a history of national oppression and strife has made coexistence within existing states difficult, the party recognises the right of oppressed nationalities, if they so choose in a direct and free referendum, to secede and form independent states.” (Mansoor Hekmat, A Better World).*
Kurdish nationalism in Turkey has been forced or convinced that it must abandon its desire and aspiration for an independent or autonomous state and take a share in the state power. Negotiations are underway on the feasibility and extent of this partnership. Whatever the outcome of these negotiations, the substantial transformation of Kurdish nationalism and therefore the Kurdish question is inevitable.
The geopolitical conditions of the region have undergone fundamental changes, the role and power of various movements have changed. After the Cold War, America aimed at the defeat and surrender of Arab nationalism and achieved this goal by completely destroying the region. The Islamic movement, which was created by America itself, played a key role in defeating Arab nationalism. Now, in the new conditions, the Islamic movement must also be defeated and rebranded. The “Kurdish question" must also end, in their view, as one of the sources of tension, hostility, war in the region. Öcalan's message is the result of these conditions.
Does rhe end of Kurdish question also mean the end of national oppression? Not necessarily. But it will improve the living conditions of the people of Kurdistan and provide more suitable conditions for the elimination of national oppression. Not only has the nationalist movement not brought any improvement in or progress to the lives of the people, but it has also inflicted serious problems in their lives. The end of national hostility provides the conditions for a nationwide solidarity between the working class, the left and freedom-loving forces and facilitates the organisation of a broad movement against the ruling fascist repressive and exploitative government. Now, these conditions have been met to some extent. It is very fragile. But we must try to use it for the benefit of the people, for the benefit of equal rights, for the benefit of pushing back the fascism that is ruling Turkey and for the benefit of fighting national oppression.
Will the national oppression in Turkey be resolved by dismantling the PKK and laying down arms? Not immediately, of course. Over time, it depends on the balance of power and the goals and methods of the organisations involved. But we can hope that the living conditions of the people will actually be better. It is wrong to frame the issue in the form of solving the Kurdish question or armed struggle. In this framework, we will practically face an endless, fruitless war. In the global and regional geopolitical framework which serves the interest of the West and regional powers, an independent Kurdistan does not fit into the equation. Without an agreement between global and regional powers, such a goal is tantamount treading water. As far as the issue of national oppression is concerned, we should seek reforms and create class and social solidarity between the masses of the people of Kurdistan and the whole of Turkey.
Iran
In Iran, the situation is different. National oppression is not as severe as in Turkey. There is no national hatred between the people of Kurdistan and other parts of Iran. The revolutionary uprising two years ago was a beautiful manifestation of solidarity between the people of Kurdistan and all of Iran. It reflects the weakening of the nationalist movement in Kurdistan. Kurdish nationalism has been exposed in recent years, and an important factor in this enlightenment is the exposure of the actions of the autonomous government in neighboring Kurdistan, which is the pride and admiration of nationalist parties and organisations.
Right-wing nationalist parties have welcomed Öcalan's message but have been cautious about its feasibility. Khaled Azizi, a spokesman for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, described this achievement as a result of the rise of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). They are practically saying that the world and regional powers have finally recognised Kurdish nationalism as a partner, albeit a small one, in power. And they are happy and delighted with this “achievement”.
The new Middle East demands this plan and they are implementing it. We must wait for Turkey’s reaction. The laying down of arms by the PKK will practically confront the Kurdish nationalist movement in Iran with a decisive decision about their future. If the PKK surrenders, the Iranian nationalist parties will also be forced to capitulate. The cult of Pishmargayati will turn into a nationalist nostalgia in Kurdish stories. In reality, the Peshmerga war is only a facade, like a logo. With the laying down of arms, the life of this movement will end.
Kurdish Nationalism in Syria
In the chaos that Syria is living under, the Kurdish question becomes very complex. Despite the depth and intensity of national oppression in Syria, before the mass uprising and war in Syria in 2011, nationalist movements in Syrian Kurdistan did not have a significant manifestation. With the beginning of the US and Western efforts to overthrow the Assad government, an autonomous government was formed in Syrian Kurdistan. News from the region reported the formation of a democratic movement and the formation of power based on mass organisations, the widespread participation of women, and the establishment of a democratic law in Rojava. This news was promising.
But within a short time, news of the alliance of Kurdish nationalism, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) led by Mazloum Abdi with the US was published. This party and its armed forces fought in the service of the US and helped it steal Syrian oil. Kurdish nationalism in Syria was able to form an autonomous government thanks to cooperation with the US and the forces that fought for the regime change in Syria. With the fall of Assad and the rise of ISIS/Al-Qaeda, the party's position has become fragile and precarious.
Turkey continues its military attacks and demands the dissolution and disarmament of the autonomous Kurdish government. The SDF has asked for help and support from the US and Israel. In its initial response to Öcalan's message, Mazloum Abdi announced that the message had nothing to do with them. However, on March 11, it was announced that the party had reached an agreement with the Syrian ISIS leader to integrate the party's armed forces into the Syrian army.
Kurdish nationalism has neither the will nor the ability to resist the US, NATO, and Israel; at most, it will try to gain more share. Money and power are its only considerations.
The situation is still too fragile and uncertain to make a definitive statement about the Turkish government's response. But one thing is certain. The PKK will be dissolved and the armed struggle will be archived. Kurdish nationalism will accept its fate and be absorbed into the new geopolitics. We must try to organise the leftist, communist and freedom-loving movement and fight for the equality of all citizens, the release of all political prisoners and the removal of oppression and restrictions based on national oppression.
The situation has changed. These developments affect the freedom-loving and egalitarian movement, the leftist and communist movement. We must emphasise the deepest solidarity and the widest possible alliance of the freedom-loving and progressive forces. This unity and solidarity is the only hope of the people of the region for achieving a better, freer and more equal world. Human and class unity must replace national and religious unity.
*The Better World on national question:
Elimination of national oppression
The worker-communist party stands for the complete end to national oppression and to all forms of national discrimination in the laws of the country and government policies. The party regards nationalism, national identity and national pride as very backward and harmful notions that negate the universal human identity of people and stifle the cause of equality and freedom. The party is strictly opposed to any categorisation of the population according to nationality and any definition of national identity for people. It stands for setting up a system in which all residents, irrespective of nationality, have equal rights as members of the society, and where no discrimination, negative or positive, is exercised on the basis of nationality.
As a general principle, the worker-communist party stands for people of different national origins to live as free citizens with equal rights within larger national entities. This strengthens workers' ranks in the class struggle. Nevertheless, in cases where a history of national oppression and strife has made coexistence within existing states difficult, the party recognises the right of oppressed nationalities, if they so choose in a direct and free referendum, to secede and form independent states.
The Kurdish Question
In view of the long history of national oppression against the Kurdish people in all the countries of the region, and the bloody suppression of protest movements and struggles for autonomy in Iranian Kurdistan under both the Shah's regime and the Islamic regime, the worker-communist party, in principle, recognises Kurdish people's right to separate from Iran and form an independent state through a free referendum. The party strongly condemns any violent and military actions to prevent the exercise of this free choice. The worker-communist party calls for immediate resolution of the Kurdish question in Iran by means of a free referendum in the Kurd-inhabited regions of western Iran under the supervision of recognised international bodies. Such a referendum should be held after the withdrawal of the central government's military forces and a period of free activity for all the political parties in Kurdistan to inform people of their programmes, positions and views.