December 25, 2022. @QuemarLaJaula
December 20, 2022: A bold internationalist action by activists and revolutionaries of Quemar la Jaula / Liberar a los Pájaros (Burn the Cage, Free the Birds) was held at the Iranian Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. Their banner in Spanish and Farsi read: Down with the Islamic Republic of Iran! Down with imperialism!
On display were large posters of executed prisoners Majidreza Mahnavard and Mohsen Shekari, of soccer player Ali Nasr-Azadani (sentenced to death) and rapper Toomaj Salehi (indicted), and names of other prisoners sentenced to or at risk of execution.
Protesters wore signs that read “Free All Political Prisoners in Iran NOW,” “Bury the forced hijab! Overthrow the Islamic Republic!” “The cry for REVOLUTION by Iranians is our cry!” “The people of Iran are our people!”
A giant photo of “Supreme Leader” Khamenei and illustrations of flags of the IRI, the US and Israel were set on fire. There was also red paint splashed on the Embassy steps and sidewalks symbolizing the blood on the regime’s hands.
Protest at Iranian Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, December 25, 2022.
Bogotá, Colombia, protest at Iranian Embassy, December 25, 2022. Photo: @QuemarLaJaula
Quemar la Jaula has enhanced their video with in-depth captions and music tracks from Bella Now by Outernational featuring Shekib Mosadeq with Baran Sajadi, and Baraye by Shervin Hajipour.
The text in English below was translated by volunteers with IEC, so English speakers can appreciate, learn from, and share this example of firmly relying on the people of the world, and not imperialist governments and organizations.
Translated captions
Emergency! The Islamic regime is executing political prisoners
Only by making ourselves felt all over the world can we take the noose off from the neck of the Iranian youth and tear down the murdering gallows!
Action in defense of political prisoners in Iran
Iranian Embassy
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
STOP THE EXECUTIONS! @quemarlajaula @IranPrisonEmerg
We demand of the Islamic Republic of Iran: FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW!
We should not allow any opening for the dangerous bullshit that dominates in the “left” movement that the Islamic Republic is an anti-imperialist, anti-Yankee force. No! The Islamic Republic is a reactionary force and the Yankees are even worse. We choose another way and we struggle for it, together with our sisters and brothers in the streets and jails in Iran.
We must ACT now!
Imperialism and Islamic fundamentalism are two equally outmoded poles which reinforce each other. We cannot trust in one of them to liberate us from the other.
The rise of Islamic fundamentalist fascists in the Middle East and of Christian fascists in the U.S. is related to the functioning of this system of capitalism-imperialism.
Down with the Islamic Republic of Iran!
The life and dignity of hundreds of political prisoners in Iran are in grave danger.
“All those who stand for justice and yearn for a better world must rally to the cause of freeing Iran’s political prisoners NOW.”—Emergency Appeal, International Emergency Campaign (IEC) @IranPrisonEmerg