On 25 April, twenty-one members of the Confederation of Iranian Students protesting against the killing of nine political pris oners by the Shah's regime were arrested by a squad of armed British police after staging a brief and peaceful sit-in at the Iranian Embassy in London. The 21 were charged with conspiracy to trespass, and their committal proceedings will begin next Wednesday at Bow Street Magistrates Court.
soon arter ten arrest, at me intuative or tranian students "The Committee for the Defence of the Iranian 21' was set up. The Committee received the support of a large number of org anisations including the National Council for Civil Liberties, the National Union of Students, Liberation and the International Branch of the Transport & General Workers Union. Eight Labour MPs. four of whom are on the National Executive Commit tee of the Labour Party, have also in a letter declared their support for the 21 and demanded that the Home Secretary remove the conspiracy charges and the danger of deportation with which the 21 are faced.
as many labour and student organisations as possible. This to a great extent has been achieved, with a few exceptions (Workers Revolutionary Party - as if by chance!). 'Defend Iranian Political Prisoners', End British Labour Government Collaboration with the Shah's Regime', End SAVAK (Iranian secret police) activities in Britain', 'Abolish the Conspiracy Laws, Drop all charges against the Iranian 21: and Remove all Restrictions on the Political Activities of Foreign Nationals in Britain' have been the central slogans of the campaign.
After only a few days a successful picket of 120 people was organised, in front of Bow Street Court, at the first court hearand raised funds for the campaign.
Primarily, the aim of the Committee was actively to involve issue in the coming months, and in September, when the colleges ing. This was followed by a public meeting, a 600-strong demonstration, and finally another picket on 29 May at the second hearing. On this day most of the imposed restrictions (le. trave restrictions, daily reporting to a police station, etc) were lifted - in complete contrast to the Magistrate's decision at the preliminary hearing not even to allow bail, which meant that the defendents were consigned to Brixton Prison for a week.
During the last three months the effects of the defence com mittee's activities at the national level have been considerable. Many local defence committees have been set up in universities and colleges at the initiative of students including the LSE, the Architectural Association, Sussex, Swansea, Kent, Bradford and many others. A large number of trades councils, trade union branches, and student unions have passed motions of support On 16 July the committal hearing will begin. It is unlikely that the charges will be immediately dropped. The campaign will therefore continue to organise more activities around this re-open, the local defence committees will have to be reactivated:
PICKET -DEFEND THE IRANIAN 21!
Picket Bow Street Magistrates Court Wednesday 16 July - 9am to noon Sean Morris: 'It looks to us as though the London County AssociaBon orrade:
Councils is being set up to receive a biassed report on what is happening in Bel fast and what the attitude of people here is to the presence of British troops. -But such bureaucratic manoeuvres have a way of back-firing, highlighting the issues in dispute more clearly than would oterwise be une case. Next week we wi be carrying a full report of the visit and delegates reactions to the views they