This message of condolence and solidarity was sent to the Worker Communist Parties of Iran and Iraq following the death of Mansoor Hekmat.
Dear comrades, the members of the Democratic Socialist Party of Australia extend our sincere condolences to the Worker Communist Party of Iran and the Worker Communist Party of Iraq on the death of Mansoor Hekmat, the founder and theoretical inspiration of your parties.
Mansoor Hekmat's death in London on July 4, after his short battle with cancer, saddens us deeply, and is a loss to the international workers' movement.
Mansoor Hekmat is best known to DSP members through his excellent article, "The rise and fall of Political Islam" in Links magazine #20. But we also gauged his strong political impact through the respect he inspired in WCPI members here and the communist dedication they imparted to their struggle to overthrow capitalism in Iran, Iraq, and Australia also.
The workers' movement in Iran, Iraq and internationally has lost an important theoretician and leader, but Mansoor Hekmat's struggle will be carried on by all his comrades. Let's keep his memory and his teachings alive by intensifying our commitment to the workers' struggle and for that communist future that Mansoor fought so fiercely for.
That steadfast determination to pursue the struggle is all the more important now in the face of the increased arrogance and aggression coming out of Washington. Imperialism's boasted intention to unilaterally wage war on Iraq must be fiercely resisted and exposed by the people of the world. Socialist organisations have a responsibility to lead this resistance. Let's use the spur of comrade Mansoor Hekmat's untimely death to work together so that a defeat for imperialism in the region is a fitting memorial for him.
Our condolences and support to Azar Majedi [Hekmat's companion], and all his comrades. In your hour of grief, please accept our heartfelt solidarity.
Let's remember Mansoor Hekmat by continuing his struggle! Long Live the Worker Communist Party of Iran! Long Live the Worker Communist Party of Iraq! Build the international socialist movement! Workers of the World Unite!
John Percy
National secretary, Democratic Socialist Party.
From Green Left Weekly, July 17, 2002.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.