Reza Alamouti

Reza Alamouti is an Iranian political activist, considered to be known as one of the youngest Central Committee Members of the Organization of Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas (OIPFG) in the 1990s. He is also known as one of the first Iranian Socialist Feminist activists who introduced the Iranian left: a new Iranian Socialist movement that distanced itself from Stalinism and adopted more of a Trotskyist Agenda.

A quick review of OIPFG's history and recent political changes clarifies Reza Alamouti's role in the party's political life:

The Fedaian Guerrillas were a Marxist- Leninist Organization formed in the 1960s to fight the US backed Government of Pahlavi. At that point of time, Iran was a monarchy adopting capitalism as its economic system. OIPFG participated in the Iranian Revolution in 1979. However in the early 1980s the majority of its members were either imprisoned by ayatollahs or executed. The party then split into two fractions: the majority (The Defenders of Revolution) and the minority (Anti Ayatollahs Communists).

Right then, even though Reza Alamouti was only a little boy; he actively supported the Minority movement opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran and its agenda. In the early 1990s, while living abroad, he joined "The Organization of People's Fedayian Guerrillas" as a Central Committee Member to participate in the leadership of this socialist movement against Ayatollahs.

During this time, the party had completely transformed to a movement against the Islamic Republic that followed Socialist Democrat ideology rather than its previous Communist principles. Its leader, Mehdi Sameh, had denounced Stalinism and adopted Social Democracy in leading the organization.

Reza Alamouti was the main reason behind the changes of the Organization from its Communist agenda to a New Social Democrat semi Trotskyist Movement. His hard work to defend Feminism, Women's right, Student movement and many other issues would be seen in his corporation and unity with North American Leftists movements such as Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party. Later on, he founded his party's first Radio in North America which was named Radio Aras in remembrance of the Aras River in North Iran where the Leftist anti- Shah activist Samad Behrangi was probably murdered.

Reza Alamouti decided to leave the party shortly after 2000 denouncing its deep participation in the National Council of Resistance. He also had concerns about the Organization's slogans against the Islamic Republic not aiming the Islamic nature of the government. He also had suggested to the Central Committee of OIPFG to participate in the student Movement more than labor Movement. He had called for the independent activity of the organization within the university students. In one of OIPFG yearly conventions, his Central Committee Membership was revoked and he finally decided to leave the organization when he realized his comments were not accepted by the Committee. Nevertheless, he will remain one of the youngest leaders of OIPFG.

References

*http://www.socialism.com/fsarticles/Vol19no2/192_CF_Memorials.html