United Youth of Iran (UYI) is an alliance of 30 groups formed on 7 December 2022, according to their Twitter account. The alliance originated from several neighborhood youth groups, who started organizing protests and strikes since the uprising in September 2022. The members remain anonymous, regarding the fact that were their identities evealed, they would face arrestments. Activities against the government are forbidden and could be punished with the death penalty. Despite internet restrictions in Iran, the group communicates through social media, such as Twitter and Telegram.
On 11 December 2022, the UYI published a 43-article manifesto on their Twitter account with the following declaration: “We have outlined our vision for a democratic Iran in our manifesto which has been the basis of our coalition. This is still a work in progress, and we will endeavor to improve it. We will not stop until a democratic government is established in our beloved country.”
The group said its manifesto is meant to “pave the grounds for dialogue and cooperation” among various trade organizations, unions, political groups and activists inside Iran and abroad”, Iranintl.com explains.
The manifesto includes the most basic rights that have been denied to the people by the Iranian government such as self-determination, citizen´s equality before the law, full equality of men and women, freedom of belief and religion, freedom of speech, freedom of forming trade and other unions.
The first article of the manifesto is inspired by the poem of the famous Persian poet Saadi:
“Human Beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. Everyone has the power of identification and selection and is responsible for that. Everyone has the same rights.”
Further excerpts:
Article 5 refers to international charters and conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Article 13
Any kind of physical and mental torture, cruel or violent humiliation and harassment is a crime and must be prohibited.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to practice their own religion and should not be questioned or prosecuted for their belief.
Article 21
The future government must recognize the variety of cultures and languages of the country and try to protect and reinforce them.
Article 22
Political parties must have freedom of action within the framework of law, respect for the country´s territorial integrity, fundamental human rights, transparency, and they must abide by democracy.
Article 23
The government must be committed to eliminate the monopoly of journalism, help to build independent unions of reporters and guarantee their free work.
Article 38 emphasizes the importance of children´s and youth´s protection, given that they are nor safe neither protected by the current Regime. On the Contrary, at least 68 children and minors have been killed and more than 120 arrested since the uprising in September 2022, according to a report published by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Article 39
Mothers should be supported by the government during pregnancy and in the first years taking care of their children.
Article 40
The government is responsible for respecting the rights of future regions, including the preservation of the country´s forests, pasture, natural and water resources and their reasonable use in sustainable development, and it should develop strict standards of living, promote renewable energies, create durable products, and finance research and technology to guarantee its environmental protection.
While several politicians and governments around the world are still discussing the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, the UYI shows their full support with the Iranian Diaspora who are working towards this goal with the following publication on 15 January:
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has been violating human rights in various countries since its establishment. Interference in other countries such as in the Syrian War and the war in Ukraine are some examples of such interference. Corruption in the body of this system has nurtured drug and arms trafficking as well as oil smuggling. Through its affiliated banks, the IRGC spreads economic corruption and advances its sinister goals. The organization has clearly committed crimes against humanity. It has been directly involved in the suppression of protests in Iran and the killing and execution of protesters. The IRGC´s actions bring nothing but pain, death and corruption to the Middle East and the world. We wish to declare our full support for listing it as a terrorist organization by the international community, and we support Iranians abroad to gather in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.”