November 2011: Protest against the German Business Association BVMW and German-Iranian Business Congress in Berlin
A conference to promote German-Iranian business relations took place under protests today in Berlin. The Congress with the title "Iranian Business Women Power" was attended by the Iranian ambassador Sheikh Attar. The event was promoted with the support of the Assocation of Medium-Sized Companies (BVMW).
October 2010: Protest against the invitation of the Iranian Vice Minister for Economic Affairs to the German Foundation DGAP
After STOP THE BOMB heard of a non-public event with the Iranian Vice-Minister for Economic Affairs Mohammed Reza Farzin, we called for short-term protests on Oct. 26, 2011. After the announcement of our protest, Rainer Stinner, foreign policy spokesman of the Free Democrats FDP (the junior partner in Germany's ruling coalition), canceled his meeting with the Iranian Vice-Minister because of "scheduling difficulties".
October 2011: Successful Protests against Matthias Platzeck, Rüdiger Safranski and the Iranian Regime
For October 15, 2011 the Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg announced a talk between the Iranian ambassador and the German TV philosopher Rüdiger Safranski about the Persian poet Hafiz. After protests from STOP THE BOMB, the foundation canceled the event.
October 2011: STOP THE BOMB protests against new German-Iranian business offensive
A number of promotion events for more German-Iranian trade took place in Germany in October. The recently founded lobby organization "EIVENT" organized a congress on October 10, 2011 in Dresden while in Hamburg representatives of the EIH Bank, which is on the EU sanctions list, held a seminar of business with Iran for businesspeople from the Hamburg area, who are interested in investing in Iran. STOP THE BOMB critiziced the German government: „German business with Iran is still undeterred.“
September 2011: STOP THE BOMB calls for sanctions against Iran's Oil industry
STOP THE BOMB welcomes the sanctioning of Syrian oil products and demands that the same measures are taken against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Revenues from the oil- and gas sector form the main financial base of the Iranian regime. In the first half of 2011 the EU imported energy products worth more than 6.3 billion Euro (8.84 US-Dollar). The EU sanctions against Syria can not be effective, as long as the Islamic Republic of Iran is supporting the Assad regime with weapons, surveillance technology, instructors and troops.
August 2011: Protest against the Islamist and anti-Semitic Quds-Day march
In 2011 STOP THE BOMB was again among the initiators and organizers of a protest rally against the antisemitic and Islamist Quds-Day march in Berlin. Every year the Islamic Republic is holding a propaganda march in Tehran, while the Hezbollah is parading in Beirut and the Hamas in Gaza. With these demonstrations the regime spreads its ideology internationally. In Berlin participants at the Quds-March showed signs of terror organizations.
February 2011: Protest against the EIH bank and panel discussion in Hamburg
On February 27, 2011 STOP THE BOMB organized a second protest rally in front of the building of the European-Iranian Trade Bank (EIH) in Hamburg. Afterwards a panel discussion with Mina Ahadi (exil-Iranian human rights activist and spokesperson of the Comittee against Stoning and Executions), Solmaz Shiva (22Khordad-Hamburg), Dr. Kazem Moussavi (Green Party of Iran), Jonathan Weckerle (STOP THE BOMB) and Ulrike Becker (Moderation, STOP THE BOMB) took place. A full documentation of both the protest and the panel discussion is available.
January 2011: Protest against Iran business of Bergrohr Ltd. in Siegen
On January 22, 2011, STOP THE BOMB and the Pro-Israel-Initiative "NEVERAGAIN" organized a protest rally in front of the Bergrohr Ltd. in Siegen. The company is involved in many projects in Irans energy sector. In the evening STOP THE BOMB spokesperson Jonathan Weckerle held a lecture.
January 2011: Protest against Iran seminars in Bayreuth and publication of a list with activities promoting Iran business
On January 12, 2011, STOP THE BOMB protested in Bayreuth against two seminars of the local Chamber for Commerce and Industry (IHK). German Companies were invited to inform themselves about possibilities to do business with Iran after the last round of sanctions. We also released a list with events that promoted business with Iran. The list will be updated regularly.
December 2010: Rally against the Iranian Ascotec Holding GmbH in Düsseldorf
On December 11, 2010, STOP THE BOMB demonstrated in front of the city hall in Düsseldorf. Under the motto "Close down the Iranian Ascotec GmbH! No deals with the Iranian regime! Freedom instead of Islamic Republic!" about 60 people demaned the immediate shutdown of the Ascotec Holding GmbH. The Ascotec GmbH and some of its subsidiaries are registered in Düsseldorf. On the 3rd of August, the US-Treasury put 21 several Iranian companies on their sanctions list. Ascotec Trading GmbH and four subsidiaries were on the list because they are undermining existing sanctions.
November 2010: Open letter to all members of the German Parliament: Stop travelling to Iran!
Several members of the German parliament travelled to Iran since the summer of 2010. In an open letter to all members of the Bundestag, STOP THE BOMB is asking the parliamentarians to stop these trips: "In July 2010, the EU imposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran to exert pressure on the Iranian government to stop its illicit nuclear program. This pressure can only be effective if other actions vis-à-vis Iran do not undermine this pressure. But the recent trips to Iran by representatives of all parties of the German Bundestag are doing just that."
November 2010: Protests against the "Iran Business Forum" at the Marriott Courtyard Airport Hotel Hamburg
A protest rally took place today in front of the Marriott Courtyard Airport Hotel in Hamburg, organized by the STOP THE BOMB Campaign and other groups. STOP THE BOMB protested against the "Iran Business Forum", an event to promote German-Iranian trade. The "Iran Business Forum" was organized by the IPC Company in cooperation with the Iranian Embassy in Germany. One of the invited speakers is Alireza Beyghi, governor of the province Eastern Azerbaijan. This is the province where Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is threatened with execution and in which two German journalists are detained, charged with „espionage“, because they wanted to conduct an interview with Sakineh's son.
October 2010: Protests against the journey of the German Parliamentary Committee to Iran
The alliance STOP THE BOMB convictedly the trip, planned from 16 - 22 October 2010, of the sub-committee for foreign cultural politics and educational politics in Iran on the most sharp one. Delegation leader is the chairperson of the committee, Peter Gauweiler (CDU / CSU). Other delegation members are Monika Grütter (CDU / CSU), Günter Gloser (SPD), Lukrezia Jochimsen (DIE LINKE) and Claudia Roth (BÜNDNIS 90 / DIE GRÜNEN).
October 2010: Swiss policy under fire. STOP THE BOMB protests in five European cities
Switzerland is one of the main Western partners of the inhuman regime in Iran. In 2008 the Swiss EGL, a subsidiary of Canton-owned AXPO Group, completed a deal with the Iranian regime on gas supplies in the tens of billions. This mega-business commits Switzerland for years as a strategic partner of the regime, even if the EGL would now like to abandon Iranian gas supplies in the starting phase of their Trans-Adriatic pipeline-project. With the support of Iran in its efforts to join the World Trade Organization, Switzerland becomes an advocate of the regime´s interests.
September 2010: Protests against the European-Iranian Bank of Commerce (EIH)
The STOP THE BOMB Campaign is protesting against the activities of the Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIH) which is financing transactions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. While the Hamburg-based bank has been blacklisted for sanctions in the U.S., the German government is not willing to close the bank. STOP THE BOMB is calling for the immediate closure of the bank which is involved in Iran's nuclear activities.
July 2010: Protests against Iran trip of Rainer Stinner
Stinners trip, which does not take place without knowledge and approval of the German government, shows the unwillingness to break with a regime that uses „dialogue“ only to gain time for its nuclear program, that continues to support Islamist terror worldwide, that steadily threatens Israel with destruction and which inmidst of its hardest internal crisis uses brute force against any opposition.
June 2010: Protests against Iran-trip of Ruprecht Polenz (CDU)
STOP THE BOMB calls for the cancellation of the trip to Iran, from July 2- July 6 2010. The trip was announced for members of the Foreign Committee of the German Bundestag, and to be headed by Committee Chairman Ruprecht Polenz (CDU). The trip was cancelled after protests.
May 2010: Questions to the CEO of the German company Linde, regarding Linde's business in Iran
CEO Wolfgang Reitzle answered to questions of STOP THE BOMB regarding Linde's business in Iran: Linde has private as well as state-run business partners, mainly in the petrochemical area. The CEO confirmed that Linde did a study on a LNG-project (Liquified Natural Gas) in Iran for a "major chinese customer". He thereforme confirmed that the knowledge of Linde is the basis for the exploration of Iranian gas.
April 2010: Protests and critical questions at shareholder meetings of VW, Daimler, RWE, Münchener Rück, BASF and Bayer
STOP THE BOMB shareholders participated at several shareholder meetings and asked critical questions regarding the Iran business of German companies. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of the Daimler AG announced in April 2010 that Daimler would partly pull out of Iran. He announced in November 2010 that the company would suspend its business in Iran completely. The reason for this decision was that the company does not want to be regarded as a supporter of the Iranian regime in public.
February 2010: Hamburg - Pro-Iranian Conference cancelled after protests
After massive protests from the STOP THE BOMB coalition and the announcement of a demonstration in front of the Kempinski-Hotel, the hotel manager withdrew the contract with the Orient Okzident association, the organizer of a conference with the Iranian ambassador. In an official statement the hotel management explained that it had no information about the participants of the conference and their background. The demonstration in front of the hotel is cancelled.
January 2010: Protests of STOP THE BOMB at the annual shareholder meeting of Siemens
Shareholders of the STOP THE BOMB-Coalition asked critical questions at the annual meeting regarding Siemens' business in Iran, while STOP THE BOMB members protested against Siemens' business in Iran in front of the building where the meeting took place. CEO Peter Löscher announced at the meeting that Siemens intended to stop making new contracts in Iran by the summer of 2010. Siemens would have 280 staff members in Iran. Löscher confirmed that Siemens exported turbo compressors to Iran. He did not answer other concrete questions regarding Siemens' business in Iran.
January 2010: Protests against ThyssenKrupp's business in Iran
The ThyssenKrupp Group has had a particularly close relationship with Iran in the past. The Iranian state became an investor in ThyssenKrupp in 1974 and is a shareholder with a packet of shares of 4,5%. ThyssenKrupp and particularly the subsidiary Uhde made several major deals in Iran during the last years. STOP THE BOMB protested at the annual shareholder of ThyssenKrupp (January 2010) against the company's business with Iran. CEO Dr. Schulz answered to questions of STOP THE BOMB. He did not deny that ThyssenKrupp exported dual use goods to Iran. He also did not eliminate any possibility that ThyssenKrupp is involved in projects with Iran's revolutionary guards. Uhde is involved in several energy projects. ThyssenKrupp's exports amounted to 185 Mio. Euro.
September 2009: Manifestations against the Al-Quds-Day
STOP THE BOMB supports the manifestations against the Islamist and antisemitic Al-Quds-Day in Berlin, which took place at September 12, 2009. The Islamic Republic of Iran organizes an annually event in Tehran, an ideological march, the so-called Al-Quds day. At the same time, demonstrations are organized by Hezbollah in Beirut and by Hamas in Gaza, and the fundamentalist ideology of the Islamic Republic is propagated by rallies taking place worldwide. During previous Al-Quds demonstration in Berlin, demonstrators have repeatedly made use of symbols of terrorist organizations. Stop this propaganda of the Islamic Republic - No Al-Quds-Day!
STOP THE BOMB rally: Freedom instead of Islamic Republic
After 30 years of dictatorship an end of the nightmare called Islamic Republic is possible in Iran. After the electoral putsch on June 12 the regime has lost any last semblance of “republic” and “democracy”. The regime can remain in power only by force against a large-scale movement. Millions of people in Iran have lost fear, not let themselves be intimidated by the threats of Chamenei and the unleashed violence of the militia and can not be silenced. Therefore we demand the political isolation of the Iranian rulers and as a first step the non-recognition of the government of Ahmadinejad/Chamenei by the German government.
June 2009: Protest against Iran-recorddeal of the company Basell Polyolefine GmbH
STOP THE BOMB protested against the Iran-record business (825 million euros) of the company Basell Polyolefine GmbH with the Iranian National Petrochemical Company (NPC). Basell delivers technology for three polyethylene facilities in Mamasani, Dehdascht and Borodschen in the south of Iran. With the business transaction Adel Nejad-Salim, deputy-oil minister and president of the NPC was present. The Basell Polyolefine GmbH belongs as a juridically independent enterprise to the enterprise of LyondellBasell.
June 2009: Protests against the invitation of the Iranian ambassador of the Green Party's Böll-Stiftung
For 16th of June, 2009 the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sachsen and Eurient e.V. have invited the ambassador of the Iranian regime Ali Reza Sheikh Attar in Germany to a panel discussion with Johannes Reissner of Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) - one of the most important think tanks in the sphere of the German government. While representatives of the SWP demand for many years not only the dialogue, but an open cooperation and a "strategical partnership" of Germany with Iran, Attar, who is responsible as a former governor for the action of the Mullahs dictatorship in Iranian Kurdistan, represents the crimes of the regime.
May 2009: Protest against NUMOV (German Near and Middle East Association) and the German-Iranian business round table
The Nah- und MittelOst-Verein (NUMOV) - the central conveyor organisation founded in 1934 for German trade in the region - organises the second forum for the support of German Iranian trade within the shortest time. in May 2009. Rudolf Dressler (SPD), former German ambassador in Israel and supporter of the campaign STOP THE BOMB criticizes: "I hold for not opportune to hold such publicity events just at the present time. The momentary negotiations phase requires rather that one makes clear to the Iranian regime the price which it has to pay if it offends furthermore with his nuclear programme against regulations of the international community."
May 2009: STOP THE BOMB protests at the annual shareholder's meeting of the Linde-AG
STOP THE BOMB stockholders questioned at the annual general meeting in May 2009 chairman of the board Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Reitzle and board member Dr.-Ing. Aldo Belloni (responsibly for the Middle East) which gave the following answers:
The sales figures in Iran lie in accordance with the board of directors for 2007 with 86 million, for 2008 with 89 million euros.
April 2009: STOP THE BOMB protests against Iran business of the German company Bayern-Gas
„With the assistance of Bayerngas the Iranian regime could continue its nuclear program, its support of islamist terror worldwide and the oppression of its own population. Political pressure of the West would be much less effective“, says Jonathan Weckerle, spokesman of the STOP THE BOMB campaign in Germany.
March 2009: Film and Commentary at the occasion of the international women's day
On the 7th of March 1979, only weeks after the revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini ordered that women should only be allowed to enter public buildings dressed with a headscarf. After this – and on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on the 8th of March that year - there were numerous demonstrations against mandatory veiling. As a direct result of these demonstrations, the Islamists were forced to rescend their order, if only temporarily. We are documenting the film "Liberation Movement of the Iranian Women, Year Zero" on the protests of 1979, with a comment of Fathiyeh Naghibzadeh.
January 2009: STOP THE BOMB protests against Siemens' business in Iran
STOP THE BOMB who are shareholders of the Siemens AG asked questions at Siemens annual meeting in January 2009. STOP THE BOMB members protested in front of the meeting hall against trade with Iran. In an open letter to the board and CEO of Siemens STOP THE BOMB asked: how is it possible that Siemens, which already profited from slave labor in Auschwitz and was also involved in other Nazi crimes, is now once again acting as an important mainstay of an anti-Semitic and terrorist regime? Siemens' exports to Iran amounted to 438 Mio. Euro in 2008. This means that Siemens was leading in exports to Iran. About 7 months after the protests of STOP THE BOMB Siemens lost a 300 million dollar contract in Los Angeles.
January 2009: Manager-Seminar in Frankfurt cancelled after protests of STOP THE BOMB
The Manager-seminar "Your success in Iran" promoting business in Iran has been canceled after we announced protests! This is a success that gives hope, but much more has to follow. Instead of the protests there will now be a manifestation with speakers and info-desk in the inner city at the "Hauptwache" from 4 to 6 p.m.
November 2008: Protests against a seminar of the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg
The protests criticized the workshop that was dedicated to support the »success of business in Iran«. Andreas Benl, speaker of the Hamburg section of the STOP THE BOMB campaign, explained: "The organizers want to convey the necessary know-how to business people who are interested in investing in Iran in spite of the sanctions." Members of the German-Israeli Friendship Society, of the campaign STOP THE BOMB and of the Hamburger Studienbibliothek, a Hamburg-based political group combating anti-Semitism, demonstrated with leaflets and banners against a workshop of the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce.
October 2008: Press Conference at the start of the STOP THE BOMB Campaign
On Tuesday, October 28, a broad coalition against the Iranian nuclear program was presented at a press conference. Stephan Kramer of the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (Central Council of German Jews), Mohammed Schams of the Coordinating Council of German NGOs against Antisemitism, Ulrike Becker and Jonathan Weckerle, the initiators of the STOP THE BOMB coalition, presented the campaign.The campaign’s petition has been signed by more than 120 prominent first subscribers. Among them are members of all parties present in the German parliament. The STOP THE BOMB coalition calls on the German government to impose effective political and economic unilateral and multilateral measures to isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran and to ban Hezbollah in Germany. Furthermore STOP THE BOMB demands German companies, especially the high-tech giant Siemens, to stop trade with the Iranian regime.