this aspect of the struggle and to outmanoeuvre his capitalist : 'allies'. March 1979 the government organised an undemocratic reterendum' on establishment of an Republic. The referendum was wor overwhelmingly oueraneing the call for a Consittent Khomeini, Assembly, and establishing instead an 'assembly of experts' dominated by the clergy As early as February 1979 Khoutilised Islamic thugs, Hesbollahis, against the left against une womens movemerl systematic attack on womens rights of the most important Ias uccul UliC tacked. Thousands women who defied the new regulations on wearing the veil were thrown out of their jobs or into prison.
One of the failures of the far left in urao was to co done wilu lnc curtal ment of womens rights, often on the that Islamic dress represented an element imperialist' consciousness than a central element of the deeply reactionary Islamic social code.
wy nue CUS me oppositional social and political movements Khomeini sought mechanisms to mobilise the masses around the objective of an Islamic Republic. The opportunity to cupation embassy
Socialist Action 2 March 1984
----- pull-quotes -----
features of the Islamic regime. Womens Day in 1979 was viciously at-
curation or thet us embassy boy students at theend of 1979, and the