MEK Iran: Ashraf Ahmadi’s Story of Strength, Courage and Defiance

 

The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has been running a series of conversations about female resistance during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. Each time, they highlight the case of a brave female militant that courageously made their voice heard despite the obstacles and challenges they were up against.

Ashraf Ahmadi had spent a decade in prison

The case of Ashraf Ahmadi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was discussed. She had spent a decade in prison and had shown herself to be defiant of the culture at that time that suggested a woman should remain at home and out of the socio-political world.

She had attended court hearings of her sibling and other members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), no doubt providing her with the strength to resist.

Her colleagues remember Ashraf for her determination, her confidence, and her high spirit. They said that she was particularly determined to promote the values of the (PMOI / MEK Iran) and that she provided the organization with intelligence during her time in prison.

 

 

Ashraf Ahmadi organized rallies in major cities

Ashraf also organized rallies in major cities, informing media outlets and arranging meetings with (PMOI / MEK Iran) family members to update them on the situation of their imprisoned loved ones.

She had a wealth of knowledge of (PMOI / MEK Iran) affairs and was often put under grueling and violent interrogations yet she never gave up any information to the SAVAK interrogators.

Ashraf was arrested in 1975 while pregnant and suffering from acute heart disease. She did not let either of these affect her resistance and never let the interrogators get anything they wanted from her.

 

Ashraf was arrested again under the mullahs’ regime

Despite being sentenced to 15 years in prison, she was released just before the Shah’s regime fell. Ashraf was arrested again after the 1979 revolution, and imprisoned for being a member of the (PMOI / MEK Iran).

One of her former cellmates said that Ashraf was eventually moved to her ward were prison guards were very wary of her presence. Her cellmate said that people were prevented from getting close to Ashraf because of her phenomenal capacity to resist.

Ashraf was able to take her experience and help other political prisoners endure interrogations, giving them advice about how to prevent interrogators from getting any information from them. The guards soon became aware this was happening and Ashraf was put under close surveillance and the consequences were great if anyone got caught.

Knowing that they were under increasing pressure, Ashraf and her fellow cellmates found ways around the scrutiny they were subjected to. Information between prisoners was exchanged at night-time or took place in the bathroom. Ashraf was very careful not to get caught so that she could continue relaying essential information to those that needed it. She was fully motivated by the hope of freedom.

Ashraf was eventually hanged by the Iranian regime on 31st July 1988. She will be remembered for her endurance, her courage, and her strength to not give in to the regime’s inhumane actions.

 

 

MEK Iran (follow them on Twitter and Facebook)

and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTube