Maryam Akbari Monfared, a symbol of resilience and defiance, marks her 15th year in incarceration on December 30, 2023.
Born on December 14, 1975, Akbari is not just a political prisoner but a mother to three daughters, whose life took a drastic turn on the night of December 29, 2009. That night, she was taken from her home to Evin prison for “explanations” and never returned. Her crime? Seeking justice for the cold-blooded execution of four siblings by Iran’s clerical regime in the 1980s, including her sister Roghiyeh, who was hanged while her young daughter awaited her return.
In prison, Maryam has been a source of inspiration. Atena Farghadani, a former political prisoner, describes her as a “rainbow of hope” for fellow inmates. This influence led authorities to transfer her to the remote Semnan Prison in 2021, where she faces harsh conditions, including restricted communication with her family and lack of proper medical care despite various illnesses.
Her steadfastness has come at a cost. In August 2023, Maryam was sentenced in absentia to an additional two years in jail and fined 150 million rials for charges ranging from “disseminating falsities in social media” to insulting the supreme leader and disrupting public opinion. These charges stem from her time in both Evin and Semnan Prisons.
Maryam Akbari Monfared and her four siblings slain in the 1980s.
In a poignant letter, Maryam reflects on her ordeal, describing it as a “breathtaking battle” and a stark reality imposed by those who wish to quell her spirit. Yet, her resolve remains unbroken. She expresses no regret for her choices, emphasizing her determination to continue her path despite being separated from her children.
Maryam credits her survival to the “blazing flame of faith” in her heart, a rebellion against the torture and time. She maintains this flame with memories of her siblings and the current youth protesting Iran’s dictatorship. She believes that this faith, nurtured amidst loneliness and oppression, keeps her unyielding spirit alive.
As we observe the 15th year of Maryam Akbari Monfared’s imprisonment, we pay homage to her unquenchable flame of hope, unwavering faith, and resolute spirit.
Her journey and words are a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for endurance and resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity. Maryam’s story is not just one of suffering but of an undying belief in a brighter tomorrow, a day when, as she dreams, she will “sing the song of victory from the summit of the mountain, like the sun.” Her message is clear: Tomorrow belongs to those who hold fast to hope and faith, even in the darkest of times.
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