In a poignant and defiant statement, six political prisoners recently sentenced to death by Iran’s judiciary have laid bare the oppressive tactics of the regime, vowing to stand firm in their fight for freedom and democracy.
The prisoners, all linked to the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), declared their commitment to justice and their opposition to the death penalty in principle, even as they face execution. This statement coincided with the 45th campaign of “No to Executions Tuesdays” and revealed that the group, along with many other prisoners, is currently on a hunger strike. The prisoners also highlighted the plight of their companion, Mohammad Taghavi, a survivor of the 1988 massacre, who has been in solitary confinement for four months after rejecting the legitimacy of the court and refusing to participate in its proceedings. The group has lost all contact with him since his transfer to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
“The nature of the mullahs’ regime is so evident that we find no need to elaborate on the torture, abuse, and numerous violations of our basic human rights from the moment of our arrest until today,” their statement reads. They denounced the judiciary’s lack of legitimacy, stating that justice for them now resides in the hands of the oppressed Iranian people and the “brave Rebellious Youth.”
The prisoners emphasized that their fight is not just for their lives but also for an end to the death penalty for all detainees, whether political or non-political. “We can and must transform the despair and fear caused by collective death sentences into courage, rebellion, and the revolutionary fire needed to uproot this regime,” they asserted.
The Iranian regime’s judiciary recently handed down these death sentences, accusing the six individuals—Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi—of charges including “membership in the PMOI/MEK” and “armed rebellion against the government.” The verdict, delivered by Judge Iman Afshari of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court Branch 26, followed months of severe torture and interrogation at Evin Prison, notorious for its treatment of political prisoners.
The statement has further highlighted the plight of Iran’s political prisoners and amplified calls for international intervention.
As the regime intensifies its crackdown on dissent, the courage of these prisoners underscores the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in Iran. Their final plea resounds: “The democratic revolution of the Iranian people will succeed.”
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