In a powerful display of solidarity and human rights advocacy, the municipality of Villiers-Adam, France, paid homage to Maryam Akbari Monfared, one of Iran’s most renowned political prisoners.
From November 9, a striking banner titled “Courage Against Injustice” adorned the city hall, shedding light on her 15-year imprisonment and ongoing fight for justice. The banner also served as a broader call to action, urging support for political prisoners in Iran and highlighting the nation’s appalling record of 678 executions in 2024 alone.
Maryam Akbari Monfared’s story is one of profound resilience. Arrested in 2009 during mass protests against Iran’s contested presidential elections, she was handed a 15-year sentence by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court under charges of “enmity against God.” Her alleged crime: ties to the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK). However, her true “offense” lies in her unrelenting pursuit of accountability for her siblings, four of whom were executed by the Iranian regime in the 1980s, including two during the infamous 1988 massacre of political prisoners.
Bruno Mace, mayor of Villiers-Adam, pays tribute to political prisoners in Iran by exposing a picture of Maryam Akbari Monfared.
Maryam Akbari Monfared finished her 15 years of imprisonment without a single day of furlough on October 12, 2024. She spent the last four years of… pic.twitter.com/00PmlgnJxZ
— Women's Committee NCRI (@womenncri) November 22, 2024
Her demand for an investigation into these killings in 2016 drew international attention but intensified her persecution. The regime retaliated by denying her furlough, fabricating charges to extend her imprisonment, and transferring her to a remote facility in Semnan, isolating her from her family and children. Despite these measures, Akbari Monfared has remained steadfast, refusing to compromise her principles even when promised freedom in exchange for silence.
Her letters from prison, brimming with defiance and a commitment to justice, have inspired many. “Should I apologize for my siblings being executed by you?” she wrote in one poignant letter, capturing the moral clarity of her fight.
Villiers-Adam’s tribute reflects a growing global recognition of Maryam’s courage and the dire human rights situation in Iran.
This public acknowledgment by a French municipality is a reminder of the international community’s role in confronting Iran’s systemic human rights abuses. Maryam Akbari Monfared’s story transcends borders, resonating as a symbol of hope and resilience. As calls for her freedom grow louder, the banner in Villiers-Adam stands as a testament to her unyielding spirit and the global demand for justice and accountability.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu