Twelve political prisoners held in Qezel Hesar Prison warn that executions and repression will not halt Iran’s growing resistance movement
Twelve Iranian political prisoners have released a powerful and defiant statement from inside Qezel Hesar Prison, one of Iran’s most notorious detention facilities, as six of the signatories have been under active death sentences for more than 14 months.
The statement, dated January 19, 2026, marks what the prisoners describe as a historic and symbolic turning point in Iran’s struggle for freedom. Written in highly charged language, the message frames the current uprising as the culmination of 47 years of continuous resistance against authoritarian rule.
The prisoners describe Iran as a “captured yet beautiful homeland,” where the longing for freedom has survived decades of executions, torture, and systemic repression. They portray the current phase of resistance as a decisive moment, driven by a new generation shaped by hardship but determined to end authoritarian rule permanently.
According to the statement, the strength of the current movement lies in its organizational depth, continuity, and generational renewal. The prisoners emphasize that today’s resistance is no longer spontaneous or fragmented but rooted in long-term strategy, collective sacrifice, and structured networks of opposition.
A central theme of the declaration is the rejection of both authoritarian rule and any attempt to confiscate the outcome of the struggle. The prisoners explicitly warn against political currents that, in their view, seek to exploit popular sacrifice for personal or dynastic power—an implicit reference to fears that Iran’s future could be diverted away from a genuinely democratic outcome.
The statement asserts that the movement now unfolding aims to achieve two goals simultaneously:
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The establishment of a new democratic order in Iran.
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The fulfillment of the unachieved aspirations of the 1979 anti-monarchy revolution, which the prisoners say were hijacked by clerical rule.
Despite the immediate threat of execution facing several of them, the signatories adopt a tone of confidence, stating that the day of accountability for Iran’s rulers and their enforcers is approaching. They predict that the current uprising has already shaken the foundations of the state to such an extent that even mentioning the names of resistance figures now instills fear within the ruling apparatus.
The statement concludes with a message of solidarity and resolve, celebrating the resistance of the Iranian people and calling for continued, uncompromising struggle until freedom is achieved.
Signatories (as listed in the statement)
- Vahid Bani-Amerian
- Pouya Ghobadi
- Abolhassan Montazer
- Babak Alipour
- Mohammad Taghavi
- Ali Moezzi
- Meysam Dehban-Zadeh
- Shahrokh Daneshvar-Kar
- Asadollah Hadi
- Sepehr Emam Jomeh
- Akbar Bagheri
- Khosrow Rahnama
Location: Unit 4, Qezel Hesar Prison
Date: January 19, 2026
