A group of political prisoners in Iran’s infamous Evin Prison has issued a statement condemning the death sentences recently handed down to six political detainees. The prisoners described these sentences as part of the regime’s escalating repression following the 2022 uprising, a pivotal chapter in the Iranian people’s ongoing struggle for freedom.
“The 2022 uprising, as a significant chapter in the Iranian people’s fight for freedom, has shaken the foundations of the ruling regime to the extent that it sees no option but to intensify repression in various forms,” the statement reads.
They highlighted the alarming trend of escalating executions, drawing parallels with the brutal crackdowns of the 1980s. “The increasing issuance and execution of death sentences for political prisoners over the past two years are stark reminders of the regime’s fear and panic in the face of an awakened and justice-seeking society,” the prisoners declared.
The statement also drew attention to the collective death sentences recently imposed on six political prisoners—Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amrian, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi. These sentences come on the heels of similar verdicts targeting other individuals, including young activists from the so-called “Children of Ekbatan” case.
Additionally, since the start of the Persian calendar year 1403, other political prisoners—Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi, Shahryar Bayat, Behrouz Ehsani, Mehdi Hasani, and Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani—have been left languishing in prison under the shadow of pending death sentences.
A Call to Action Against Executions
The political prisoners underscored their staunch opposition to the death penalty, declaring solidarity with all political and ideological prisoners facing execution.
“We, a group of political prisoners in Evin, strongly oppose the principle of the death penalty and stand in support of all political and ideological detainees threatened with execution,” the statement affirmed.
The prisoners called for collective action to confront these draconian sentences, emphasizing the need for social resistance. “We believe that the struggle for liberty requires unified solidarity in defense of human rights, including building a social movement to oppose death sentences. We urge all Iranians from diverse walks of life to stand against these inhumane and reactionary verdicts. Protest in every possible way. Today, the time has come to take to the streets and say ‘No to executions.’ Now is the time to save the lives of political prisoners.”
Signatories
The statement was signed by numerous political prisoners, including:
- Azar Korvandi
- Asadollah Hadi
- Esmail Gerami
- Elaheh Fooladi
- Amirhossein Moradi
- Babak Moradi
- Javad Menbari
- Hossein Piri
- Hossein Shanbehzadeh
- Hossein Shahsavari
- Khosrow Rahnama
- Khashayar Sefidi
- Davood Razavi
- Reza Akbari Monfared
- Reza Rezaei
- Zahra Safaei
- Sepehr Ziaei
- Sakineh Parvaneh
- Shiva Esmaeili
- Tahereh Noori
- Ali Moezzi
- Ali Younesi
- Fatemeh Ziaei Azad
- Farzad Moazzami Goudarzi
- Fouad Fathi
- Forough Taghipour
- Golrokh Iraee
- Maziar Seyednejad
- Maryam Banoo Nasiri
- Mohammad Habibi
- Mohammad Masoud Moeini
- Mohammad Najafi
- Marzieh Farsi
- Moloud Safaei
- Mehran Raouf
- Mir Yousef Younesi
- Narges Mohammadi
- Nasrollah Fallahi
- Yadi Bahari
Additionally, the statement noted the involvement of seven other female political prisoners in Evin’s women’s ward, whose names were withheld for safety reasons.
