On the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s tragic death while in police custody and the subsequent eruption of nationwide protests in Iran, two imprisoned students, Amirhossein Moradi and Ali Younesi, have issued a powerful message. Their defiant words underscore the enduring spirit of resistance that continues to animate Iran’s youth. In a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, September 15, they declared that the fight for freedom will persist “from the university and school to the streets” until the ultimate goal is achieved: the “overthrow of Khamenei.” They describe this struggle as a “bloody covenant.”
In their poignant message, Moradi and Younesi hailed the 2022 protests as a “brave uprising of the Iranian people” and paid tribute to those who have carried the torch of resistance:
“On the eve of the new academic year—an era tied to bloody days but illuminated by bright battles—we send our message to our fellow students, from the university to the streets. To all who believe that we must resist and reclaim what is ours, to those who turned the streets into classrooms, to those barred from entering their second home—schools and universities—to those who this year will bear the burden of freedom on their shoulders: We stand with you, side by side, even from behind these bars. Nothing can separate us from you.”
These two political prisoners, who have endured the regime’s repression, proclaimed that “our generation is the generation of the uprising.” They emphasized that this generation “fought with all its might during the Mahsa uprising”—many were arrested, many were killed, but they “did not and will not surrender.”
The Regime’s Nightmare: Students of the Uprising
Moradi and Younesi also pointed out the regime’s fear of the new generation entering universities, a generation forged in the fires of the 2022 protests. This experience, they argued, has turned the start of the academic year into a “nightmare for the government.” They warned that from this date forward, “the regime must brace itself for the response from schools and universities to every crime it commits.”
Their statement also took aim at Masoud Pezeshkian, the regime’s newly appointed president, who “deceitfully claimed that students have the right to protest.” Moradi and Younesi exposed the hollow nature of this rhetoric:
“Yes, we do have this right, whether he hypocritically acknowledges it or not. But what he won’t say is what happens to the student after they protest.”
A Call for Democratic Sovereignty
Moradi and Younesi reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of a democratic republic, underlining that “the right of the people to sovereignty and democracy” is “the most basic right.” They vowed to achieve this at any cost, standing “by the side of the people” in the struggle.
Their message concluded with a chilling but resolute warning:
“The powder keg of anger and hatred, which has accumulated from years of executions, killings, and oppression, needs only a spark to explode. That spark could ignite in a school or university, and it will lead to a nationwide uprising that will not end until Khamenei is overthrown.”
The Legacy of Mahsa Amini and the 2022 Protests
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died on September 16, 2022, in Tehran’s Kasra Hospital after being detained by the regime’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code. Her death sparked a wave of protests across Iran, with demonstrators taking to the streets, universities, and schools in unprecedented numbers. The protests, which endured for months, were met with violent suppression by the regime. Hundreds of citizens were killed, and thousands more were injured or arrested during the crackdown.
Hunger Strikes and Commemorations in Prisons
As the second anniversary of these protests approached, political prisoners across Iran marked the occasion with acts of defiance. In the women’s ward of Evin Prison, several prisoners began a hunger strike to protest the regime’s continued repression. They also held a memorial ceremony to honor the victims of the 2022 uprising, paying tribute to those who had lost their lives in the struggle. Some prisoners shared their personal stories, recounting the harrowing scenes they witnessed during the protests.
Meanwhile, political prisoners in Qezel Hesar Prison also held a commemoration for the second anniversary of the nationwide protests, standing in solidarity with their fellow citizens and remembering the sacrifices made in the quest for freedom.
A Continuing Struggle
Two years after Mahsa Amini’s death, the fight for justice, freedom, and democracy in Iran shows no signs of abating. The voices of Amirhossein Moradi, Ali Younesi, and countless others—whether behind bars or in the streets—continue to echo the demands of a generation that refuses to be silenced. Their message is clear: the struggle will continue until the oppressive regime is brought down and the people of Iran can reclaim their country.
