On the 14th anniversary of the April 8, 2011 massacre at Camp Ashraf in Iraq, Iran’s Resistance Units—affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)—organized a sweeping campaign of remembrance across dozens of cities. The coordinated activities served not only to honor the 36 PMOI members martyred that day, but to reaffirm the enduring commitment to the cause of freedom in Iran.

A Day Marked by Tragedy and Defiance

On April 8, 2011, the unarmed residents of Camp Ashraf—home to members of the Iranian opposition—came under brutal assault by Iraqi forces under the command of then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Acting as a proxy of the Iranian regime, al-Maliki’s troops stormed the camp, killing 36 residents and injuring hundreds more. The massacre stands as one of the most egregious atrocities committed against Iranian dissidents outside the country’s borders.

Despite their lack of arms, the residents resisted valiantly. Their sacrifice became a symbol of unwavering defiance against tyranny and repression.

Nationwide Commemoration by Resistance Units

On Monday, April 7, 2025, cities across Iran—from Tehran and Shiraz to Mashhad, Kermanshah, Lahijan, and Bandar Abbas—witnessed public commemorations organized by Resistance Units. Symbolic events included the display of photographs of the fallen, along with slogans and banners that celebrated their legacy and pledged continued resistance.

In Tehran, a large banner read:

“We salute these heroes on the anniversary of their epic stand. The seeds you planted have now blossomed. Today, your roar is echoed in the voices of Resistance Units and uprising-makers across our captive homeland. We vow to follow your crimson path until the vile regime is overthrown. Death to Khamenei, hail to Rajavi.”

In Shiraz, portraits of the martyrs were accompanied by this tribute:

“Let us remember them—with their smiles, and the oath for which they gave their lives. Though our hearts bleed, we march with passion toward their goal: a free Iran. Our promise to these blood-red tulips is to stand to the end. Glory to the epic of April 8, 2011.”

Mashhad bore another powerful message beneath an image of the fallen:

“Glory to the April 8 epic in Ashraf, where the Mojahedin stood firm and were martyred by al-Maliki, the criminal servant of Khamenei. We stand firm. We neither forget nor forgive. Hail to Rajavi, death to Khamenei.”

In Lahijan, the image of martyr Saba Haft-Baradaran was paired with her final words:

“We heard her final words: ‘We will stand to the end.’ Her voice settled in our hearts, and we vowed to be her echo. We pledged to never retreat until the overthrow of the theocratic regime. We stand until the end.”

Meanwhile, in Kermanshah, Resistance Units declared:

“The streets burn with the blood of you and 120,000 red flowers. The fire of our oath to end oppression rages on. We declare: we are ready, alongside the Resistance Units, for a hundred battles.”

A Message of Continuity and Resolve

Across each city, the message was clear: the memory of the Ashraf martyrs is not one of mourning alone, but of ongoing resistance and unyielding resolve. The commemorative displays served as both tribute and call to action, linking the past sacrifice to the present struggle for a free Iran.

The day’s events culminated in a unified nationwide message, echoing from every corner of Iran:

“Glory to the martyrs of Ashraf who heroically stood against the agents of the theocratic regime. Hail to Rajavi, victory to freedom.”

Fourteen years on, the legacy of the April 8 massacre lives on—not as a dark chapter closed, but as a flame passed from one generation of freedom fighters to the next.

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