|
Here we are to enter THE IRANIAN
WOMEN'S REVOLUTIONISTS against
the supreme leader, the arch-reactionary Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
and his placeman president, Ebrahim Raisi. The message of
the women when he visited a university is plain: <give way or
get lost> in 2023.
IN MEMORY OF ASRA PANAHI (16)- JINA MAMINI (22) - NIKA SHAKARAMI (16), SARINA ESMAILZADEH (16) HADIS NAJAFI (20), AND MORE WOMEN WHO WERE ASSASINATED SO
FAR BY THE IRANIAN AXIS OF EVIL.
Click here for a total list so far
(Updates
September 8, 2024)
|
December 31,
2023 - Preface about the below 3 heroines of Iran by
Gino d'Artali : Beacons of hope and inspiration on the
road towards a long and free Iran . * Jina Amini,
our sister/daughter who martyred herself for freedom;
*Narges Mohammadi, our sister and as I call her 'mother
of a free Iran' and winner of the Nobel Prize of Freedom
2023 and sentenced five times to a total of 31 years in
prison and 154 lashes but who refuses to give in to the
mullahs' regime to wear a hijab or bow to their demands
and therefore is refused medical care although needing
it badly and bringing her live in danger but says "Victory
is not easy, but it is certain" * and Maryam
Akbari Monfared, our sister who's encarcerated since
15 years and refuses to bow down to the mullahs saying "Finally,
one day, I will sing the song of victory from the summit
of the mountain, like the sun. Tomorrow belongs to us"
Read all about them here and let them inspire you on
your road towards a long and free Iran or as we say in
the West: 'Three strikes and the mullahs' regime is out'
Be the finalizing strike dear and brave dissent
|
|
A to VICTORY tribute to
NARGES MOHAMMADI
Sept. 2, 2024:
"Shameless": Imprisoned Nobel Laureate in Iran Slams
Custodial Death..."
August 9, 2024
"My heart cries...
(For Narges Mohammadi and all suffering but fighting
back mothers/women)
and earlier heroic stories
May 6, 2024
"Tyranny will fall"
"Victory is not easy, but it is certain"
watch it here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LAMPz57Aqw
Click here for a news-overview
from January 15, 2024 'till October 31, 2023 |
JINA AMINI'S VOICE IS ALSO HEARD
And do read also the above linked incredible
December 2023 update!
despite the mullahs'
regime to force it down!
Her mother speaks
out loud and clear
Click here for the latest news of the
'Woman, Life, Freedom'
revolution
|
PAKSHAN AZIZI
Actual News:
August 19, 2024
Sentenced to Death for Assisting
Women Targeted by ISIS
And read here her full story:
July 23 - 22, 2024
"Denying the Truth,
and Its Alternative"
and more in actual news below
MARJAM AKBARI
MONFARED
June 24, 2024:
The Iranian Regime
Judiciary Launches a New Case to Seize the Assets of
Maryam Akbari Monfared and Her Family, in Revenge for
Seeking Justice for Her Siblings Executed in the 1980s
Dec 30, 2023: Not bowing for the mullahs' regime
she says:
"Finally, one
day, I will sing the song of victory from the summit of
the mountain, like the sun. Tomorrow belongs to us"
|
|
Please do read
the following articles about heroines who risk live and
limb for the women-led revolution and no matter what
they'll never give in nor up!and other stories: click on the underlined
topics:
Sex and Rebellion: How Gen Z is
Transforming Iran
and
Iran's Security Forces Kill
Growing Numbers of Kurdish and Baluchi Border Couriers
September 2, 2024:
Recreating the Citadel: Preserving
the memory of Tehran's red light district
and
Wave of Arrests and Harassment for
Iran's Baha'i Minority
and
Click here for previous inspiring
stories and articles
incl. Red Alerts |
Read here more about the
'Nurses 'strike' back':
August 30, 2024:
"Nurses can neutralize security
forces' efforts with unity."
and updates:
August 28, 2024:
Nurses' demands - "A nurse will
die, but will not accept humiliation,":
SPECIAL
REPORTS PALESTINE
Click here for actual updates
Updated
Sept. 2, 2024 |
In support - refleclection and updates of
"NO to executions" campaign:
Sept. 7 - August 20, 2024
July 8 - 4, 2024:
The-death-sentence-against-Sharifeh-Mohammadi
June 15, 2024:
Prisoner Swap with Iran is
Shameful Reward
June 5 - May 23, 2024:
It |Iran| puts people to death in
order to terrorize the population into silence.
and other stories
*OHCHR - UN Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Click here for earlier reports
|
|
|
May 10 - 3, 2024
'War against the No-hijabi
women'
|
September 5 - 4,
2024
<<Signatures collected for
Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi sent to 14
organizations...
and <<Suspicious death of
Iranian journalist Sara Tavousi...
and <<A Brief Report on the
Arrest of 17 Kurdish Civilians Over Four Days...
and <<Raheleh Rahemipour:
Health Crisis of Elderly Activist Ignored by Iran
Authorities...
and <<Kurdish Father and
Son Arrested by Iranian Security Forces...
and more actual news |
When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
Gino d'Artali
and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi
figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da
qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so
called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali.
No to Executions Tuesdays
NCRI - Womens committee - 7 Sept 2024 - in Podcast, Women's News
<<Political Prisoners' Hunger Strike Against Rising Executions in Iran
Today, we're discussing a grave issue unfolding in Iran. The political
prisoners’ hunger strike against executions in Iran. Female political
prisoners are actively involved despite enduring great hardships and
punitive measures by prison authorities. Let's start by talking about
the recent spike in executions in Iran. Can you give us an overview of
what's happening? How many individuals have been executed in recent
months and how many of them were women? Certainly. Since the
inauguration of the Iranian regime's new president and his cabinet,
there’s been a disturbing increase in executions. Between July 22 and
August 31, at least 138 people were executed, including nine women and
two political prisoners. This surge is part of a broader strategy by the
regime to instill fear and suppress any potential uprisings. The most
shocking event was the mass execution of 29 individuals on August 7,
with 26 hanged simultaneously in Ghezel Hesar Prison. Additionally, the
regime resumed public executions, a practice not seen since December
2022.
This is horrifying. Why do you think the regime is escalating these
executions now?
The regime is under immense pressure due to widespread unrest and daily
protests across the country. Iranian society is on the verge of
erupting, and these executions are a desperate attempt to intimidate the
population into submission. The regime believes that by executing
prisoners, particularly political ones, they can stifle dissent and
maintain control. Has the new president said anything about the
executions, such as calling for a halt or taking action to reduce them?
There were hopes that he would be more moderate than the previous
presidents! The new president has so far said nothing about the surge in
executions. It seems that this is one of the red lines for Masoud
Pezeshkian, who has vowed to follow the instructions given by the
mullahs' supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and to follow in the footsteps of
Ebrahim Raisi, the mass murderer who was killed in a helicopter crash
last May. Speaking of dissent, let's talk about the hunger strike
campaign led by political prisoners. What can you tell us about this
movement? The hunger strike campaign, known as "No to Executions
Tuesdays," began in late January 2024 at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
It's a bold initiative where prisoners go on hunger strike every Tuesday
to protest the regime's use of the death penalty. The campaign quickly
spread to 21 prisons across Iran, including the women’s wards of Evin
and Lakan prison of Rasht, and female political prisoners in other
detention centers. The prisoners risk severe punishment, including
solitary confinement, beatings, and loss of visitation rights. Despite
these harsh repercussions, their resolve remains unbroken. It's clear
that these prisoners are incredibly courageous. Could you elaborate on
some of the specific protests led by female political prisoners? In the
women's ward of Evin Prison, protests have been particularly intense. In
February, a group of female prisoners affiliated with the Iranian
opposition joined the hunger strike. Over time, their group has grown,
leading sit-ins, burning nooses in defiance, and continuing hunger
strikes. These actions have been met with severe reprisals, including
indefinite denial of family visits and brutal crackdowns by prison
guards. Additionally, female political prisoners in Lakan Prison of
Rasht and the Central Prison of Tabriz have also joined the hunger
strikes to stop the executions. The situation is dire. But do you think
the international community is paying enough attention to these
protests? There has been some international attention, but it's nowhere
near enough. Sixty-eight human rights organizations have expressed
solidarity with the hunger strikers, and some members of the European
Parliament have voiced their support. And recently, Elisabetta
Zamparutti, a former Italian MP, has even joined the hunger strike in
solidarity. However, more robust action is needed. The global community
must hold the Iranian regime accountable for these human rights
violations and take practical punitive measures to, indeed, stop the
executions. Now given the regime's entrenched power and the severe
repression faced by dissidents, do you believe these protests can make a
real difference? This is a valid question. The regime has repeatedly
shown that it will use any means necessary to maintain control. However,
it's in a precarious situation, facing growing protests over the
numerous crises engulfing the country, such as unpaid government
employees and severe electricity shortages shutting down industries. As
I mentioned, the situation is volatile. The prisoners’ hunger strikes
have already drawn international attention, and each act of resistance
chips away at the regime's authority. The courage of these prisoners
inspires others in Iran, showing that they too can challenge the regime.
That's a powerful perspective. Before we wrap up, what message do you
think these political prisoners want the world to hear? The message is
clear: these prisoners are not merely fighting for their own lives but
for the dignity and freedom of all Iranians. They're showing the world
that even in the darkest of circumstances, the human will to resist
tyranny and oppression remains unbreakable. They want the world to
understand that the price of freedom is high, but they are willing to
pay it. They call on the international community to stand with them, to
amplify their voices, and to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its
crimes against humanity. The bravery of these political prisoners is
truly inspiring, and it's a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for
human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran.>>
Source:
https://wncri.org/2024/09/07/hunger-strike-against-executions/
NCRI - Womens committee - 3 September 2024 - in Women's news
<<Thirty-Second Week of the "No to Execution Tuesdays" Campaign Held in
21 Prisons Across Iran
Nationwide Hunger Strikes in Solidarity with Anti-Execution Movement
The thirty-second week of the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign began
on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, with prisoners from 21 prisons across
Iran participating in a coordinated hunger strike against the death
penalty. This week's campaign witnessed the addition of two more
prisons-Isfahan's Asadabad Prison and Kerman's Bam Prison-joining the
ongoing protest.
List of Participating Prisons
In addition to the newly joined prisons, the following facilities
continued their participation: Evin Prison (Women's Ward, Wards 4 and
8), Ghezel Hesar (Units 3 and 4), Central Karaj Prison, Greater Tehran
Prison, Khorramabad, Shiraz Military Prison, Mashhad, Lakan Rasht,
Qaemshahr, Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Naqadeh, Saqqez, Baneh,
Marivan, and Kamyaran prisons.
Condemnation of Executions and Human Rights Violations
In their weekly statement, the striking prisoners strongly condemned the
issuance and implementation of inhumane execution sentences. They called
for the abolition of the death penalty and the end of what they
described as a "dehumanizing situation." The statement particularly
denounced the brutal killings of Mohammad Mir-Mousavi and Komeil
Abolhasani, highlighting the violation of Iranians' right to life by the
government in various forms. The prisoners once again urged the
freedom-loving people of Iran and fellow inmates to support and join the
"No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign. Last week, the campaign received
backing from 68 human rights organizations and institutions.>>
Source:
https://wncri.org/2024/09/03/no-to-execution-tuesdays/
Iran executes
Jinha - Womens News Agency 3 Sept 2024
<<Iran executes more than 400 people in 2024
More than 400 people, including 15 women, have been executed in Iran
since the start of 2024, a group of 11 independent United Nations rights
experts said in a statement on Monday.
News Center- UN experts expressed alarm over a surge in executions
during the month of August 2024 and urged the Islamic Republic of Iran
to immediately stop the execution of people facing the death penalty. At
least 81 individuals were executed in August, twice as many as the 45
executions reported in July, based on information received by the
experts. The reported number of executions this year has risen to above
400 individuals, among them 15 women, a group of 11 independent United
Nations rights experts said in a statement on Monday. "We are deeply
concerned by this sharp rise in executions. According to information
received, of the 93 executions in August, only a fraction is officially
reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting the urgent need
for transparency," they said.
UN experts recalled the execution of Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, a Kurdish
protester of the Yarsani faith, on August 6 at Dizel Abad prison. "The
Supreme Court confirmed his death sentence despite co-defendants
retracting their testimonies about Rasaei's involvement in the murder,
and despite a forensic medical examiner providing testimony challenging
Rasaei’s involvement in the murder," the statement said.
"Reports of serious violations of fair trial and due process rights mean
that the death penalty as it is currently practiced in the Islamic
Republic of Iran amounts to unlawful execution," UN experts said,
renewing their appeal to Iranian authorities to halt executions of all
individuals sentenced to death.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/iran-executes-more-than-400-people-in-2024-35618?page=1
NCRI - Womens committee - 1 Sept 2024 - in Monthlies, in Women's News
<<August 2024 Report: No to the Death Penalty Campaign
Rising Executions and the Nationwide "No to the Death Penalty" Campaign
Political Prisoners Fight Behind Bars to Halt the Clerical Regime’s
Killing Machine
In August, coinciding with the inauguration of the clerical regime’s new
president and the confirmation of his cabinet, Iran witnessed a surge in
executions. From July 22 to August 21, the regime executed at least 126
individuals, with an additional 12 executions carried out by August 31.
Among those executed were nine women and two political prisoners. Kamran
Sheikheh, a Sunni prisoner of conscience, was executed on July 25, and
Reza Rasaei, a protester arrested during the nationwide uprising of
2022, was hanged on August 6. Among the unprecedented events in recent
history was the mass execution of 29 individuals on August 7, with 26 of
them being hanged simultaneously at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. On
August 26, another prisoner was executed in public in Shahrud, a
practice that had not been carried out since the public hanging of
Majidreza Rahnavard, an executed protester, in Mashhad on December 12,
2022. The clerical regime, by intensifying executions-especially
targeting political prisoners and conducting public hangings-aims to
solidify a climate of fear and repression, hoping to prevent the
outbreak of another uprising. The regime is fully aware that Iranian
society is on the brink of eruption, with numerous protests occurring
daily across the country by various discontented groups. Among the most
notable of these protests in August were those led by nurses and
healthcare workers, who launched a nationwide strike that has now
continued for over three weeks. Amidst these turbulent times, some of
the most courageous acts of resistance are taking place behind the high
walls of prisons, where prisoners are bravely standing against the
inhumane practice of the death penalty. Since February 2024, informed
and resolute inmates have risked severe repercussions by launching
hunger strikes in protest against the executions carried out every
Tuesday at dawn in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj. This campaign has exacted
a heavy toll on those involved. The prisoners have faced beatings, been
stripped of visitation rights and phone calls, and subjected to solitary
confinement. Yet, their resolve has not wavered. By the final week of
August, the Tuesday hunger strike against executions had entered its
31st week, expanding to 20 prisons across Iran and attracting widespread
support both domestically and internationally. In this month's bulletin,
we take a closer look at the protests led by female political prisoners
in the women's ward of Evin Prison and other detention centers across
the country.
Hunger Strikes and Sit-Ins in the Women’s Ward of Evin
On February 13, 2024, a group of women political prisoners affiliated
with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) and imprisoned
in the women’s ward of Evin Prison joined the "No to Executions
Tuesdays" campaign in its third week. This campaign was initiated by
prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison on January 30, following the execution
of imprisoned protester, Mohammad Ghobadlou, and a Sunni prisoner of
conscience, Farhad Salimi, with the aim of ending executions and torture
in Iran. Later, a larger group of political prisoners in the women's
ward of Evin Prison issued a statement on Tuesday, July 30, declaring
their participation in the nationwide "No to Executions Tuesdays"
campaign. "We, a group of women political prisoners in the women's ward
of Evin, stand alongside our brothers in the brutal prisons of the
Velayat-e Faqih regime. As we mark the 27th Tuesday against executions,
we have received the devastating news of the death sentence issued
against our beloved cellmate, Pakhshan Azizi, and the threats of
execution against our other cellmates, Nasim Gholami and Varisha Moradi.
Pakhshan Azizi Nasim Gholami Varisha Moradi.
"Now, as units of resistance and uprising within the regime's most
feared prisons, we draw a clear line against both the clerics and the
monarchy, joining hands with other prisoners in the 'Tuesdays Against
Executions' campaign. Together, we raise our voices to reach the world,
amplifying the cry of Pakhshan Azizi, who has been unjustly sentenced to
death, and the voices of all prisoners who are led to the gallows every
day." Earlier, on July 25 and 27, 2024, the majority of female political
prisoners in the women's ward of Evin, representing various beliefs,
staged a collective sit-in in the courtyard of the ward to protest the
death sentence issued against Pakhshan Azizi. They announced their
intention to remain in the courtyard from 7 PM onward, refusing to
return to their cells that night. In a symbolic act of defiance, they
set fire to a noose to express their opposition to executions. As the
rope burned, they chanted: "Death to the regime of executions; death to
the dictator; united in Evin's women's ward; we will stand firm until
the death sentence is overturned." On Saturday, August 3, in retaliation
for the protests, dozens of female prisoners at Evin Prison were
notified that they would be indefinitely denied family visits. In
response to this punitive action, the female political prisoners
announced that they would not tolerate this infringement on their
fundamental rights-the right to in-person visits-and vowed to protest
against this unjust measure.
Around noon on Tuesday, August 7, 2024, female political prisoners at
Evin Prison protested the execution of fellow political prisoner Reza
Rasaei by staging a protest. This protest aligned with the nationwide
"No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign and the hunger strikes taking place
across the country. The women chanted slogans condemning the death
penalty, including "Death to the Dictator" and "Death to the Executioner
Regime."
In response to the protest by female political prisoners in the women's
ward of Evin Prison, several guards were deployed to suppress the
unrest. This intervention resulted in injuries to some of the prisoners,
who were subsequently taken to the prison infirmary. Additionally, all
phone communications for these political prisoners were severed,
preventing them from contacting their families. Despite these punitive
measures, the female political prisoners in Evin, many of whom are in
poor health and lack access to medical care, remain resolute. They
continue their protests and hunger strikes as part of the "No to
Executions Tuesdays" campaign with unwavering determination.
Female Political Prisoners in Lakan Prison Join the "No to Executions
Tuesdays" Campaign
Political prisoners in Lakan Prison of Rasht
On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, eight female political prisoners held at
Lakan Prison in Rasht commenced a hunger strike and joined the "No to
Executions Tuesdays" campaign. These prisoners are protesting not only
against death sentences issued to political and non-political inmates
but are also specifically protesting the death sentences imposed on
political prisoners, Sharifeh Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi.
Additionally, they have raised concerns about 14 non-political female
prisoners at Lakan Prison who are at risk of execution. They have called
for attention to their plight and support for these largely unknown
detainees. With the increase in the number of political prisoners in the
women's ward at Lakan Prison, approximately 16 inmates are currently
participating in the "No to Executions Tuesdays" hunger strike. On
Wednesday, August 14, these prisoners staged a sit-in to protest the
transfer of two women’s rights activists to the Intelligence Department.
Intelligence officers entered the political prisoners’ section at Lakan
Prison and took the activists for <interrogation and further
questioning> at the Intelligence Department in Rasht. The supervising
judge at the prison did not address the concerns of the women, prompting
them to stage a sit-in at the guard officer's office to protest the
actions of the intelligence officers.
The Women's Ward of the Central Prison of Tabriz
Earlier, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, several political prisoners at Tabriz
Prison, including female political prisoners, Armita Paveir and Maryam
Bayramian, announced their participation in the "No to Executions
Tuesdays" campaign, marking its 23rd week. On Wednesday, August 21,
Armita Paveer clashed with prison authorities over the denial of medical
care to a seriously ill inmate. In retaliation, she was placed in
solitary confinement and has since been cut off from all contact and
visits with her family.
Armita Paveer
Vakilabad Prison: The Condition of Female Inmates
On July 30 and 31, 2024, female prisoners at Mashhad Prison staged
protests due to inadequate facilities and the oppressive heat in the
wards and kitchen. Their dissatisfaction was expressed through the
destruction of glass panes and security cameras. In response, Ali Abdi,
the head of Vakilabad Prison, ordered guards to enter the women's ward
and suppress the unrest. The prison infirmary refused to treat the
injured prisoners, and following the clashes, the authorities
transferred several women from the general ward to various other areas,
including the psychiatric unit. During the second protest on August 3, a
special forces unit, following orders from prison authorities, escalated
their crackdown on the female prisoners. For eight hours, cell doors
were locked, preventing access to restrooms, the store, outdoor
exercise, and medical care. Guards pounded on the doors with batons and
created a disruptive clamor. Several prisoners were transferred to the
psychiatric unit, while others faced disciplinary actions that included
restrictions on visits, phone calls, and leave. In the psychiatric unit,
inmates were restrained in a crucifixion-like position, causing severe
wounds and infections on their arms and legs. They were only allowed to
move one hand for restroom use and meal times. Additionally, prisoners
were coerced into taking sedatives and anti-anxiety medications, leading
to dependency. Earlier, on July 18, a female prisoner known as "Ms. N"
at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad began a hunger strike in protest against
the brutal torture she had endured, sewing her lips shut. Ms. N, a
mother of four, has been imprisoned at Vakilabad for nearly a year
following an unfair trial. The director of the women's ward and a guard
named Salari subjected her to inhumane conditions, confining her to a
filthy, cold stone cell without food or water. For 30 hours, her hands
were shackled behind her back with iron cuffs, and her legs were tightly
bound, leading to severe bruising and swelling in her wrists. She has
been denied access to necessary medical care.
Despite the family's numerous complaints to various
authorities-including the head of the Khorasan Razavi courts, the
Mashhad prosecutor, the prison oversight inspector, and the supervising
judge-they have received no response. Ms. N continues to suffer both
physical and psychological torture, and prison officials have denied her
family visits. When her mother finally succeeded in visiting her after
considerable effort, the meeting was conducted under the watchful eye of
a female guard.
International Support
At the onset of the prisoners' hunger strike as part of the "No to
Executions Tuesdays" campaign, this action received support from members
of the European Parliament. Ms. Dorien Rookmaker, MEP from the
Netherlands, emphasized this during the plenary session of the European
Parliament in Strasbourg on February 7, 2024. Sixty-eight Iranian and
international human rights organizations and groups issued a joint
statement affirming their support and solidarity with the "No to
Executions Tuesdays" campaign. They urged the international community to
back this protest movement. The statement, released on August 27,
condemned the clerical regime for using the death penalty as a tool of
political repression and highlighted that executions are carried out by
courts that do not adhere to basic legal standards. Additionally,
Elisabetta Zamparutti, a former Italian parliamentarian and a leading
figure in the human rights organization Hands Off Cain, expressed her
support for the campaign. On August 19, she announced that starting on
Tuesday, she will join the hunger strike alongside prisoners in Iranian
jails. In her posts on Facebook and Instagram, Zamparutti wrote: "In
Iran, executions are continuously and dramatically increasing. The
regime remains under the control of the Supreme Leader, and changing the
president does not alter this situation. Therefore, starting next
Tuesday, I will participate in the hunger strike every Tuesday with the
prisoners, protesting against these executions."
Elisabetta Zamparutti
International Campaign Against the Death Penalty in Iran
On Saturday, August 28, at an international conference in Paris, Mrs.
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of
Iran (NCRI), launched the "No to the Death Penalty" campaign. She
declared, "In the face of a regime of executions and massacres, I again
call on everyone to expand the campaign against executions. I urge the
participants of this conference and all human rights defenders to
actively engage in the major 'No to the Death Penalty' campaign." At the
international conference held in Paris, former international judges, UN
special rapporteurs, and legal experts issued urgent warnings about the
alarming rise in executions in Iran. They called for the regime’s
leaders to be held accountable for crimes against humanity and demanded
an end to the entrenched culture of impunity.
The Price of Freedom
Since the ascension of the new clerical president and the formation of
his cabinet, Iran has experienced a distressing surge in executions.
Massoud Pezeshkian has emphasized that the brutal policies of Ebrahim
Raisi, known as the "1988 mass murder" will persist and has repeatedly
underscored his loyalty to Ali Khamenei, the mullahs' Supreme Leader.
The clerical regime cannot endure even a single day without resorting to
repression, executions, and torture. To sustain its authority and
reinforce the atmosphere of oppression, it sends dozens of individuals
to the gallows every day.
Iranian prisons are overflowing with those who have been imprisoned for
their awareness, their activism, and their protests against the
prevailing injustices. The courageous women of Iran, with their
unwavering resolve, are paying a heavy price for the freedom of
themselves and their compatriots. In closing, let us remember two
resilient and courageous women, political prisoners Maryam Akbari
Monfared and Zeinab Jalalian, who have been exiled to remote prisons
among ordinary inmates and denied medical care, all to prevent them from
inspiring fellow prisoners and the public. Pakhshan Azizi, a social
worker sentenced to death by the clerical regime, wrote in a letter from
prison: "Those who walk the path of truth and freedom imbue both life
and death with new meaning. Our fear is not of death itself, but of a
life devoid of honor and freedom. True liberation begins where women-the
most ancient of the oppressed-stand resolute and unwavering for their
dignity and honor, embracing death as a path to freedom.
Sharifeh Mohammadi, myself, and other women on death row are neither the
first nor the last to be condemned merely for seeking a life of dignity
and freedom. Yet, freedom cannot be attained without sacrifice. The
price of freedom is indeed high." >>
Source:
https://wncri.org/2024/09/01/no-to-the-death-penalty/
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - 20 August 2024
<<Thirty Weeks of Resistance Against Executions: The Continuation of the
"No to Executions Tuesdays" Campaign in 18 Prisons Across the Country
Political prisoners held in 18 Iranian prisons have once again expressed
their strong opposition to the inhumane death penalty and the alarming
rise in executions by publishing a joint letter. This statement
coincides with the 30th week of the "No to Executions Tuesdays"
campaign.
The full text of this statement, a copy of which has been obtained by
Hengaw, is as follows:
According to reliable sources, the protest strike by prisoners in the
country's prisons, known as the "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign,
which began in February, continued today, Tuesday, August 20th, marking
its thirtieth week as prisoners across the country joined the strike.
This campaign, now joined by hundreds of prisoners in 18 prisons
nationwide, has been, from the outset, a protest against the very
concept of execution as an inhumane and irreversible punishment,
regardless of the charges, motives, or beliefs of those sentenced to
death. The campaign's primary goal is the abolition of this inhumane
punishment. The ongoing and growing momentum of this campaign comes at a
time when the judiciary and security officials of the Islamic Republic
have executed over 310 people since the beginning of 2024. Among those
executed in recent months, 16 were female prisoners. The regime has
accelerated its execution rate in recent weeks, with 118 individuals
executed in August alone. The regime's recent widespread use of the
death penalty has been so extensive that it seems the officials of this
authoritarian state systematically view execution as the solution to all
crises, effectively taking "hard revenge" on the people of this land
through the gallows. In the midst of this, women in society, who could
be the driving force for fundamental change in Iran, have been targeted
by the government for even harsher repression both on the streets and in
prison. The statistics of 16 women executed in the past five months, the
arrests, and violence against women in society under the pretext of the
government-imposed hijab, which in some cases has led to the death or
violation of the health rights of girls and women, are clear examples of
this violent confrontation by the regime with women, who are seen as a
leading force for fundamental change. It is clear that the Islamic
Republic does not execute groups of 100 or 120 people at a time, but
rather 120 individuals are executed in their isolation, while thousands
of other prisoners remain alone and helpless, waiting for the final day
of their lives and the implementation of their death sentences. As
prisoners in Evin and Lakan Rasht prisons have rightly pointed out,
stopping this killing machine and halting executions is only possible
through collective and widespread actions and protests. Since execution
is a social issue carried out by the government, confronting it must
also be a social effort that can only be achieved through collective
action and unity. The necessity of unity and solidarity to fight against
executions has been repeatedly emphasized by the prisoners involved in
the "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign. They have called on everyone
to rise up in any way possible and to support the prisoners in their
resistance, which began from within the prisons. According to reliable
sources, prisoners participating in the "No to Executions Tuesdays"
campaign have gone on hunger strike for the thirtieth consecutive week
today in various prisons across the country, including Evin Prison
(Women's Ward, Ward 4, Ward 6, and Ward 8), Ghezel Hesar Prison (Unit 3
and Unit 4), Central Karaj Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Shiraz Military
Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Lakan Rasht Prison (Women's
Ward and Men's Ward), Tabriz Prison, Ardabil Prison, Khoy Prison,
Naqadeh Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh
Prison, Mariwan Prison, and Kamyaran Prison. They have called on all
compatriots, especially prisoners in other prisons, to join and support
this campaign. They have also called on Ms. Mai Sato, the UN Special
Rapporteur on Human Rights, to pay special attention to these inhumane
actions, particularly the executions in Iran, and to tirelessly work
towards stopping executions and ending this inhumane situation in Iran.
#NoToExecutionTuesdays
August 20, 2024>>
Source:
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2024/08/article-84
Women's Liberation Front 2019/cryfreedom.net 2024
|
