21 Political Prisoners Criticize the Exile of Saeed Madani to Damavand Prison: Rulers Seeking to Build a Hollow Authority

A group of political prisoners condemned the "unjustified exile" of Saeed Madani, a social researcher and "non-violent activist," from Evin Prison to Damavand Prison in a statement. Dated Tuesday, April 3, signed by 21 political prisoners, the statement describes the Islamic government's action in exiling Mr. Madani as a "continuation of the systematic repression of political critics" and a "desperate" attempt by the rulers "claiming authority" to build a "hollow authority." According to the statement, pressures and "harassments, including heavy sentences over the past 8 years, long and repeated detentions and solitary confinements, over 7 years in harsh prisons, years of exile, expulsion from university, and banning from writing" have never been able to prevent Saeed Madani from "researching, thinking, and writing" or stop his "benevolent activism for Iran." The statement asserts: "We are certain that behind these dark and bleak days, the victory and freedom of the Iranian people will come, and the sun of the thoughts of the elites and the concerned individuals of this land, including people like Madani, will shine upon this homeland." Among the signatories are Golrokh Iraee, Alireza Aradati, Rasoul Badaghi, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Mahvash Sabat, Amir Salar Davoodi, Vida Rabani, Keyvan Rahimian, Hossein Rezag, Mehran Raouf, and Maziar Seyednejad. Other signatories include Reza Shahabi, Sepehr Ziaei, Sepideh Ghaleian, Fariba Kamalabadi, Narges Mohammadi, Abdollah Momeni, Rouhollah Nakhaei, Faezah Hashemi, Sedigheh Vosoughi, and Maryam Yahyavi. Saeed Madani, a sociologist and civil activist, was recently exiled from Evin Prison to Damavand Prison "in violation of prison regulations." Mehdi Mahmoudian, a former political prisoner, described the transfer of Saeed Madani to Damavand Prison as a "harsh revenge" for the "lack of participation of over 60% of the people" in the recent elections, adding that this action was carried out "on the orders of the Ministry of Intelligence and compliance with the prosecutor." Saeed Madani was arrested in May 2022 on charges including "suspicious foreign connections" and "anti-security actions" and was sentenced to 9 years in prison for "forming and managing anti-regime groups" and "propaganda against the regime." Following his participation in the "Dialogue for the Rescue of Iran" conference in May 2023 from Evin Prison, this university professor was again accused of "conspiracy and collusion against national security."