Exclusive; 'No government can endure through oppression'; Letter from imprisoned doctor on the anniversary of protesters' executions

Hamid Ghara-Hassanlou, a doctor sentenced to 15 years in exile in Yazd prison, emphasized in an exclusive letter to Voice of America on the second anniversary of the execution of Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini that 'no government can endure through oppression.' He wrote to the people of Iran: 'We must replace caution and fear with courage.' In his letter, this imprisoned doctor regarded the deaths of Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, detainees from the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, as carrying the message that 'we must strive with all our being and without pause for the realization of freedom, democracy, human dignity, justice, and equality for all Iranians, regardless of color, race, religion, or sect.' Ghara-Hassanlou stressed non-violence, writing: 'We must not commit violent acts in the process of achieving our rightful demands. We should not drink from the cup of anger and hatred to quench our thirst for freedom. We must not allow organized protests to descend into physical violence, which is a characteristic of authoritarian regimes that are very experienced in violence and far removed from human and spiritual emotions.' This prisoner, sentenced to 15 years in exile in Yazd prison, expressed hope for Iran to become 'an oasis of justice and freedom,' stating: 'On such a day, when freedom resonates from every village and town, from every state and city, we can join hands and sing the beautiful refrain of 'Women, Life, Freedom' and 'Men, Homeland, Prosperity,' celebrating joyfully.' Hamid Ghara-Hassanlou further emphasized: 'No matter how much truth is suppressed, it will rise again; for no lie remains hidden forever, and no government can endure through oppression.' Hamid and Farzaneh Ghara-Hassanlou, a couple of doctors, were arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 and were accused of being involved in the death of a Basij member named Rouhollah Ajamian. They strongly denied this accusation. Farzaneh Ghara-Hassanlou, a laboratory sciences expert, was sentenced to 5 years in prison in Mashhad, while Hamid Ghara-Hassanlou received a 15-year sentence in Yazd. It is reported that this couple are both from the Gonabadi Dervishes and adherents of Sufism. Atekeh Rajabi, a former imprisoned teacher, reported on 'increased pressures' on Farzaneh Ghara-Hassanlou in Mashhad prison. Hundreds of users on Instagram called for the release of political prisoners in Iran. The judiciary of Alborz province confirmed that Hamid Ghara-Hassanlou's sentence is 15 years in prison. New details emerged about the 'torture of Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini'; they were told they had been pardoned.