Exclusive; Reza Salmanzadeh from Qezel Hesar Prison: The Islamic Republic is Finished with 'November 98'

Reza Salmanzadeh, a political prisoner and father of Mehdi Salmanzadeh, one of the victims of November 98, announced in a message from Qezel Hesar Prison addressed to the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran: 'You have finished with November.' In a letter dated November 24, a copy of which was obtained by the Persian section of Voice of America, he referred to the passage of 'four years since the martyrdom of 4,811 of our best loved ones in November 98' and stated that many families of the victims are still forced into silence due to government pressures. According to him, the death toll has been 'reduced' to 1,500, and there is still no accurate information available on the number of injured, but 'the shameless remarks of the then Minister of Interior' in Parliament about shooting at the heads, hearts, and legs of protesters 'indicate the existence of many injured.' Mr. Salmanzadeh called this 'crime against humanity a turning point' in the people's realization of 'the savage nature of the rule of the Guardian Jurist' and added, 'In Shahrivar 1401, we witnessed the sprouting of the blood of November.' This political prisoner referred to the November 98 'massacre' as 'the most heinous crime of the Islamic Republic against humanity' and expressed regret that 'the murderers of the children of November are now claiming child killing in war-torn countries and have forgotten their own crimes.' He further warned the officials of the Islamic Republic from 'behind the bars' that 'the time for your tyranny and lying is over, and only a lifeless and dying body remains of you.' Reza Salmanzadeh continued to tell the officials of the Islamic Republic: 'You have finished with November, and what remains of you is boundless shamelessness.' In conclusion, while condemning the 'crime of November 98' and expressing condolences to the families of the seekers of justice for all events from 'the Cinema Rex of Abadan to November,' especially the seekers of justice for the 'Women, Life, Freedom' revolution, he called for the continuation of the 'movement for justice of the Iranian people' and emphasized that 'the price of our children's blood is the freedom of Iran.' Meanwhile, a knowledgeable source told Manouchehr Pardel from the Persian section of Voice of America that Mr. Salmanzadeh's and other political prisoners' phone communications in Qezel Hesar Prison are heavily monitored, and as soon as they speak about political issues, their phone connections are cut, and cases are fabricated against them. Recently, Reza Salmanzadeh's son, a political activist who has been in prison since Ordibehesht, reported the formation of a criminal case against his father. Additionally, Salmanzadeh's message shared on X (formerly Twitter) stated that after the fire at Evin Prison, his father informed him that his hand was broken, his leg was hit by shotgun pellets, and he is hospitalized in Evin Prison's infirmary.