Fatemeh Sepehri's Message on the Anniversary of Mahsa: The Case of 'Crimes by This Criminal Sect' Has Grown Heavier

Fatemeh Sepehri, a political prisoner in Iran, sent a message through her brother on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, calling for the resumption of public protests. Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, a former political prisoner who met with his sister Fatemeh on Tuesday, September 21, noted the 'restrictions' imposed on him in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad and read the message of this political prisoner in a video report. In the message, which her brother reads, Fatemeh Sepehri states: 'The awakened nation of Iran has been mourning the cruel murder of the daughter of Iran, Mahsa Amini, for a year, and during this time, we have suffered greatly, and the case of the crimes of this criminal sect has grown heavier and heavier.' Sepehri, a signatory of the '14th Statement' for the transition from the Islamic Republic, like many opposition figures, has called for the resumption of public protests against the Islamic Republic and, according to her, 'to close the case of the crimes of this group.' Previously, Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi, in a message on the anniversary of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's death in custody of the morality police and 'other martyrs of the path to freedom,' called for unity 'to keep the flame of the Women, Life, Freedom revolution alive.' Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, had previously stated in response to a question from a VOA Persian reporter that the Islamic Republic has not learned from recent protests. Earlier, John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House, stated: 'After the killing of Mahsa Amini and the public protests, the people of Iran should now be able to make decisions for themselves and women should choose their own dress.'