Narges Mohammadi: Does Anyone Hear Our 'No to War' Voice?

Narges Mohammadi, a imprisoned human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, noted that after receiving this award, she faced increased scrutiny. She expressed uncertainty about whether anyone hears their 'no to war' message despite severe security conditions. In an interview with the Italian newspaper 'Corriere della Sera' on the anniversary of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and ahead of this year's announcement of the award winner, she reflected on her experience during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, stating: 'My teenage years were spent in fear of the bombs falling on my beautiful and beloved city, Zanjan, and that fear settled not only in my eyes and skin but in my bones and has never left.' Currently imprisoned in Evin since November 2021, she emphasized: 'The path to peace is impossible through the dark and destructive tunnel of war.' This Nobel Peace Prize winner added: 'The perpetrators of war will be forever disgraced and rejected in the history of humanity, not just for the people of that land and time of war.' Mohammadi believes that peace is not merely the absence of war but 'freedom from all forms of tyranny, oppression, discrimination, threats, terror, and insecurity,' and living under gender apartheid does not represent peace for women. Following the Islamic Republic's military adventures and missile attacks on Israel, several figures and organizations have expressed concern about the consequences of ongoing tensions, with many agreeing that the Islamic Republic is responsible for the current situation and its repercussions. On Monday, October 8, coinciding with the anniversary of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, Prince Reza Pahlavi stated that the Islamic Republic 'facilitated the October 7 attack, fueled sectarian conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, and is attempting to overthrow the Hashemite monarchy and delegitimize the custodian of the two holy shrines.' He emphasized that 'this war is not the people of Iran's war! This war is Ali Khamenei's and his regime's.' Hamed Esmaeilioun, a political activist and opposition figure, also stressed that 'one can say no to both the Islamic Republic and war,' writing that in the event of war, the Islamic Republic does not have the support of 'the majority of us,' and supporting 'military attacks by others on Iran' would lead to 'the ruthless judgment of history.' The 'Solidarity of Iranian Republicans' also stated in a statement that the way to save the country is to stand firm on the two pillars of 'no to war' and 'no to the Islamic Republic' and to confront the 'deceptive program' of reformists and the main supporters of Masoud Pezeshkian in dragging the nation into supporting the Islamic Republic's 'belligerent foreign policy.' The United States: Preventing Israel from responding to the Islamic Republic's attack has never been a consideration. Prince Reza Pahlavi: We will not allow a power vacuum to arise after the regime's fall. Reactions to escalating tensions in the region; Hamed Esmaeilioun: One can say no to both the Islamic Republic and war. The Solidarity of Iranian Republicans: The way to save the country is to stand firm on the two pillars of 'no to war' and 'no to the Islamic Republic.' A human rights organization expressed concern about the consequences of the Islamic Republic's conflict with Israel for political prisoners and the people.