Narges Mohammadi in Interview with French Weekly: The Islamic Republic Will Fall

Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, in her latest interview with Western media, spoke about the "fragility" of the current Iranian government and the certainty of its "fall." The French weekly Nouvel Observateur conducted an interview with Ms. Mohammadi in which she emphasized that the issue is no longer "if this regime will fall," but rather "when it will fall." Ms. Mohammadi stated: "The Islamic Republic is collapsing from within: corruption, high unemployment, economic crisis, destruction of natural resources leading to environmental disaster, and... Iran cannot survive under such a regime forever." This human rights activist, in her conversation with Nouvel Observateur published on Thursday, March 9, titled "The Islamic Republic of Iran Will Fall," emphasized that the Islamic Republic is "unaccountable and lacks the capacity for democracy, freedom, and equality." She remarked about the Iranian government: "The Islamic Republic is fundamentally an unaccountable regime and lacks the capacity for democracy, freedom, and equality. It is an irreformable regime and, moreover, an inefficient one." Ms. Mohammadi's emphasis on the fragility of the Islamic Republic comes at a time when many observers believe the regime has weakened significantly in recent months due to the loss of considerable power of its proxy forces. Ms. Mohammadi added: "In such a situation, the people of Iran, based on historical experiences and the tireless and extensive efforts of fighters over 46 years, now seek a transition from tyranny to democracy. This means a transition from the Islamic Republic, as the Islamic Republic embodies tyranny and is one of the main obstacles to the people's attainment of democracy." This Nobel Peace Prize winner also stated that the transition from the Islamic Republic is "aimed at creating a democratic and secular structure in which human rights and women's rights are guaranteed, and civil society is realized and strengthened as a platform for people's participation." She noted that "mobilizing forces for women's rights means advancing democracy," considering the struggle for women's rights as a pathway to establishing democracy in Iran. Ms. Mohammadi said that understanding this issue would be as significant as recognizing racial apartheid, calling it "an important step." This is not the first time that French and European media have approached Narges Mohammadi. Taghi Rahmani, Ms. Mohammadi's husband, who resides in France, told Radio Farda that opposition to gender discrimination is the main issue that has attracted the attention of international media. Narges Mohammadi recently delivered a virtual speech at a session in the French Senate, addressing members of the Women's Rights Committee, stating: "I urge you, as advocates for women's rights, to boldly and proactively rise to criminalize gender apartheid. This is a historical, global, and feminist mission." In her conversation with Nouvel Observateur, she also emphasized the importance of democracy in Iran, stating that if democracy is realized in Iran, the country will be a factor of stability and lasting peace in the entire region, and thus, "it is very important for the international community to listen to and support civil societies in Iran and other countries." Ms. Mohammadi also added that she is using her temporary freedom to meet with activists and report on Iran's prisons and the government's repression, especially since the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement. She, who is currently outside of prison for medical treatment, also responded to questions about her physical condition and the status of her temporary freedom in this interview. This Nobel Peace Prize winner stated that after undergoing surgery to remove a bone tumor in her right leg, she was released from prison to receive medical treatment. Ms. Mohammadi added that since her bones are "still fragile," she has requested an extension of her medical leave, but the prosecutor has not responded to this request, and at the same time, she has not been returned to prison. She emphasized that in this way, the authorities did not want to formalize the extension of her temporary freedom, and therefore, she lives with the possibility that she could be arrested at any moment. This human rights activist, however, stressed that such behavior has not psychologically disturbed her, just as imprisoning her did not break her spirit, as she claims. The severe government repression and the danger of protests becoming "underground" are evident in the accounts of doctors and eyewitnesses regarding the injured during protests. The limitations of relations between China and Iran have also become apparent amid the protests. An official from the governor's office stated that 400 people were killed in Mashhad; a journalist from Ham-Mihan reported that Tehran smells of death. Eyewitness accounts from the massacre and the situation in several cities of Isfahan province describe it as "like war-torn areas." The last representative of Mossad in Tehran passed away amid the Iran crisis. Trump announced an agreement to hold a meeting about Greenland in Davos. ISIS prisoners escaped from prison simultaneously with the withdrawal of Kurdish militants from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.