Narges Mohammadi on the Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death: 'The Foundations of the Religious Despotism' of the Islamic Republic Have Been Undermined

On the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death and the beginning of the nationwide protests in 2022, Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stated that 'the foundations of the religious despotism' of the Islamic Republic have been undermined. From Evin Prison, where a copy of her message was obtained by Voice of America, she called on the United Nations to 'end the silence and inaction' regarding the 'devastating discrimination' against women by criminalizing gender apartheid. On Sunday, September 16, she remarked, 'Two years have passed since the killing of Mahsa - Zhina Amini and the magnificent and powerful movement of 'Women, Life, Freedom.' In these two difficult and painful years, although wounds have been inflicted on the tired and rebellious bodies from oppression, discrimination, and despotism, and although a difficult path lies ahead of us, we all know that nothing is like it was before.' She emphasized that 'the people feel the greatest change in their beliefs, lives, and society,' adding, 'A change that, although it has not led to the change of the Islamic Republic system, has undermined the foundations of religious despotism.' According to the Nobel Peace Prize winner, 'This movement has made the reality of people's disillusionment with the government so palpable that a presidential candidate publicly admits in a debate that we are talking about which people, the 60% who didn't even bother to come to the polls.' Narges Mohammadi also stated, 'The 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement has redefined the element of the people for the despotic government, a meaning that has imposed fear on the religious government. People from Kurdistan to Sistan and Baluchestan and from Tehran to Azerbaijan and Khuzestan stood together and targeted the foundations of despotism in a harmonious plurality.' This political prisoner, incarcerated in the women's section of Evin Prison, emphasized on the second anniversary of the nationwide protests in 2022 that 'we strengthen our covenant and commitment to achieve democracy, freedom, and equality and to defeat religious despotism' and 'we will raise our voices louder and our wills more resolute.' Narges Mohammadi called on 'international organizations and people around the world' to have 'not just a spectator role but an active one' and requested the UN to 'end their silence and inaction in the face of the devastating oppression and discrimination of religious and despotic governments against women' because, according to her, 'the liberation of women from the grip of oppression and discrimination empowers the force that drives peace and democracy.' Simultaneously, a group of political prisoners in Evin went on a hunger strike on the second anniversary of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini was arrested on September 22, 2022, by the morality police, tasked with enforcing mandatory hijab laws, and died three days later at Kasra Hospital in Tehran. This incident sparked months of nationwide protests across all provinces of Iran, as well as in universities and schools. During the suppression of these peaceful protests, the Islamic Republic forces killed over 500 protesters and injured and detained thousands. Iranians abroad held protests and marches in dozens of cities worldwide on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Reports indicate that there were strikes by merchants in Kurdish cities on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, emphasizing 'the continuation of protests.' The Iranian Writers' Association stated that any change is only possible through the power of the people.