Political Prisoners in Women's Ward of Evin Oppose Executions: 'Overthrow is Closer to the Islamic Republic than Ever'

Political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin prison held a protest gathering emphasizing that executions will strengthen the people's will to end the Islamic Republic and that 'overthrow is closer to the Iranian government than ever.' According to a statement received by Voice of America, the political prisoners gathered in the yard of the ward on Saturday afternoon, May 20, in protest against the executions, including the execution of two young men in Arak prison for blasphemy and three protesters in Isfahan. Narges Mohammadi stated: 'The government is taking brutal revenge on the revolutionary movement through executions and killing people.' She added that the recent executions, which are occurring while people are rising up with a firm will to end the authoritarian religious government, will not lead to oppression and the continuation of the regime but will intensify public protests and transform the radical strategic decision of the revolutionary movement to end the Islamic Republic into a powerful public demand. She also stated that 'the cost and consequence of each execution for the government will be the multiplication and intensification of popular power for the overthrow of the regime' and called on the international community, global media, and human rights organizations and women worldwide to take urgent action to stop the violent and ruthless machinery of executions, as 'every six hours an execution is a crime that no one should tolerate.' Golrokh Iraei, a political prisoner, remarked that silence means 'being complicit in raising the gallows' and stated that 'the essence of this regime is the physical elimination of opponents, critics, and protesters to its policies.' She emphasized that 'the only way to resist is in the streets,' although 'every time, even if a step forward, it has been met with batons, bullets, intimidation, and disorganization of protests.' Faezah Hashemi, daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the founders of the Islamic Republic, who is also imprisoned in Evin, questioned the seriousness of the government in 'punishing criminals' while referring to the history of the Islamic Republic's massacres and executions, including those in the 1980s, the chain murders, and the Green Movement, which went unpunished. She emphasized that 'executions and taking lives have become a daily and abhorrent process in the Islamic Republic' and that 'the death penalty under various titles has become a tool for silencing critics, protesters, and dissenters and evading accountability for the dire situation in the country, and it is a sign of fear of the people.' Nasrin Khazari Javadi, another political prisoner participating in the protest, stated that 'we are witnessing more executions of young people while the blood of the young has not yet dried on the streets,' adding that 'the execution and suppression machine of the Islamic Republic shows no signs of stopping.' She referred to the history of executions and massacres since the beginning of the Islamic Republic and asked, 'Is silence in the face of such a crime not a disgrace and humiliation?' Khazari Javadi insisted that 'the decision-makers of these crimes should know that their day of trial will also come in fair and popular courts.' Shakila Monfared, a political activist, emphasized that it does not matter what charges the Islamic Republic uses to execute individuals, stating, 'If we do not protest today, tomorrow it will be our turn. It does not matter what crime they were executed for.' Vida Rabani, a journalist, stated that 'the people of Iran have long since passed the Islamic Republic' and that 'the response to any protest is blood flowing in the streets,' urging that 'the world must take a different path with the Islamic Republic.' She emphasized that 'Saeed Yaghoubi, Saleh Mirhashimi, and Majid Kazemi are neither the first nor the last victims of the tyrant of our time,' adding, 'Every second of this regime's continuation is a crime against humanity.' Sepideh Ghalean, a civil activist, recalled a comment made by Mohammad Hosseini to a judge regarding special weapons for martial arts, saying, 'Dear, this is for sports,' emphasizing that these young people 'have brought the homeland for us and said they will work until these people leave before the oil wells run dry.' She added, 'They will leave before the oil wells run dry. We will dance lovingly in our homeland.' Bahareh Hedayat, a former student activist and political prisoner, emphasized that 'the people have always been the driving force of protests,' stating that they 'have come to the streets whenever they have had the opportunity, risking everything.' She also noted that 'if there are any shortcomings or deficiencies, it is from the political forces,' adding that they 'must understand the necessities of the situation, that is, the logic governing the situation, and only by considering these necessities can they prepare a political program that leads to the victory of the protesters.' Hedayat stressed, 'If we say we want to overthrow, if we say the Islamic Republic is the enemy of the Iranian people, we must know that within these propositions lies the logic and necessities of our political action.' Zahra Sarv described the 'performance of the dictatorial government' as 'double standards,' stating that 'the occupying government of Zahak' believes 'the best defense is an attack and intends to intimidate and push back the people with executions.' This political prisoner emphasized that 'executions are not only not deterrent but will have the opposite effect.' Sarv addressed the leaders of the Islamic Republic, saying, 'You will soon witness a nationwide uprising of the people, and overthrow is closer to you than ever. We will decisively end this bloodthirsty and misogynistic government.' At this gathering, Mahvash Shahriari, a Baha'i prisoner, expressed condolences to the families of the executed and expressed regret and concern over the intensification of executions. Saeed Piyvandi, a sociologist, recently told Voice of America that the executions are a continuation of the Islamic Republic's policies on the streets of Iran.