Protests Against Human Rights Violations in Iran; Narges Mohammadi Joins Hunger Strike of Two Baha'i Prisoners

Narges Mohammadi announced that "on World Human Rights Day, in protest against the blatant and widespread violations of human rights in Iran" and in solidarity with the hunger strike of Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, Baha'i women prisoners in Evin, she will go on a hunger strike. In her Instagram account, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and imprisoned human rights activist in Iran stated that "there is hardly a day that we do not hear news of the execution of our compatriots in various cities. There is hardly a day that we do not hear the cries of mothers and fathers seeking justice, prisoners, detainees, tortured individuals, those held in solitary confinement in security wards, those subjected to abuse, and women under oppression." She added, "Of course, there is hardly a day that the cries for freedom and justice, resistance, and the courageous civil struggles of the people across our land do not reach our ears." Ms. Mohammadi pointed out that there is a "hard struggle" between the religious tyranny of the government and the people demanding freedom, equality, and democracy, adding that "in such circumstances, the repression and violent methods of the government against the Baha'i community have intensified." The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner noted that Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, "two oppressed Baha'i women who have endured 10 years of imprisonment and face another 10 years, have gone on a three-day hunger strike in protest against the violation of the civil rights of Baha'is in Iran." Starting from Friday, December 9, these two former leaders of the Baha'i community in Iran began their three-day hunger strike in Evin prison. In a letter published on Narges Mohammadi's Instagram page on Saturday, December 10, they stated that this action is taken "in protest against the destructive approach of the government" and in pursuit of "the civil rights of Baha'is." Narges Mohammadi further mentioned that "in Bahman 1387 (February 2009), the Attorney General announced in a letter that the small groups managing the Baha'i community would be shut down and, in return, the civil rights of Baha'is would be respected by the government." She added, "This letter was communicated to the leaders of the Baha'i community in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence, and they decided to shut down the managing groups of the Baha'i community in Iran." Regarding this treatment by the Islamic Republic, she wrote: "Not only are the civil rights of this minority community not respected by the government, but even greater injustices and ruthless oppression are being inflicted upon them." The Nobel Peace Prize winner described this act as "a manifestation of lies, deceit, and the suppression of minorities and their institutions in Iranian society." The Islamic Republic does not recognize the Baha'i faith and Baha'is have repeatedly been accused of espionage and acting against the Islamic Republic. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, many sentences of execution and imprisonment have been issued against them. Alongside these actions, numerous reports have been published regarding the deprivation of education and business restrictions on Baha'is. In her concluding message, Ms. Mohammadi stated: "To protest the blatant violations of human rights in Iran and the violation of the civil rights of Baha'is and to join the three-day hunger strike of my oppressed Baha'i cellmates," she will go on a hunger strike to make it a voice of protest for the people oppressed and suppressed in Iran by the Islamic Republic regime on the day of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Nobel Peace Prize is set to be awarded on Sunday, December 10, without her presence, and according to reports, Ali and Kiana Rahmani will represent Narges Mohammadi at the ceremony, receiving her diploma of honor and Nobel gold medal in Oslo City Hall and speaking on behalf of their mother.