Two Political Prisoners Emphasize the Necessity of Universal 'Justice-Seeking' in Their Nowruz Messages

Khalid Pirzadeh and Reza Salmandzadeh, two political prisoners, sent separate Nowruz messages that reached the Persian section of Voice of America, congratulating the New Year and emphasizing the necessity of universal 'justice-seeking' for a 'prosperous and free Iran.' In Khalid Pirzadeh's audio message from Evin Prison, he described Nowruz as 'a significant part of the several-thousand-year-old civilization of this ancient land,' Iran. Khalid Pirzadeh stated: 'I congratulate this ancient holiday to the noble and suffering people of Iran and wish health, happiness, and pride for each compatriot in the New Year, and for my country, I wish for freedom and prosperity. Long live Iran and Iranians!' Reza Salmandzadeh, a political prisoner held in Qazalhasar Prison, began his audio message with 'In the name of Iran.' The father of justice-seeker Mehdi Salmandzadeh, a teenage protester whose lifeless body was found after the November 2019 protests, stated in this message: 'From behind the tall walls of the prison of Zahak, on behalf of the families of justice-seekers in Iran, I declare the year 1403 as the year of justice-seeking until liberation.' He considered justice-seeking as 'the duty of every patriot' and labeled the Islamic Republic as 'an incompetent and bloodthirsty regime' that has 'imposed itself on the people by force of arms for 45 years.' According to Reza Salmandzadeh, leaders 'must be elected by the people, and whenever their inefficiency is proven, it is the people's right to dismiss them.' He urged not to underestimate the 'justice-seeking movement, as the only way to liberate Iran is through justice-seeking' and emphasized that 'all of Iran' seeks justice for 'the bloodshed by the guardianship of the jurists' and 'the wealthy country that has been plundered by its rulers and their affiliates.' This political prisoner also stated that 'justice-seeking does not require weapons' and 'does not need bombs and missiles,' adding: 'Justice-seeking is not dependent on any party, faction, or country. Justice-seeking only has a voice. A voice that wants to convey to the world that Iran is in a condition hundreds of times worse than current Gaza and Lebanon, and these voices are the only way to our liberation.' Reza Salmandzadeh also wished that 'the year 1403 would be the year of Iran's liberation with the solidarity of all justice-seekers in Iran.'