Sit-in at Trafalgar Square, London: Political prisoners in Iran must be released

A group of women, labor, political, and civil activists began a two-week sit-in on Wednesday in Trafalgar Square, London, demanding the "unconditional release of all well-known and unknown political prisoners" in Iran. In a statement, they announced that they gathered to raise awareness about the actions of the Islamic Republic, including "the enslavement of freedom of expression, freedom of thought, and political freedoms, and the arrest or execution of thousands of people for their thoughts and beliefs." Among the signatories of the statement are Hassan Rahimi, Kaveh Ahangar, Mohammad Rahimi, Jahangir Mowali, Hooshang Ansari, Fariborz Pouya, Maryam Namazi, Raouf Afsaei, Helaleh Taheri, Frank Heydari, Reza Azmoudeh, Siavash Nikoubian, and Ayoub Rahmani. Parinaz Parto, one of the signatories, told the Persian section of Voice of America: "The statement mentions that the modern movement of women, life, freedom, has brought the younger generation and the future builders of Iran into the arena of struggle, and we all witnessed that the Islamic Republic forced detainees to confess against themselves through show trials and executed some of them." Ms. Parto added: "In this sit-in, the public and the minds of Europe will be called upon in one of London's most important squares to be the voice of the people of Iran, especially the voices of unknown prisoners." She pointed out: "The Islamic Republic has always tried to continue its crimes in secrecy through threats and intimidation of families and does not respect the most basic human rights of prisoners." Parinaz Parto also mentioned that the sit-in has received support from some Iranian civil groups outside of Iran, including "radical leftists, the united socialist bloc, the Council of Solidarity with the Struggles of the People of Iran-UK, and the Balochistan Human Rights Group." Since the protests began after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, Iranians abroad have carried out many protest actions against the Islamic Republic. They have also supported protests in Iran and called for the release of all political prisoners.