In a striking letter released amidst the 45th campaign of »No to Execution Tuesdays«, five Iranian political prisoners sentenced to death have called for resistance against capital punishment and exposed systemic injustices in Iran’s judiciary. These prisoners—supporters of the opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)—are detained in Evin Prison in Tehran and are currently on hunger strike.
The letter, signed by the prisoners Seyyed Abolhassan Montazer, Babak Alipour, Akbar Daneshvarkar, Vahid Bani Amerian, and Pouya Ghobadi, condemns their sentences, which they assert are rooted in fabricated charges and a deeply flawed judicial process.
Key Points of the Letter
The prisoners begin their statement by highlighting the disappearance of their fellow inmate, Mohammad Taghavi, four months ago after his transfer to the infamous Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Taghavi, a survivor and witness to the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners in Iran, had refused to attend court proceedings, denouncing the judiciary as illegitimate.
The letter goes on to criticize the Iranian regime, asserting that its “anti-human and illegitimate” nature invalidates the judicial and legal processes under its authority. They denounce the regime’s judiciary for perpetuating violations of human rights, torture, and baseless accusations against dissidents.
Expressing solidarity with all death-row prisoners in Iran, the five authors reject the death penalty as a whole. Their appeal is not limited to their own survival but calls for the abolition of capital punishment for all, arguing that executions are a tool to instill fear and suppress dissent. Instead, they urge the Iranian people to transform fear into courage and resistance, ultimately leading to revolutionary change.
In the closing remarks, the prisoners emphasize that their struggle for justice stems not from a desire to preserve their own lives but from a commitment to dismantling the oppressive regime and achieving democratic reform in Iran.
Full Text of the Letter
We, five political prisoners condemned to death—supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran—who are currently participating in a hunger strike alongside many prisoners across the country on the occasion of the 45th “No to Executions” campaign, release this statement under dire circumstances. Four months ago, our brother, Mohammad Taghavi—a survivor and witness of the 1988 massacre—was taken back to Ward 209, and we have had no news of him since. His only “crime” was refusing to recognize the court’s legitimacy and declining to participate in its proceedings.
The nature of the regime of the Supreme Leader (Velayat-e Faqih) is well known. There is no need to explain the torture, insults, and countless violations of our fundamental human rights that we have endured from the moment of our arrest. Nor is there a need to elaborate on the baseless and undocumented accusations against us. From those who have killed thousands of this land’s youth, including Reza Rasaei and Mohammad Qobadlou, what else can be expected? A regime that is fundamentally illegitimate and anti-human cannot produce a legitimate judiciary, prosecutor, or court.
Thus, we, along with all political prisoners sentenced to death, turn only to the oppressed people of Iran, the heroic Resistance Units, and awakened consciences for justice. This is our pride and honor. Our call for justice is not solely about saving our own lives as we face the gallows. Instead, it is an invitation to stand against the death penalty—comprehensively and fundamentally—for all political and non-political prisoners.
The collective despair and fear caused by mass death sentences can and must be turned into courage, rebellion, and a revolutionary fire to uproot this regime.
Yes, the democratic revolution of the Iranian people will prevail in this way.
Signed:
Seyyed Abolhassan Montazer
Babak Alipour, Ward 4, Evin Prison
Akbar Daneshvarkar, Ward 4, Evin Prison
Vahid Bani Amerian, Ward 4, Evin Prison
Pouya Ghobadi, Ward 4, Evin Prison
Date: December 3, 2024 (Shamsi Calendar: 13 Azar 1403)
