In a world where freedom has become a distant dream for many, the voices of political prisoners echo truth and resistance. Manouchehr Fallah, a political prisoner sentenced to death in Iran, wrote a letter to his only daughter, “Assal,” on the eve of her 16th birthday. This letter is not only a testament to a father’s love but also a document of his struggle for justice.
A Harsh Sentence for a Great Cause
Manouchehr Fallah’s death sentence was issued in February 2025 by Branch Two of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mohammad Ali Darvish Goftar. He was charged with “waging war against God (moharebeh) through actions against national security.” In reality, however, he is yet another suppressed voice, now awaiting the execution of a cruel verdict for standing against injustice.
A Letter from Behind Bars
In his letter to his teenage daughter, Manouchehr Fallah recounts the moment he received the news of his death sentence:
“On the eve of your birthday, Judge Mohammad Ali Darvish Goftar has informed me of my death sentence, perhaps hoping to break me into submission. But he fails to understand that the path I have chosen was not learned from books, but from life itself and the suffering of the people. Poverty and injustice have been my teachers, and now that this awareness has taken root in me, I consider silence in the face of oppression an unforgivable sin.”
These words reflect his deep commitment to truth and resistance against oppression. He raises his voice not only for himself but for all those who suffer in silence.
The Fight to Save a Father’s Life
Manouchehr Fallah’s fate now rests in the hands of public conscience and human rights organizations. Like many other political prisoners, he has fallen victim to a system that has turned justice into a tool for suppressing dissent. His voice must not be left unheard.
Now, it is our responsibility to amplify this voice. Human rights organizations, civil activists, and all those who believe in human values must stand against this injustice and fight to save his life.
Asal, Manouchehr’s daughter, begins her 16th year while her father remains behind prison bars, still holding onto hope for a free and just world.
The Letter from Political Prisoner Manouchehr Fallah to His 16-Year-Old Daughter Assal
My Dearest Assal,
One day, the sun of freedom will rise over this land, a freedom for which a heavy price must be paid—and this time, fate has chosen me to pay it. Know that hope is eternal, and one day, our homeland will break free from the chains of tyranny and oppression.
My beloved Assal,
The day you first opened your eyes, the world became brighter for me. Your first cries, your innocent laughter, the moment you first spoke and called me “Baba,” your first steps—even your falls—all gave meaning to my life. Seeing you, in every moment, kept hope and love alive in my heart.
Now, you have turned sixteen, you have grown, and you stand at the threshold of a new world, while our homeland has plunged into a harsh and dark winter. And I, here in Lakan Prison, await you from behind these cold bars.
My dear daughter,
Perhaps you have often wondered: Why my father? What has he done to deserve imprisonment?
Assal, my beloved, I have been imprisoned for a crime I did not commit. I have not trampled anyone’s rights, I have not plundered any wealth, I have not stolen bread from the tables of the people. I have not looted oil rigs, nor have I sat in a judge’s seat to issue unjust verdicts.
My only crime has been to protest against poverty, inequality, and injustice. I refused to remain silent in the face of such oppression. But in this struggle, I have never harmed anyone or resorted to violence.
And now, on the eve of your birthday, Judge Mohammad Ali Darvish Goftar has delivered my death sentence, perhaps thinking he can force me into submission. But he does not realize that the path I have taken was not learned from books, but from life itself and the pain of the people. Poverty and injustice have been my teachers, and now that this awareness has taken root in me, I consider silence in the face of it an unforgivable sin.
My dearest Asal,
One day, the sun of freedom will rise over this land, a freedom for which a heavy price must be paid—and this time, fate has chosen me to pay it. Know that hope is eternal, and one day, our homeland will break free from the chains of tyranny and oppression.
My one and only daughter, my sweet Asal— Happy birthday!
February 8, 2025
