Feb 11, 2023
At an event held at Georgetown University's Institute for Women, Peace and Security on Friday on the eve of the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic, a group of leading Iranian opposition figures pledged unity with the sole aim of bringing democracy to Iran.
The speakers all stressed the importance of unity against the Islamic Republic.
End of Islamic Republic Validation From the West?
No EU members other than Hungary and Poland were present in the Islamic Republic’s establishment ceremony for the so-called Islamic Revolution Day on February 9th. Earlier this week, social media users asked representatives to boycott this ceremony using #BoycottIRIDay.
Friday Protests in Zahedan
People in Zahedan continued their Friday protests on February 10, as they had done in previous weeks. They marched demanding the release of political prisoners. They once again emphasized equal rights and democracy in their slogans.
Molavi Abdolhamid, Iran's top Sunni cleric in Zahedan, also gave a critical speech after the prayer, saying, "The inequality is outrageous! After the Islamic Republic revolution, women became second-hand citizens and Sunnis became third-hand citizens. We had no representatives in political and municipal bodies."
Another Life in Danger
Mir-Yousef Younesi (70) was arrested 43 days ago and is accused of collaborating with Mojahedin, a political-militant organization. His older son reported that Younesi’s health is in danger. He has been losing weight and has trouble eating food. Younesi has been in solitary confinement since the beginning of his detention. “Islamic Republic is responsible for my dad’s physical and mental health.” says his son.
His younger son, Ali Younesi (23), was arrested for the same reason back in 2020 and has been sentenced to 16 years of prison on spurious national security charges after an unfair trial in April 2022.
Updates on Farhad Meysami
Civil rights activist Farhad Meysami was released from Rajai Shahr prison in the fourth year of his sentence. Details of his release are still unknown. He was likely, however, released under a recent pardon decree for some prisoners.
According to sources close to Meysami, he had not requested any pardon, and during his entire incarceration, he did not have even one day of furlough.
For several months, he has been severely restricting his food intake to demand the release of several prisoners. This has led to a significant weight loss and endangered his health condition.
Human Rights Activists in Iran report that 11 Baha'i citizens got sentenced to over 36 years of prison, collectively.