Iranian Political Prisoners Protest Death Penalty in Audio Recording

Political prisoners at Tehran's Fashafoyeh Prison staged an anti-death penalty protest, according to an audio recording obtained by IranWire.

The recording describes the "No to Execution" campaign as a "peaceful protest movement" against the "continuous violence being carried out in this country."

Abolfazl Ghadyani, a political prisoner and critic of the Islamic Republic, said in the audio file, "Execution is the worst form of violence because it takes away humanity's greatest asset - the right to life - and those who mercilessly strip humans of this right are the worst people."

Ghadyani called executions "murder by government," saying, "We emphasize that we oppose executions in any form, even if issued by a fair court. But the death sentences issued in Iran come from unjust courts."

He added, "There is no legitimate violence in authoritarian governments, because authoritarian governments are fundamentally illegitimate."

"Therefore, court rulings are also illegitimate. In Iran, where an authoritarian and religious government led by Ali Khamenei - this narcissistic, criminal autocrat - is in place, these sentences are issued to intimidate the nation, to frighten people, and to ride on fear."

Ghadyani referred to widespread public dissatisfaction with the Islamic Republic, saying, "The government is now in its weakest historical position and relies more than ever on frightening people.

"It knows how unstable it is, what damage it has inflicted on the people and society, and that more than 95 percent of the population is dissatisfied."

He added, "We must raise our peaceful voices against this violence alongside the people. We must protest religious despotism, against the Islamic Republic, and above all, against its head, Ali Khamenei, who is the greatest enemy of this nation."