Iran Attacks Israel - Nobel Laureate Nargess Mohammadi Sends a Letter From Prison

Click to watch the trailer of "Be My Voice"

MIDDLE EAST - In a significant escalation of tensions, Iran directly attacked Israel with 300 drones and missiles on April 14th most of which were intercepted by the the Israeli defence systems. This marked the first time Iran had directly targeted Israel from Iranian soil, rather than relying on proxy groups in the region. The attack came in response to an Israeli airstrike in Syria that killed several Iranian Revolutionary Guard members, which Iran blamed on Israel. 

The history of Iran-Israel relations has been a tumultuous one, shifting from initial ambivalence to friendship and then open hostility over the past seven decades. The conflict remains a central dynamic shaping the geopolitics of the Middle East.

The main drivers of the conflict include Iran’s ideological opposition to Israel, its support for anti-Israel militant groups, and its nuclear program, which Israel sees as an existential threat. Israel, in turn, has sought to disrupt Iran’s regional influence and prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Since Ayatollahs came to power, Iran not only destabilized the region, but the internal oppression of human rights continues. The Iranian authorities have severely restricted freedoms of assembly and expression, responding to protests with excessive and lethal force. Security forces have used shotguns, assault rifles, and handguns against largely peaceful protesters. 

According to Human Rights Activists in Iran, over 20,000 protesters have been detained and more than 500 have been killed since the nationwide protests began in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini and in the past year more than 900 have been hanged. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi is currently imprisoned for her steadfast advocacy against the oppression of women in Iran and her unwavering dedication to promoting democracy, human rights, and freedom for all. She was the distinguished recipient of the “Guardian of Democracy” Award by The World Forum presented at the Cinema For Peace Gala 2024. The acceptance on behalf of Mohammadi was poignantly delivered through a letter from prison, read by her children, Ali Rahmani and Kiana Rahmani at the Gala.
“Allow me to paint a general picture of the situation we are facing, alongside millions of people in the Middle East and in countries governed by authoritarian religious regimes such as the Islamic Republic & the Taliban. In describing this situation, which I certainly do not consider peaceful, to justify the use of the term war, I only refer to two alarming and threatening situations for peace in Iran: sexual apartheid & executions.” - she wrote.
Historically, Iranian women have played pivotal roles in shaping the country’s cultural, social, and political landscape. From the Constitutional Revolution of the early 20th century to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women have been at the forefront of movements advocating for societal transformation and political change. However, the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution ushered in a new era characterized by conservative interpretations of Islamic law, which imposed restrictions on women’s rights and participation in public life.

“As a woman, witnessing sexual apartheid in my country, Iran, not as a document collector to prove in court, but clearly as a woman who has experienced this crime against humanity, I declare that despite sexual apartheid, lasting peace will be impossible and will be faced with insoluble and internal contradictions. Similarly, democracy, ethics, freedom, and equality are meaningless in the absence of women’s human rights and equality, and in the situation of domination, discrimination, and repression that is meaningless ”.

As trailer of the week, we present you the film “Be My Voice” which was nominated for Women Empowerment of the Year Award at the Cinema For Peace Gala 2022. The film explores the story of journalist and activist Masih Alinejad who is the voice of millions of Iranian women rebelling against the forced hijab on social media. Leading one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in today’s Iran, Masih uses her freedom in exile to amplify the protest in her home country. The regime tightens its grip to regain control, and Masih’s courage is tested when violence and oppression threaten her own family members.

As Narges Mohammadi concludes her letter: “We are standing, and we will continue to fight to overthrow the misogynistic religious regime of the Islamic Republic. I am convinced that the Iranian people will prevail, and you will hear the chant of our victory in the streets of our cities.”

Narges Mohammadi's full letter to Cinema for Peace: