In a bold challenge to the Iranian regime’s judiciary, political prisoners Mehdi and Mohammad Khodakarami have released a joint statement from the Central and Parsilon prisons of Khorramabad, calling for the total dismantling of the current clerical establishment. The message, timed to coincide with the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI) announcement of a provisional government, describes the current political climate as a “war of fate” and the “beginning of a storm” that aims to return sovereignty to the Iranian people.
The Khodakarami brothers, who have spent the last three years in detention, framed their resistance as part of a century-long struggle against both the former monarchy and the current theocracy. By explicitly rejecting both the “Shah and the Sheikh,” the prisoners aligned themselves with the NCRI’s 10-point plan for a Democratic Republic. They asserted that the blood shed during the January uprisings has created an irreversible divide between the Iranian public and what they termed a “grave-bound dictatorship,” claiming that the spirit of revolution has now permeated every sector of society from schools to factories.
"Soon the oppressors shall learn how we will crush their reign… the blood of our youth will fertilize the ground for a new era, terminating their tyranny once and for all; as history and evolution demand."
Powerful message by political prisoners Mehdi and Mohammad Khodakarami… pic.twitter.com/bPYg7ha889— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 3, 2024
The manifesto is particularly striking for its direct appeal to the people of Lorestan. Invoking the iconic Luri revolutionary anthem “Daye Daye Waqte Jange” (Oh Mother, Mother, it is time for battle), the brothers urged their fellow citizens to remain vigilant against “opportunists” who might seek to redirect the movement toward the restoration of the monarchy.
They maintained that their three years of reported torture and pressure have only strengthened their resolve to stand by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the vision of a “Sun of Freedom” rising over a land once again represented by the Lion and Sun.
Despite the high-security environment of the Lorestan prison system, the dissemination of this message highlights a persistent breakdown in the state’s ability to isolate high-profile political detainees from the outside world. The brothers concluded their statement by reaffirming their commitment to the National Liberation Army (NLA) and the “Resistance Units,” signaling that even from behind bars, the battle for the future of Iran remains as active as ever.