Iran's Exiled Prince Warns Political Prisoner Is 'In Danger'

Hannah Neumann, a German member of the European Parliament, was speaking after the human rights prize was given to Iran’s Woman, Life, Freedom movement, and Amini, the protesting student who died in custody last year.

In a compelling statement, Neumann declared: "We have to make sure that human rights and political prisoners are a key priority for every meeting we have. We have to make sure that the nice words that we are going to exchange today, tomorrow, the week to come, are followed by concrete actions… We need assistance for civil society in Iran and the diaspora for capacity building to document the massive human rights violations."

She added in a tweet: “Now it is time to make sure that actions follow our words.”

Neumann has been a dedicated supporter of Iranian protesters, notably since the outset of demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022. The commitment was underscored in her recent address at the European Parliament. To accompany the Sakharov Prize ceremony, she shared a video of her speech on her X account.

The Sakharov Prize was awarded on Tuesday to Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer representing Amini's family, who left Iran, along with Afsoon Najafi, the sister of Hadis Najafi, a victim of the protests, and Mersedeh Shahinkar, who sustained eye injuries during the demonstrations.

Neumann highlighted the fear of the Islamic Republic towards its "bravest and brightest" individuals, emphasizing that events in Iran should consistently command global attention. “The regime kills when the spotlight moves away,” she said, adding that the act of awarding such prestigious prizes helps to refocus the world's attention on Iran and its internal conflcts.

Abbasali Soleimani, a former representative of the Guardian Council, was shot dead at a bank in Babolsar in April.

The execution took place on Wednesday morning in Babol prison, in the presence of members of Soleimani's family, according to a report by Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s judiciary.

Judges of the Islamic Republic had endorsed the "Qisas" (retaliation in kind) sentence for the perpetrator. The Supreme Court upheld the decision.

Various narratives surrounding the assailant's motive have circulated within Iran. Hamshahri newspaper, affiliated with the Tehran Municipality, suggested a day after the incident that the murder stemmed from a disagreement between the bank guard and the bank's deputy "over work-related issues". The killer is said to have mistaken Solimani for the brother of the bank's deputy.

An alternative account surfaced on social media, suggesting that Solimani went to the Babolsar branch of Bank Melli to withdraw 34 billion rials (approximately 70,000 USD) in cash. Reportedly, after being told by the bank's director that the requested amount was not present in the branch, a financially struggling retired police sergeant shot him dead.

A video from inside the bank displayed the guard calmly approaching Solimani, seated on a chair, and shooting him. Bystanders promptly detained the assailant, who offered no resistance.

The killing of Abbasali Soleimani was part of a series of attacks on clerics which have taken place across various Iranian cities since Women, Life, and Freedom protests began last year.

Akbar Jafari was the youngest professor at Sharif University in Tehran.

A specialist in quantum materials with a position on the board of directors of the Iranian Physics Society, he faced scrutiny after expressing support for students during events in the previous year.

The news was brought to light by Ali Sharifi Zarchi, a former professor expelled from Sharif University, who reported the incident on the X network.

Zarchi detailed Jafari's resignation, stating that he formally announced his decision through a letter addressed to the Sharif faculty.

The aftermath of the 2022 protests has seen increased pressures on both students and faculty engaged in protests. The Islamic Republic's response to dissenting professors typically involves measures such as expulsion, suspension, or forced retirement.

Over recent years, there has been a notable surge in the intervention of security institutions within universities. This extends beyond students to include protesting professors, who are increasingly subjected to summoning and interrogation by university security and other related institutions.

In the wake of protests following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, reports have surfaced regarding the recruitment of numerous individuals sympathetic to the Islamic Republic as professors in universities. The development has sparked controversy and drawn widespread attention.

Despite the recent surge in dismissals, expulsions, and suspensions of university professors and faculty members in Iran, officials from the Islamic Republic have either denied the issue or characterized its causes as non-political.

Fatemeh Rajaei-Rad revealed she had received an expulsion order from Amol University of Medical Sciences in a post on her Instagram account on Tuesday.

She had come to public attention earlier this year when she declined to wear hijab in attending a ceremony at which she was awarded the title of Exemplary Surgeon.

The video of her attendance without a hijab circulated widely on social media, eliciting praise for her courage from many Iranians.

However, it also drew condemnation from government officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's representative in Mazandaran province and the Friday Prayer Imam of Amol, who called for "severe action" against her.

Following the ceremony, Fars News Agency reported that Rajaei-Rad was summoned to the prosecutor's office in Amol and was denied access to Babol University of Medical Sciences, where she was teaching.

Additionally, three managers from the health department of Babol city were dismissed due to their perceived lack of reaction to Rajaei-Rad's presence without hijab during the ceremony.

Under mounting pressure, some government-affiliated media released a video in which Rajaei-Rad purportedly "apologized" for causing discomfort and insult to those "who observe complete hijab." It follows the well-documented history of the security and intelligence apparatus of the Islamic Republic using "coerced confessions" from critics, opponents, and protesters.

The European Parliament awarded the prestigious prize to both the student who was killed by Iranian police, and the Woman Life, Freedom protest movement.

Saleh Nikbakht, an academic and lawyer representing Mahsa Amini's family, along with Afsoon Najafi, and Mersedeh Shahinkar, Iranian women's rights defenders who left Iran in 2023, stood as representatives for the laureates.

Opening the award ceremony, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced: “This years’ Sakharov prize… serves as a tribute to all the brave and defiant women, men and young people in Iran, who despite coming under increasing pressure, are continuing the fight for their rights and push for change.ʺ

On September 13, 2022, Mahsa, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, was apprehended by Tehran police for purportedly defying Iran's mandatory hijab. She succumbed to injuries inflicted during her time in custody, dying in the hospital three days later.

The death of Amini sparked nationwide protests predominantly led by women.

En route to France to accept the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on December 8, the parents and brother of Amini were met by a roadblock at Tehran airport where Iranian authorities halted them and confiscated their passports.

In Strasbourg, the family was represented by their attorney, Saleh Nikbakht, who relayed a message from Amini's mother, Mozhgan Eftekhari saying: “Mahsa’s grief is eternal to me, and she is undying for people all over the world. I firmly believe that her name, beside that of Joan of Arc, will remain a symbol of freedom.”

Established in 1988, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honor of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament to honor individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.