Warisha Moradi, a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women's Community (KJAR), has been imprisoned in Evin prison in Tehran for 14 months.  The indefinite hunger strike launched by the Kurdish prisoner, who is arbitrarily accused of ‘inciting rebellion’ by the Iranian judiciary, continues on its 18th day.

KJAR issued a statement on 25 October calling for participation in the general hunger strike and asking Warisha Moradi to end her hunger strike action as her condition has worsened due to a serious drop in blood pressure and there is a high possibility that she may fall into a coma.

More than 120 civil society activists from East Kurdistan issued a joint statement in support of Warisha Moradi’s resistance, stating the following:

“Two weeks have passed since Warisha Moradi began her hunger strike. For two weeks, she has raised her voice with courage and determination, protesting the cruel death sentences imposed on many civilians.

In these critical and significant moments, we, as part of a community that believes in justice, freedom, and human rights, stand in solidarity with Warisha Moradi. She has become a symbol of resilience and civil resistance. Over the past two weeks, through her decision to go on hunger strike, she has raised her voice against oppression, inequality, and the growing number of unfair executions.

Her hunger strike is not only a testament to her unwavering resolve in the face of oppression, but also a voice that echoes the truth and resilience to the world. We fully understand the difficult and challenging conditions she has endured, as well as the high-risk decision she has made to confront these injustices. 

Nevertheless, as her companions on this journey, we are today asking her to end her hunger strike. Her struggle is evident not only in her current hunger strike but in all her efforts and actions to date. She is a figure our society needs to continue the civil struggle; she is a representative of all those who dream of a free and just society.

We have no intention of overlooking the importance and meaning of her protest; quite the contrary, we see her action as a significant step in the path of civil resistance. But, as Warisha Moradi herself has always emphasized the role of society and the active participation of advocates, we now need her presence and strength on this journey more than ever. Civil resistance requires energy, resilience, and continuity, as this struggle is both long and challenging.

We ask her to end her hunger strike, giving us and others the opportunity to stand beside her and use our full strength to continue the fight for freedom and justice. Nothing should be more valuable than human life, and we need her to continue standing with us, not just now, but throughout this journey of resistance.

In this spirit, we, a group of activists aligned with all pro-freedom forces, have decided to embark on a hunger strike on Saturday, 26 October, as a tribute to her efforts and courageous resistance, and as a symbol of our solidarity and support. Although this action is symbolic and small in scale compared to larger protests, it serves as a meaningful gesture in support of her and the broader civil movements. It reflects our solidarity with Warisha and all who are fighting for justice and freedom. Nonetheless, we ask her to end her hunger strike after this day, as civil and protest movements are arduous and lengthy, and we need our advocates to remain active to continue down this challenging path. Standing in full solidarity with Warisha Moradi’s protest against the death penalty, we firmly believe that such inhumane sentences, which unjustly endanger human lives, can only be stopped through solidarity, collective protest, and individual civil actions. Each of us must be a voice for this protest and continue to strive for justice and defend human rights without wavering.”

Arrested on 1 August 2023

Moradi, also known as Ciwana Sine, was arrested on 1 August 2023 during a police check near her hometown of Sine (Sanandaj) and taken to an unknown location. Iran's regime judiciary accuses her of "enmity towards God" and "armed rebellion against the state". The allegations are related to Moradi's membership in the KJAR, the umbrella organization of the Kurdish women's movement in Iran, and her commitment to women's and feminist issues. Tehran sees the KJAR as a "separatist terrorist organization" because it is said to be part of the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK).

Brutally tortured, mistreated and interrogated

After Moradi's abduction, her whereabouts were unclear for months. It was only thanks to the KHRN that it became known that the activist had been brutally tortured, mistreated and interrogated by the Iranian Secret Service in Sine for weeks after her arrest, until she was transferred to Tehran at the end of August. There she was held for months in the notorious high-security wing 209 of Evin prison - also subjected to torture and mistreatment, with the aim of breaking her or forcing her to confess. Moradi has been in the women's section of the prison since the beginning of January. She is denied access to legal counsel most of the time. If she is convicted, she faces the death penalty.