Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and imprisoned activist Narges Mohammadi published a message on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprising that took place in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan after Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini was tortured to death by the morality police of the Iranian regime two years ago.

“Although these two difficult and painful years have left scars on the bodies of those who have been tortured by oppression, discrimination and tyranny, despite the difficult road ahead, we all know that nothing is the same as before. People are feeling a great change in their beliefs, in their lives and in society. This change has shaken the foundations of religious tyranny, although it has not yet overthrown the regime of the Islamic Republic,” said Narges Mohammadi, who further stated the following:

“The ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ movement has made the people's disillusionment with the regime so visible that a presidential candidate admitted during a live debate that the Iranian people did not participate in the elections, saying: ‘Which people are we talking about, the 60 percent who did not go to the polls? The ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ movement has redefined the role of the people in standing up to tyrannical rule and imposed a new understanding that has instilled fear in this theocratic regime. From Kurdistan to Sistan-Baluchistan, from Tehran to Azerbaijan and Khuzestan, people with different voices came together to challenge the foundations of tyranny.”

Narges Mohammadi emphasised the need for determination to achieve democracy, freedom and equality and to defeat theocratic despotism: ‘Today we raise our voices even louder and strengthen our resolve. I call on international institutions and people around the world not only to observe, but also to take active action. I call on the United Nations to end its silence and inaction in the face of the devastating oppression and discrimination against women by theocratic and authoritarian governments and to criminalise gender discrimination. It is essential to strengthen the power that drives peace and democracy to free women from the grip of oppression and discrimination.”