Defenses in Iran

I, Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of Erfan Keyhani Halgheh School and Taheri Peace Organization, was first arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2010, and then officially re-arrested in May 2011. These arrests came with unfounded charges such as “spreading corruption on earth” and “insulting Islamic sanctities,” accusations that had no legal grounds and were based solely on forced confessions and reports from security agencies.

During my unlawful detention at Ward 2-A, run by the IRGC Intelligence Organization, I was subjected to various forms of physical and psychological torture, including solitary confinement, a death sentence, mock executions, and chemical poisoning. Throughout this time, I was denied access to a lawyer, a fair trial, and even the most basic human rights. Yet despite all this, the struggle for truth and freedom persisted and grew into a global movement advocating for freedom of belief and fundamental human rights.

In response to widespread injustice, my students organized peaceful gatherings and protests, even under a suffocating atmosphere of repression. Many were arrested during these demonstrations and handed harsh sentences, while others, under intense pressure, were forced to abandon their efforts. Yet despite all this, the struggle for freedom lives on, and the voice for justice will never be silenced.