I, Mohammad Ali Taheri, have been subjected to systematic and ongoing pressure since 2011, particularly following the escalation of security crackdowns. These included extrajudicial prosecutions, unlawful detention, psychological and physical torture (including white torture), two confirmed death sentences, 17 staged executions, and nearly nine years of solitary confinement accompanied by constant interrogations.
However, rather than silencing my voice, this repression only strengthened my resolve to fight. During those years in prison, defending freedom of thought and expression became one of my most significant intellectual and political struggles. Four volumes of defenses written inside prison, as well as widespread protests of students and supporters of this school, both inside and outside Iran, in the form of statements, gatherings, media campaigns, and international correspondence, demonstrated that this movement is solely seeking the right to freedom of thought and human rights as defined by international institutions, and is not willing to compromise with authoritarian powers.
Following my release and amid ongoing threats and security pressures, I was forced, through the support of international institutions and with the assistance of the Canadian government at the time, to leave Iran illegally and enter forced exile. In pursuit of justice and the defense of freedom, I established and officially registered the Taheri Peace Organization in Canada. As a victim of severe human rights violations, having endured years of unlawful detention, physical and psychological torture, and deprivation of civil rights, I have chosen to promote peace, freedom, and justice as one of my main priorities.
A key step taken along this path was the drafting and publication of the Manifesto of the Free Iran Renaissance in 2022; an appeal to restore human integrity and dignity and defend the rights of the oppressed people of Iran, firmly rejecting all forms of authoritarianism and advocating for a new order based on freedom and equality.
We continue to stand by our original commitment
to pave the way toward human liberation from all forms of enslavement and oppression, to rise above authoritarian rule, and to embrace a new understanding of human rights, rooted in the doctrine of Interuniversalism and our common human identity. Though this vision emerged in Iran, it belongs to everyone who pursues freedom and dignity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality, or religion.
Renunciation of Citizenship from the Islamic Republic Regime
The declaration of “Renunciation of Citizenship from the Islamic Republic” is an initiative I have taken as a political act of resistance against the dictatorial regime in Iran. This declaration signifies a rejection of allegiance to the Islamic Republic, while maintaining a deep love for the land and people of Iran. I first announced my renunciation of citizenship in 2017, from within the Islamic Republic’s security detention centers. I reaffirmed this stance during the 2022 protests, when a petition signed by a large number of Iranians was launched and widely circulated.
In this critical moment, I propose the participation of the people in a petition for the ‘Renunciation of Citizenship from the Islamic Republic Regime’ as a peaceful and practical strategy to affirm the regime’s lack of legitimacy. This is a plan that can be monitored and recognized by international bodies.
The Manifesto of the Free Iran Renaissance
Following the presentation of the doctrine of ‘Interuniversalism,’ which introduces novel human rights as a fundamental solution to prevent nations from falling into new dictatorships, I put forward the ‘Manifesto of the Free Iran Renaissance’ as a transformative initiative that may mark the beginning of liberation from political enslavement. My hope is that Iran can become a model for all humanity, and a starting point for the realization and implementation of “complete human rights.”
The manifesto seeks to see a free Iran where the will of the people determines their destiny and human dignity is fully restored.
This manifesto does not pursue self-interest or political ambitions, therefore, it can be regarded as a global template. It proposes a progressive vision that redefines foundational governance structures and advocates for people-led governance, thereby invalidating the rule of one person over another once and for all.
Protest Movements
In recent years, peaceful civil protests have become symbols of people’s determination for change, justice, and human rights. Throughout modern history, these protests have proven to be among the most powerful tools in the fight for freedom, equality, and human dignity. Today’s new social movements are a direct response to the systematic violation of fundamental rights, clearly stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as freedom of thought and speech, the right to peaceful assembly, fair trials, the right to be free from torture, personal safety, and freedom of religion and belief.
