Letter from Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi from Evin Prison
On April 13, 2024, to mark the fourth anniversary of their arrest, political prisoners Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi sent a heartfelt message from Evin Prison. Both talented students, they were arrested on April 10, 2020, and have been imprisoned for four years.
In their letter, they reflect on their difficult journey and the sacrifices they’ve made for freedom and justice in Iran:
Excerpts from the Letter:
“Every day, we are faced with a choice—a choice inspired by the hundreds of thousands who walked this path before us and stood by their decision until the end. This is a choice that must increasingly be made by students who have more to lose, but also a louder voice.”
Full Message from Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi:
“On April 10, 2020, we were thrown into a new world. The world we once knew—the world of university and academic competitions—was a peaceful and fascinating one, filled with joyous days alongside like-minded friends. But the new world we entered was one of isolation and interrogation—a harsh and brutal world where there was no friendship, only enmity. A world where thinking was not only unwelcome but where we were threatened with death for our thoughts. A world where we were stripped of our basic rights.
The moment of our arrest was the moment we entered this new world. It was the moment we had to make a choice: resistance or submission. A choice between continuing our academic journey toward success at top universities in Europe and the US, or imprisonment and the loss of our youth, academic, and career opportunities.
How could we choose academic opportunities when there are children who are denied access to education, without ever having the chance to decide for themselves?
And how can we think of a life of wealth and high-paying jobs when there are so many people whose income isn’t enough to cover basic necessities?
When we consider what the people have lost, our own loss no longer seems so great, and it becomes easier to endure the circumstances. Prison is the price and the test for this choice. Experience has shown that those who demand less for themselves and make a firmer decision to resist endure the harshest conditions. This is the fundamental difference between those who cannot survive even a month in prison and those who survive 10, 15, 20, or even 25 years of imprisonment with resilience.
And we must make this decision every day, inspired by the hundreds of thousands who have walked this path and remained true to their choice. It’s a decision that increasingly must be made by students, who have more to lose but also have a louder voice. Those who remain and reclaim power can be more than just supporters of the people’s uprisings; they can be initiators of change.
The decision to not ignore those who suffer more and are heard less puts us on the side of the people, making us part of history and placing us at the forefront of movements.
On the fourth anniversary of our arrest, we reaffirm: our choice is resistance, no matter how long this imprisonment lasts.
We firmly believe that the freedom of Iran is near.”
Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi
April 2024
The Fight for Freedom and Resistance in Iran
The letter from Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi is a powerful reminder of the resilience of Iran’s political prisoners. Their courageous stand against repression and their unwavering commitment to freedom highlights the ongoing struggle for justice in Iran.
Their decision to resist, despite the high cost of imprisonment, is an inspiring testament to the strength of those who oppose the regime’s oppression. These political prisoners are not just symbols of resistance but are at the heart of the fight for Iran’s future.
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