The Iranian Voices America Isn't Hearing

"His framework rested on three principles: no foreign interference, no domestic tyranny, and a nonviolent path to democracy. Four hundred sixteen political and civic activists immediately endorsed his call. They demanded the release of political prisoners, an independent investigation, and guarantees of basic freedoms."

"They called the mass killings an organized crime against humanity and named Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responsible. They demanded justice and the release of political prisoners. But they also warned that any path that bypasses popular sovereignty risks plunging Iran into catastrophic violence."

"From a cell in Evin Prison, Mostafa Tajzadeh, once a deputy interior minister and now one of the Islamic Republic's most outspoken critics, described the massacre as predictable and preventable, the inevitable product of governance by fear. He called for national dialogue and an independent fact-finding committee."

Following a January massacre that killed thousands of protesters, Iranian civil society mobilized a coordinated response rejecting both war and authoritarian solutions. Opposition leader Mousavi declared the situation a historic crime and proposed an Iran Salvation Front based on three principles: no foreign interference, no domestic tyranny, and nonviolent democratic transition. Over 416 political and civic activists endorsed this framework, demanding political prisoner releases, independent investigations, and basic freedoms. Prominent dissidents and imprisoned activists, including those from Evin Prison, echoed warnings that desperation could drive citizens toward foreign powers or authoritarianism, outcomes that would only perpetuate subjugation. They emphasized that any democratic path must preserve popular sovereignty to prevent catastrophic violence.

Read at The Nation