We strongly condemn the summoning and arrest of progressive, freedom-loving, justice-seeking, and patriotic experts and activists in our country.
On Monday, November 1, 2021, a large number of economic experts, analysts, and researchers in the social and economic fields, as well as writers and translators of our country, were summoned and arrested in an organized move. According to initial media reports, Ms. Mahsa Asadollahnejad and Shirin Karimi, and Mr. Parviz Sedaghat, Rasoul Ghanbari, and Mohammad Maaljo were arrested, and Mr. Hayman Rahimi was summoned to the prosecutor’s office after his electronic devices and books were confiscated.
The arrest and summons of these individuals are taking place at a time when a deep structural crisis, along with illegal and unjustified sanctions imposed on the Iranian people, has put our country’s economy on the brink of collapse and dissatisfaction, and protests arising from the deplorable living conditions are growing day by day. Meanwhile, the critical and protesting forces whose primary concern is the people’s table, social justice, freedom, equality, and finding solutions and ways to overcome these economic and social crises have been subjected to more pressure, persecution, and suppression than ever before.
The summoning and arrest of these intellectuals shows the fear of the expansion and deepening of the justice-seeking views of the left and a patriotic freedom force that, as part of Iranian civil society, is gaining more and more acceptance daily. A patriotic force that has used its scientific and social justice knowledge to serve the well-being of the people and to improve Iran’s social and economic conditions; forces that clearly stood by the Iranian people during the criminal attack by Israel and the United States and, while condemning the foreign attack on Iranian soil, they have tried to pave the way for the improvement of our homeland’s economic and social situations.
Left-wing experts and scholars are part of Iran’s forward-looking civil movement, which today has deepened its presence and influence in various fields, stronger and more powerful than ever. It is this breadth and profound influence of these thinkers that has frightened the ruling tyrants, especially the economic oligarchy, and while the threat of war still looms over our country, they have prioritized suppressing and pressuring freedom-loving protestors and critical activists. In their opinion, by raising the cost of civil criticism and protest, they want to silence society. Fortunately, however, the Iranian civil movement is stronger and more acquainted with the situation that repression and pressure can block its progress and move towards freedom, social justice, and equality.
The Iranian People’s Fadaian Organization (Majority) strongly condemns the summoning and arrest of these scientists and activists in the field of justice and freedom and calls for their unconditional release. We call on all freedom-loving and progressive forces in Iran, especially civil and human rights activists inside the country, to use all their means to protest these arrests and demand their unconditional release and that of all political prisoners.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Political-Executive Board of the Organization of the People’s Fadaian of Iran (Majority)
