Reza Pahlavi Communications published a statement that had reportedly been signed by 133 Iranian political prisoners and activists. In it, the signatories thanked the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for awarding the Freedom Prize 2026 to the Iranian people and for commissioning Prince Reza Pahlavi to accept it. The signatories wrote that during the protests on January 8 and 9, 2026, people had demanded an end to the Islamic Republic and more freedom. Published reports and estimates indicated tens of thousands of deaths and thousands of arrests. They stated that executions continued and death sentences were imposed in part based on confessions coerced under torture and in unfair trials. The authors referred to Reza Pahlavi as their political representative and supported him in leading a transition to a free, democratic Iran. They wrote that the Iranian people should decide on the future form of government in a free vote. They urged governments and international institutions to prevent executions, release political prisoners, and grant independent observers access to prisons. Additionally, they called for an end to business with the Islamic Republic, for a transparent use of frozen Iranian assets to support the freedom movement, and for better access to secure internet, including through Starlink. The letter was dated October 2026. #Iran #Freiheit #Menschenrechte (translated)
