Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, Secretary-General of the Democratic Front of Iran and a political prisoner held in Isfahan Central Prison, issued a message on Tuesday, February 17, from behind bars expressing strong support for the Congress of Republican and Federal Democrats. He described it as a key step toward unifying republican forces inside and outside the country.
In the message — released on the 40th day commemorating those killed in the January uprising — Tabarzadi emphasized that the continuation of a people-led democratic revolution depends on expanding strikes and civil protests while completely avoiding violence. He warned that “any form of violence, in one way or another, serves the interests of the repressive regime of the Guardianship of the Jurist,” providing justification for further crackdowns.
He described the broad participation of various social groups — including retirees, lawyers, philosophers, sociologists, artists, university professors, teachers, opposition activists, ethnic groups, athletes, civil society actors, environmentalists, and human rights defenders — as clear evidence of the movement’s democratic and inclusive nature.
He stressed the need for leadership through a “collective leadership” emerging from genuine democratic processes.
Tabarzadi also called for formally informing the free world and its leaders that the expansion of strikes and protests will continue with the support of all pro-democracy forces.
