Iran: Jailed women activists issue letter condemning Israeli attacks

Four jailed women activists in Iran have issued a letter from prison condemning Israel's attacks on the country and warning against relying on "foreign powers" for regime change.

Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, Verisheh Moradi, Sakineh Parvaneh and Reyhaneh Ansarinejad issued the letter, published by the pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency, from Evin prison in Tehran.

They accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and said its goal was to create a "weak and submissive" Middle East.

"Our liberation...from the dictatorship ruling the country is possible through the struggle of the masses and by resorting to social forces - not by clinging to foreign powers or placing hopes in them," they wrote.

"The powers that have always brought destruction to the countries of the region through exploitation and colonisation, by inciting wars and killing in pursuit of greater benefits, will have no way out for us except for new destruction and exploitation."

The authors of the letter are currently serving jail sentences over their involvement in a range of causes including pro-Kurdish campaigning and union organising.

Moradi, a campaigner with the Community of Free Women of Eastern Kurdistan (KJAR) who fought against the Islamic State group in Syria, is facing a death sentence for "armed rebellion" over her support of the Woman, Life, Freedom demonstrations that broke out in 2022 over the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.

'Future generations will remember with shame those who stand on the corpses of defenceless people and trample them'

- letter from Iranian women prisoners

The other three are currently serving sentences of between four and six years in prison.

Much of the Iranian opposition has been split over Israel's attack on Iran, which began last week and has seen hundreds killed.

Some such as Reza Pahlavi, son of the former ruler of the country prior to 1979, have actively supported the air strikes and branded them the "best opportunity" to be rid of the Islamic Republic.

Others, such as former political prisoner Narges Mohammadi and filmmaker Jafar Panahi have condemned the air strikes on Iran while also advocating an end to Iran's nuclear ambitions and the "resignation of the current leaders" of the country.

In their letter, the four activists made apparent reference to those supporting Israel's attacks on the country, branding them "traitors" to Iran.

"Traitors to Iran and traitors to the peoples of the Middle East and traitors to the people's years of freedom-seeking struggles against oppression will know that their betrayal and disdain will be recorded in the memory of the Iranian people and in history," they wrote.

"Future generations will remember with shame those who stand on the corpses of defenceless people and trample them."