Mohammad Mahdavifar

Mahdavifar served as a demining expert and diver during the Iran–Iraq War. After the war, he began writing protest poetry, some of which received negative reactions from security forces.

One of his works, "Alphabet", is a critique of the political and social situation in Iran. This poem led to his conviction and a 1.5-year prison sentence.{{cite news |title=Mohammad Mahdavifar sentenced to one and a half years in prison |url=https://humanrightsiniran.com/1394/6855/ |publisher=Human Rights in Iran |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=18 January 2016 |language=Persian}} He also wrote 29 open letters to the Supreme Leader, which led to his repeated imprisonments.{{cite news |author=Baktash Khamsehpour |title="Mohammad Mahdavifar, a chemical war victim and veteran and poet of the alphabet poem, imprisoned" |url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/b3-war-veteran-alphabet-poet-mohammad-mahdavifar-imprisoned/29015298.html |publisher=Radio Farda |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=5 February 2018 |language=Persian}}

Mahdavifar has been arrested several times by Iranian security forces.

He was first arrested in September 2016 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his home. After 45 days of temporary detention in solitary confinement, he was released from Isfahan Central Prison.{{cite news |title=Arrest of a journalist and a critical poet in Iran |url=https://fa.timesofisrael.com/بازداشت-یک-روزنامه-نگار-و-یک-شاعر-منتقد/ |publisher=Times of Israel |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=20 September 2016 |language=Persian}}{{cite news |title=Mohammad Mahdavifar Released from Central Prison of Isfahan |url=https://www.en-hrana.org/mohammad-mahdavifar-released-central-prison-isfahan/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |agency=Human Rights Activists in Iran |date=17 December 2016}}

In June 2017, he was arrested for "propaganda against the system" and transferred to Kashan Prison. He was later released on bail after five months.{{cite news |title=Mohammad Mahdavifar released on bail from Kashan Prison |url=https://humanrightsinir.org/محمد-مهدوی-فر-با-تودیع-قرار-از-زندان-کاش/ |publisher=Human Rights in Iran |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=31 October 2017 |language=Persian}} During the 2017–2018 Iranian protests, he was arrested again due to his open letters and calls for a referendum. He was then transferred to Isfahan Central Prison.{{cite news |title="War veteran arrested for insisting on a referendum" |url=https://ir.voanews.com/a/iran-human-rights/4207350.html |publisher=Voice of America |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=14 January 2018 |language=Persian}}

In March 2019, Mahdavifar was conditionally released after serving one-third of his prison sentence, only to be exiled to Sistan and Baluchestan.{{cite news |title=Report on Mohammad Mahdavifar's conditional release and exile to Sarbaz County |url=https://www.hra-news.org/2019/hranews/a-19571/ |publisher=Human Rights Activists in Iran |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=11 March 2019 |language=Persian}}{{cite web |title=Mohammad Mahdavi Far |url=https://journalismisnotacrime.com/en/wall/mohamadmahdavifar/ |website=journalismisnotacrime.com |access-date=12 February 2025 |date=7 May 2021}} However, in July 2019, he was arrested again after signing the Statement of 14 Political Activists and sentenced to nine years in prison.{{cite news |title=Another signatory of the resignation letter of Khamenei sentenced to nine years in prison |url=https://ir.voanews.com/a/iran-human-rights-/5274852.html |publisher=Voice of America |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=5 February 2020 |language=Persian}}{{cite news |title=Mohammad Mahdavifar, civil rights activist arrested |url=https://www.hra-news.org/2019/hranews/a-20986/ |publisher=Human Rights Activists in Iran |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=13 July 2019 |language=Persian}} In late 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was granted temporary leave from Kashan Prison and subsequently left the country.{{cite web |author=Maherkh Mohammad Mahdavifar |title=Interview with Mohammad Mahdavifar, Iran-Iraq war veteran and political activist |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLYZnN1A4jg |publisher=Dorr TV |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=3 October 2020 |language=Persian}}

In 2016, after the United States imposed banking sanctions on the Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, claimed that these sanctions were ineffective as Hezbollah received all its needs directly from the Islamic Republic of Iran.{{cite news |title=Leader of Hezbollah's confessions cause trouble for the Islamic Republic |url=https://p.dw.com/p/1JDVo |publisher=Deutsche Welle |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=25 June 2016 |language=Persian}}

Nasrallah stated, "As long as Iran has money, we have money."{{cite news |title=In first, Hezbollah confirms all financial support comes from Iran |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2016/06/25/In-first-Hezbollah-s-Nasrallah-confirms-all-financial-support-comes-from-Iran |access-date=12 February 2025 |agency=Al Arabiya |date=25 June 2016}}

In response, Mahdavifar wrote an open letter to Nasrallah, highlighting poverty and unemployment in Iran.{{cite news |title=Evidence Trump’s Iran policy is working |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2019/05/02/evidence-trumps-iran-policy-is-working/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |agency=New York Daily News |date=2 May 2019}} He criticized Nasrallah for not knowing that "our money has run out" and called for transparency about the funds Hezbollah receives from Iran. This letter was reported in several Arabic news outlets.{{cite news |title=In rare case, senior Iranian officer criticizes Hassan Nasrallah: "Our funds have dried up" |url=https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/116409 |publisher=Orient News |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=1 July 2016 |language=Arabic}}{{cite news |author=Mohammad Majid Al-Ahwazi |title=Former IRGC officer criticizes Hassan Nasrallah |url=https://arabi21.com/story/918400/ |publisher=Arabi21 |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=1 July 2016 |language=Arabic}}{{cite news |author=Wiam Abdul Malik |title=Iran gathers more donations for Houthi rebels to protect its influence in Yemen |url=https://almawqeapost.net/reports/9382 |publisher=Almawqea Post |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=3 July 2016 |language=Arabic}}

During the 2017–2018 Iranian protests, Mahdavifar suggested, in an open letter, the formation of a council of intellectuals to oversee a referendum on Iran's political future, which led to his arrest. Ruhollah Zam, chief editor of Amadnews, which played an active role in covering and mobilizing the protests, welcomed Mahdavifar's letter and proposed council as a peaceful model for a democratic transition.{{cite web |author=Ruhollah Zam |title=Weekend Program - Documents on 40 billion dollars of people's funds - Examining strikes - Selling drinking water |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjeXo0UwBHQ&t=821s |publisher=Bayan Media Network |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=29 June 2018 |language=Persian}}

During the 38th to 40th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Mahdavifar was mentioned alongside Fazlollah Nikbakht, Hamed Aeenevand, and Arash Mahin Jafarabadi as prisoners whose alleged crime was demanding a referendum.{{cite web |title=Item:8 General Debate (Cont'd) - 29th Meeting, 38th Regular Session Human Rights Council (at 50:39) |url=https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wjb7vlj5 |publisher=UN Web TV |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=2 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=Item:8 General Debate (Cont'd) - 44th Meeting, 40th Regular Session Human Rights Council (at 06:12) |url=https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1p/k1p1ms5r6k |publisher=UN Web TV |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=19 March 2019}}{{cite web |title=Item:4 General Debate - 18th Meeting, 39th Regular Session Human Rights Council (at 02:41:47) |url=https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1m/k1mdg4adfi |publisher=UN Web TV |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=18 September 2018}}

{{Main|Statement of 14 Political Activists}}

In 2019, Mahdavifar was one of 14 political activists inside Iran who signed a statement calling for the resignation of Ali Khamenei and a transition away from the Islamic Republic of Iran.{{cite news |title=Fourteen civil-political activists inside Iran call for Khamenei's resignation and constitutional change |url=https://farsi.alarabiya.net/iran/2019/06/12/چهارده-فعال-مدنی-سیاسی-داخل-ایران-خواستار-استعفای-خامنه-ای-و-تغییر-قانون-اساسی-شدند |publisher=Al Arabiya |accessdate=5 February 2025 |date=12 June 2019 |language=Persian}} He, along with other signatories, later established the National Council of Tasmim.{{cite web |last1=Mahdavifar |first1=Mohammad |last2=Montazeri |first2=Sam |title=Special Discussion: What is the National Decision Council? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjK3_-T8j54&t=402s |website=YouTube |publisher=Social Democracy for Iran Organization |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=4 February 2025 |language=Persian}}

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Category:Iranian critics

Category:Political prisoners in Iran

Category:Iranian prisoners and detainees

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people