In a statement released from Ghezel Hesar Prison on May 26, imprisoned elite student Ali Younesi responded misuse of his image by remnants of the Shah’s regime; and reaffirmed his political views on dictatorship, democracy, and Iran’s future.
“In recent days, I and my statement have been supported by some of the creators and users of the slogan ‘Death to the Three Corrupt……’ It seems that after receiving the Leader’s pardon, I have now also received a royal pardon!”
Younesi referrers to the slogan used by supporters of Reza Pahlavi at their rallies abroad, which is: Death to the three corrupts, mullahs, Mojahedin (PMOI) and leftist
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On the eve of universities reopening, imprisoned elite students Amirhossein Moradi & Ali Younesi wrote:
“Universities have become prisons, and prisons have become universities.”
They vowed:
“Our unbreakable resolve will shape Iran’s destiny—free, republican &… pic.twitter.com/WCUJ9llAlv
Younesi then turned to the issue of political prisoners and those executed in recent months. Identifying himself as a supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), he wrote:
“As a small supporter of the PMOI, I have my role models: six proud cellmates who were sent to the gallows.”
The reference was to Vahid Baniamerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi, Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Abolhassan Montazar, six PMOI members executed between March 30 and April 4, 2026 after convictions on security-related charges.
Younesi also invoked the memory of Mohammad Hanifnejad, founder of the PMOI, and his fellow founders, who were executed by the Shah’s government on May 25, 1972.
“If the blood of these six and other freedom-seekers leaves no room for forgiveness between us and the mullahs, then the blood of Hanif and his companions — whose banner these six carried — leaves no room for unity between us and the Shah and his SAVAK.”
“The Shah, through the killing of freedom-seekers, paved the way for this regime to come to power.”
Read the full-text of his letter’s translation
Ghezel Hesar Prison – May 26, 2026
In recent days, I and my statement have been supported by some of the creators and users of the slogan “Death to the Three Corrupt Figures…”
It seems that after receiving the Leader’s pardon, I have now also been granted a royal pardon!
As a small supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), I have my role models: my six proud cellmates who were sent to the gallows.
If the blood of these six and other freedom-seekers leaves no room for forgiveness between us and the Sheikh, then the blood of Hanif and his companions—whose banner these six carried—also leaves no room for unity between us and the Shah and his SAVAK.
The Shah, through the killing of freedom-seekers, paved the way for this regime to come to power. And today, the remnants of the Shah, through the slogan “Death to the Three Corrupt Figures…”, are effectively calling on the Mullahs to repay their favor by helping them reach power through executions, so that they may ride the wave of the bloodshed of the January uprising and, by begging foreign governments for power, once again sit upon the throne.
But never.
There is a border between us and them—a blood-soaked border; the border between dictatorship and freedom.
These boundaries must never be blurred.
And I stand on this side of that border, alongside the people and for the people, under the slogan:
“Death to the oppressor, whether the Shah or the Supreme Leader.”
And this stand will not stop until freedom, democracy, and a democratic republic have been established.
Ali Younesi
Qezel Hesar Prison
May 26, 2026