Introduction by IEC: On March 13, Radio Zamaneh, a left-wing medium, published in Farsi a report of an inspiring and important celebration of International Women’s Day by male prisoners in Ward 7 of Evin Prison in Tehran. They unveiled a 5-foot statue of “Womanhood under War and Tyranny” which they had created under conditions of severe danger and privation. Radio Zamaneh published images of the report handwritten on the back of scrap paper which appear to have been sent out from the prison at great risk and under conditions of very restricted communications. The translated text of the report follows. 

On a night when the smoke of war darkened the sky over Tehran… behind the high walls of Evin Prison, where silence and restriction cast a shadow over every movement, a group of male prisoners in Hall One of Ward Seven of the prison, on the occasion of International Women's Day, unveiled a sculpture whose name itself tells the story of suffering and resistance: "Womanhood in War and Tyranny."

The idea and construction of this work was carried out by Morteza Parvin and Reza Khandan, two political prisoners, who spent several weeks in the confined conditions of the prison to create this sculpture. The work shows the slightly bent body of a woman, pulled from all 4 sides by heavy, rough ropes. The woman's body is bent but not brought down, bowed while still resisting.

This sculpture is made by combining various materials and stands on a base measuring 60 x 60 centimeters [2 ft  x 2 ft] and about 150 centimeters [5 ft] high; a work that was created in prison despite severe limitations in tools and materials.

While this ceremony took place, outside its walls Tehran and many other cities in Iran were under heavy air raids night after night. The bombing of an oil tank or refinery near Evin Prison would cover the day or night with such a thick layer of smoke that it was as if midnight had cast a shadow over the city; a horrifying reality that has become a living metaphor for the war that has cast a shadow over Iran.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Reza Khandan made a brief but informative statement about the history of International Women's Day, and recalled the relentless struggles of women in contemporary Iranian history. He dedicated this artwork to all the women who lost their lives in the protests of January 2026 and during the war.

He strongly criticized the ruling tyranny and the war itself, saying: "Women and children are the first and main victims of wars, without having played any role in their outbreak."

Khandan added that wars bring nothing but evil, hatred, and destruction. Although many wars begin with beautiful and even holy slogans, they leave behind only destruction: the destruction of humans, the environment, works of art, and the cultural heritage of nations.

He concluded by expressing hope that the heavy shadow of tyranny and war would be lifted from the country as soon as possible.

After him, Morteza Parvin also spoke briefly about the process of forming the sculpture…. Implementing such a project in these difficult times and in a place like Evin Prison—which itself is considered a symbol of tyranny—is a humane effort to reject misogyny and violence, and to reject tyranny and war.

Following the ceremony, a poem by Mohammad Najafi, a prisoner in Evin Prison's men's ward, was read on the occasion of International Women's Day, a poem addressed to his wife in the midst of the fire and chaos of war:

Miracle

Among all these stray arrows
that draw lines and marks in the sky,
amidst the sound of the long and heavy footsteps
of bombs that shake the earth,
my dear!
Send me a kiss, I know the patient and familiar ambassador of your lips. 
My ears are always on the road! Maybe I have become a target in this war! 
O proud soil! Close your eyes and behold the miracle of my imprisonment! 
My chest is a shield from bullets, my cheeks are a shield from kisses! 
My beauty, now close your eyes and see your miracle.
 Instead of the smell of gunpowder, not only Evin but the whole world has caught the whiff of your perfume!

Mohammad Najafi, Evin Prison, International Women's Day,
 March 8, 2026

Concluding note from IEC:

The prisoners’ taking up the fight against women’s oppression as their own, and their resilience and creativity up against both imperialist war and internal repression, stand as powerful manifestations of the crucial role of political prisoners in the turmoil and debate over which way forward in Iran. This emphasizes again the IEC’s two central demands in its Emergency Appeal:

All of Iran's political prisoners must be unconditionally and immediately released

The governments of the U.S. and Iran act from their national interests. And, in this instance, we the people of the U.S. and Iran, along with the people of the world, have OUR shared interests, as part of getting to a better world: to unite to defend the political prisoners of Iran. In the U.S., we have a special responsibility to unite very broadly against this vile repression by the IRI, and to actively oppose any war moves by the U.S. government that would bring even more unbearable suffering to the people of Iran.

We demand of the Islamic Republic of Iran: FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW!

We say to the U.S. government: NO THREATS OR WAR MOVES AGAINST IRAN, LIFT U.S. SANCTIONS!