On Sunday, December 22, 2024, the Islamic Republic marked the birthday of Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad and Khadijah, as “Mother’s Day.” Yet, in stark contrast to this symbolic gesture, mothers in Iran remain targets of systemic repression. The regime’s hypocrisy cannot obscure the pain endured by bereaved mothers or their decades-long fight for justice. For 45 years, Iranian mothers have borne the brunt of oppression, waging costly collective struggles against the injustices perpetrated by the Islamic Republic.
In the 1980s, collective efforts began in Sanandaj with the “Mothers of Komala Peshmerga.” This group included mothers of fallen peshmerga fighters, imprisoned political activists, and active members of Komala. These women covertly facilitated organizational communications under the guise of familial visits.
Later, the Mothers of Khavaran rose to prominence. These were the resilient mothers of thousands of political prisoners who were executed under Khomeini’s orders and buried in mass graves during the 1988 massacre.
In 2009, following the mass protests against the disputed presidential election, Mothers of Laleh Park emerged as a vocal group demanding justice. These women, mourning loved ones killed during the Green Movement protests, gathered regularly in Tehran’s Laleh Park. Their activities were met with brutal crackdowns by regime forces, but their resilience earned them nationwide recognition.
Their demands resonate universally among justice-seeking mothers in Iran:
Unconditional release of all political and ideological prisoners.
Abolition of the death penalty and cessation of physical elimination.
Public and fair trials for those responsible for state atrocities.
Freedom of speech, thought, press, and clothing without restrictions.
Freedom of protest, assembly, and independent political organizations.
Equal citizenship rights and the separation of religion from governance.
In June 2023, the Association of Mothers Seeking Justice for November 2019 Victims was established to document atrocities and pursue accountability for the massacre of protesters during the November 2019 uprising.
That same year, the Mothers of the Revolution emerged in Kurdistan during the Jina Revolution (sparked by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini). Mothers like Mahmanir Molai-Rad, the courageous and determined mother of Kian Pirfalak, stood out as symbols of resistance.
After the Bloody Friday massacre in Zahedan, Baloch mothers joined this movement. In November 2023, the Progressive Mothers’ Assembly was formed, comprising mothers of schoolchildren and participants in the Zhina uprising.
On December 20, 2024, mothers and families of fallen activists gathered at their loved ones’ graves on Yalda Night, the longest night of the year. Despite threats from regime agents, these brave individuals adorned the graves with flowers, delivered speeches, and renewed their commitment to the revolutionary ideals of their children.
The persistent actions of justice-seeking mothers, alongside the defiance of unveiled women, serve as a testament to the regime’s waning authority. These collective efforts symbolize the resilience of the Iranian people in their fight for freedom and justice.
