NEWS CENTER - Zhino Babamiri, who has been campaigning for the rights of her father imprisoned by the Iranian regime, said: “At first, my goal was simply to save my father. Now my struggle is no longer only about my father, it’s about all those whose voices have been erased.”

 

The Iranian regime’s years long policy of repression and denial toward the people has turned into a tradition of resistance among people. For years, mothers and fathers have struggled to prevent their children from being executed or imprisoned. However, as repression has intensified, many children now find themselves struggling to save their parents from the same fate. One of those struggling for their parents is Zhino (Jino) Babamiri. Zhino Babamiri’s father, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri was arrested during the “Jin, jiyan, azadî” protests and sentenced to death. Although the death sentence against Babamiri, who is being held in Urmia Prison, was overturned following appeals by his family and lawyers, he still faces the risk of execution.

 

Zhino Babamiri, a human rights activist from Rojhilat, one of the founders of the Daughters of Justice campaign and a board member of Hiwa Life, a Kurdish-led human rights organization that amplifies the voices of marginalized communities and advocates for justice, human dignity, and democratic change, spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

 

Saying that she has always cared about human rights, Zhino Babamiri said: “My activism is deeply personal. My father, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, is a Kurdish political prisoner in Iran. His imprisonment transformed my life and led me to dedicate myself to documenting human rights violations, campaigning against executions, and advocating for political prisoners and their families. Through Hiwa and Daughters of Justice, I work to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced inside Iran.”

 

‘THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FACING THE SAME INJUSTICE’

 

Zhino Babamiri’s life changed completely after her father was arrested during the “Jin, jiyan, azadî” movement. In her words, her activism, “became a full-time” after her father’s arrest. 

 

Zhino Babamiri, who said she initially focused only on saving her father when she began her struggle, continued: “Watching him disappear into the Iranian prison system and seeing the lack of due process forced me to act. At first, my goal was simply to save my father. But as I connected with other families of political prisoners, I realized that thousands of people were facing the same injustice. My struggle is no longer only about my father, it’s about all those whose voices have been erased and whose families have been left without hope.”

 

‘HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS WERE CRIMINALIZED’

 

Reminding that her father was arrested in Bukan on 17 April 2023, Zhino Babamiri said: “According to the authorities, he was accused of supporting anti-government groups, but in reality, he had been helping injured protesters during the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement. Like many Kurdish activists, humanitarian actions were criminalized.

Following his arrest, he was held in prolonged solitary confinement for approximately 120 days and subjected to torture and severe psychological pressure.”

 

‘STILL UNCLEAR…’

 

Zhino Babamiri said that during her father’s imprisonment, he was unable to communicate with his family and was denied meaningful access to legal representation, adding: “The Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three death sentences along with additional prison terms after proceedings that fell far short of international standards for a fair trial. There was no transparent judicial process, and confessions extracted under torture played a central role in the case. Following sustained advocacy by his family, international organizations, and human rights defenders, the Supreme Court rejected his death sentences. He remains imprisoned,  the case was sent for reevaluation so the sentence of the revolutionary court is still unclear if he gets prison time, death sentence again or be free. While this was an enormous relief, he remains unjustly detained for actions that should never have been considered crimes.”

 

Zhino Babamiri emphasized that their communication with her father was extremely limited and said:  “Sometimes weeks pass without any contact, leaving families in constant uncertainty.”

 

‘IRAN’S PRISON SYSTEM IS DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO PUNISH PRISONERS’

 

Stating that prisoners are not the only ones being punished in Iran’s prisons, Zhino Babamiri said: “Many political prisoners are transferred without notice, denied visits, or placed in solitary confinement. Iran’s prison system is designed not only to punish prisoners but also to exhaust and intimidate their families. Political prisoners frequently report torture, denial of medical care, psychological abuse, and restrictions on legal representation. Families themselves often face intimidation simply for speaking publicly about their loved ones.”

 

A TOOL OF REPRESSION

 

Referring to the increasing number of executions, Zhino Babamiri said: “Executions have become one of the Iranian government’s primary tools of repression. Whenever the authorities face political pressure, growing public dissatisfaction, or fear of renewed protests, executions tend to increase. The purpose extends beyond punishing individuals. It is intended to create fear across society. Publicizing executions sends a message that dissent will carry the ultimate consequence. This strategy is meant to discourage activism, silence critics, and intimidate entire communities.”

 

‘ACTIVISM IS BEING CRIMINALIZED’

 

Drawing attention to the fact that executions disproportionately target Kurds and Baluch communities, Zhino Babamiri continued: “Kurdish and Baluch communities are disproportionately affected by executions and other forms of state repression. These regions have long experienced political discrimination, economic marginalization, and heavy militarization. Kurdish and Baluch activists are frequently accused of broad national security offenses such as ‘enmity against God’ or ‘armed rebellion,’ charges that are often used to criminalize peaceful activism or humanitarian work. One other reason could be they get lower media coverage by the diaspora and therefore less consequence for the government to kill or genocide them. This does not mean that only minorities are targeted. People from all backgrounds are executed in Iran. However, ethnic minorities face a significantly higher risk because discrimination intersects with political repression. Executions have become a tool for controlling regions where demands for equality, cultural rights, and political freedoms have historically been strongest.”

 

THE PEOPLE’S SHARED STRUGGLE

 

Referring to how the “Jin, jiyan, azadî” movement brought millions of people together across Iran, Zhino Babamiri continued as follows: “It showed that Kurds, Baluch, Persians, Azeris, Arabs, and many others could stand together around shared values: freedom, dignity, equality, and human rights. That spirit of resistance is still alive, both inside Iran and among many in the diaspora. At the same time, I think we have seen more division emerge within the Iranian diaspora in recent years. While that is disappointing, it is not surprising. For decades, the Islamic Republic has worked to divide people through propaganda, fear, misinformation, and attempts to turn communities against one another. Those divisions cannot be undone overnight. Even so, I remain hopeful. I believe we can move beyond these differences if we recognize that diversity is one of Iran’s greatest strengths, not a weakness. 

 

We do not all need the same political ideology or the same vision for the future to stand together against repression and defend fundamental human rights. True unity does not mean uniformity. It means respecting our differences while recognizing that our shared struggle for freedom is greater than any disagreement. I believe that is still possible, and I hope we continue building that kind of solidarity.”

 

THE RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT RELY SOLELY WITH THE IRANIAN PEOPLE

Stating that the responsibility for the situation in Iran cannot rest solely with the people of Iran, Zhino Babamiri said: “People inside Iran are already taking enormous risks simply by speaking out, documenting abuses, supporting prisoners’ families, or protesting. Many have paid for this with imprisonment, torture, or even their lives. We cannot expect ordinary citizens to stop a machinery of repression on their own. The international community also has a responsibility. Governments, international organizations, and democratic institutions should consistently condemn executions, hold Iranian officials accountable for serious human rights violations, support independent investigations, and ensure that political prisoners and those at risk of execution remain visible.”

 

‘SILENCE EMBOLDENS THE AUTHORITIES’

 

Emphasizing that the silence of the international community emboldens the Iranian authorities, Zhino Babamiri said:  “At the same time, civil society, journalists, academics, and ordinary people around the world all have a role to play. Raising awareness, sharing verified information, and amplifying the voices of victims and their families can make a real difference. International attention has, in many cases, helped delay executions and increase pressure on the Iranian authorities. Ultimately, saving lives requires both the courage of people inside Iran and sustained international solidarity. When the world is watching, it becomes harder for these crimes to happen in the dark.”

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu