PMOI Resistance units mark anniversary of release of political prisoners under the shah regime

2026-01-25 - 21:06

On January 19, PMOI Resistance Units launched a coordinated campaign across Iran to mark a pivotal anniversary in the country’s struggle for democracy. The activities commemorated January 20, 1979, the day the last group of political prisoners, including Iranian Resistance Leader Massoud Rajavi, were released from the Shah’s prisons. Defying the regime’s heavy repression and security measures, these units projected images of Massoud Rajavi and displayed slogans in major cities, signaling that the fight against dictatorship continues unabated. Defying the dictatorship on the streets The activities spanned across the country, with Resistance Units organizing acts of defiance in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, Bandar Abbas, Qazvin, Saveh, and Isfahan. Their activities take place against the backdrop of an ongoing nationwide uprising and the regime’s efforts to quell public protests through brutal killings across the country. January 19—Iran PMOI Resistance Units mark the anniversary of the release of the last political prisoners under the Shah regime on January 20, 1979. After years of torture, these prisoners, who included Iranian Resistance Leader Massoud Rajavi, defeated the tyrannical regime of... pic.twitter.com/iM4ydGbehA — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 20, 2026 The visuals and slogans projected in public spaces reflected a mood of imminent change. In Tehran’s Nezam Abad district and Saveh’s Hazrat Zahra Boulevard, slogans declared, “The tremors of overthrow have engulfed the entirety of the religious dictatorship.” In Mashhad, units displayed the message, “Have no doubt that the people will prevail,” while in Isfahan, the sentiment was even more direct: “It’s time for rage and fire” and “This regime doesn’t understand any other language than power and decisiveness.” The campaign also highlighted the leadership of Massoud Rajavi in the ongoing struggle. In Tehran’s Modarres Boulevard and Isfahan, messages such as “Hail to Rajavi” and “Let the world know that Massoud [Rajavi] is our leader” were prominently featured. The strategic slogan: “no to shah, no to mullahs” A central theme of the January 19 activities was the rejection of all forms of dictatorship, past and present. The Resistance Units emphasized the PMOI’s demarcation strategy: opposing both the current religious tyranny and the monarchical dictatorship that preceded it. In Tehran and Karaj, the units publicized the slogan, “The slogan ‘No to shah, no to mullahs’ is the demarcation with dictatorship and dependence.” In Bandar Abbas, this sentiment was echoed with the message, “The slogan ‘Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the supreme leader’ blocks tyranny and colonialism.” Furthermore, in Qazvin, the units addressed political maneuvers by regime apologists or monarchists with the statement, “The mullahs getting help from the shah will not solve their problems.” Tehran (Modarres Blvd) "Hail to Rajavi" pic.twitter.com/x5ipRoga3v — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 20, 2026 January 20, 1979: a turning point for freedom The significance of this date cannot be overstated. January 20, 1979, was a decisive turning point in the path of Iran’s democratic revolution. It marked the moment when Massoud Rajavi and other resistance leaders, who had endured years of torture, were freed by the people’s revolution. The Shah later admitted in his own book that releasing these political prisoners was his “greatest mistake.” Similarly, the clerical regime that hijacked the revolution viewed these vanguards of freedom as the primary threat to its absolute rule. Regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini’s subsequent fatwas and actions against the PMOI demonstrated that he saw them as the main obstacle to establishing his dominance. The historical clash: freedom vs. religious fascism From the onset of the 1979 revolution, a clear line was drawn between the PMOI’s vision for a democratic Iran and Khomeini’s reactionary agenda. Just four days after his release, speaking at Tehran University, Massoud Rajavi declared, “We must also think about what should be and what should not be,” raising the slogan “Long Live the Democratic Revolution of Iran” to counter Khomeini’s “Islamic Revolution.” For 47 years, the history of Iran has been defined by the struggle between these two opposing forces. While Khomeini imposed the “Either headscarf or baton” mandate, Massoud Rajavi championed equality and women’s leadership. Under the guiding principle of “Neither shah nor mullahs,” Rajavi established the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the National Liberation Army (NLA). It is on the foundation of this army that the heroic Resistance Units have grown and thrived today, preparing for an uprising to overthrow the ruling religious fascism. As stated on the walls of Bandar Abbas during the recent campaign: “The overthrow of the anti-humanitarian regime is inevitable.”