Today, as we mark the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising — one of the largest uprisings in modern Iranian history — we’ll explore the role, widespread presence, and leadership of women in this movement. This uprising showcased extraordinary moments of courage and leadership by Iranian women.

We dedicate this episode to the women of the November 2019 uprising, and we’ll focus on the role of women in the Resistance Units and their contributions to the fight for Iran’s freedom.

Let’s start with this question: How would you describe the November 2019 uprising?

The November 2019 uprising was sparked on the 15th of November by a sudden hike in fuel prices. Protests rapidly spread to 191 cities. Iranians from all walks of life poured into the streets, chanting slogans like “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to Rouhani.”

In the early days of the uprising, protesters in cities such as Shiraz in the south, Behbahan in the southwest, Tehran Province, and other major cities temporarily liberated areas, challenging security forces and significantly disrupting the regime’s control.

Regime officials admitted that they were simultaneously battling the uprising in 900 locations nationwide, with 146 crisis points in Tehran alone. The scale and intensity of the uprising shook the regime to its core, so much so that they could only suppress it through brutal massacres. This uprising revealed the explosive potential and power of the Iranian people to overthrow the regime.

Welcome to this episode of the NCRI Women’s Committee podcast where we uncover one of the darkest facets of human rights abuse within the prison system of the Iranian regime which has victimized many women.

The regime's treatment of political prisoners has always been harsh. Some reports reveal an even more sinister strategy: forcing illness and breaking prisoners through brutal tactics that often lead to irreversible health damage—or worse. Today, we’ll dive into these practices and bring to light the voices of those who have endured the unimaginable.

To anyone who has followed Iran’s recent history, the stories of political prisoners are already gut-wrenching. But what we're talking about today is a method of control that goes beyond physical and psychological torture. Prisoners who resist the regime or refuse to cooperate face medical torture: they’re given injections or forced to take pills, often leading to chronic autoimmune diseases or mental breakdowns. These are not isolated cases—this is a systematic campaign to destroy the bodies and spirits of dissidents.

The term some have used is “biological assassination.” Think about that for a moment. These prisoners are not just being silenced; they’re being slowly dismantled from the inside. Some are given drugs that disrupt their immune systems, leading to diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and lupus. And for those who resist even further? The regime escalates with psychoactive drugs that induce total psychological collapse, making even the strongest individuals weak and vulnerable.

In this episode, we’re going to discuss a subject that doesn’t get enough attention: the emotional and psychological torture inflicted on political prisoners in Iran, especially through forced divorces.

The clerical regime in Iran has been using forced divorce as a psychological weapon against political prisoners. Why is it such a prevalent method?

Compelling political prisoners or their spouses to divorce is a common method of psychological torture used as a tool to weaken and break political prisoners by tearing apart their families. It’s also a message to others who might be pondering opposition to the regime.

Today, we’ll be discussing the ongoing protests by Iranian nurses, who are courageously standing up against harsh economic conditions, low wages, and difficult working conditions.

We'll also touch on the broader healthcare crisis in Iran. We hope you find this episode both informative and engaging.
The situation in Iran’s healthcare system is extremely troubling. Economic instability, low wages, and forced overtime are pushing both doctors and nurses to their limits. Nurses earn as little as $4 for an eight-hour shift, and many are considering alternative jobs, like driving for ride-hailing apps, to make ends meet. Doctors aren’t much better off, with consultation fees so low they barely cover basic living expenses. This has led to a mass exodus of healthcare professionals, leaving the system in a precarious state. In the past year alone, about 3,000 nurses have left the country.

The rate of emigration among Iranian nurses has surged dramatically. In 2021, an average of 100 to 150 nurses left the country each month. By 2024, that number had jumped to 300 per month. This exodus has led to mass resignations in hospitals nationwide, worsening an already dire situation.

In this episode, we're going to discuss the rising executions of women and the nationwide protests, particularly in the women's wards, against the death penalty.
Just recently, on the morning of July 27, 2024, a woman was among four prisoners hanged in the Central Prison of Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan Province in western Iran. This execution marked the 15th woman executed in Iran since January 2024. The alarming rate of these executions is highlighted by the fact that at least five women were put to death in just one week, from July 21 to July 27. This rapid increase points to a disturbing trend of rising executions, particularly targeting women.
Political prisoners, especially women, have been very active in protesting these executions. In the women's ward of Evin Prison, where many political prisoners are held, there have been several protests and sit-ins over the past month.