Hashmatollah Tabarzdi, a political activist and prisoner, in an audio message from Dastgerd prison in Isfahan, on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the Student Movement of 18 Tir 1378, called for moving beyond the logic of violence and toward dialogue, peace, democracy, and freedom. Reviewing the past four decades, he said that the logic of “eliminating the other side” is among the main factors behind the imposition of heavy costs on the people of Iran—ranging from the slogans of the 1979 Revolution and the Iran–Iraq war to the suppression of opponents, the executions of 1988, the Islamic Republic’s regional policies, and recent conflicts. Addressing the rulers of the Islamic Republic, he said: “If they have truly chosen the path of dialogue and peace, they must face the people of Iran, grieving families, opponents, and political prisoners, free political prisoners, and stop executions.”