A unified statement from activists, writers, and artists has called for the release of imprisoned poet Habib Mousavi Bibalani and an end to repression.

Mousavi, a notable opposition poet, was apprehended on Monday and has since been detained at Amirabad prison in Gorgan. The charges against him, such as "propaganda against the system" and "disturbing public opinion," have triggered widespread concern among his supporters and peers.

The statement, compiled by over 260 activists, states that rising repression and increased incarcerations signals fatal cracks in the regime. They slammed the incarceration of Mousavi and other activists and said such acts of repression are a sign of the regime losing hold of its oppressive power.

The statement said that writers have historically been primary targets during successive waves of repression and indicated that this is a sign of decreasing grip of authority. “When a political order violates every aspect of the lives of those who produce and distribute ideas and speech... it is an attempt to shut the very last remaining windows of political presence. One can only conclude that this political order itself does not have much hope for retrieving its already lost legitimacy,” the statement reads. It also highlights the eerie resemblance of the regime’s actions in 2023 to the totalitarian regimes of the early 20th century.

Amidst mounting worries about Mousavi's health, the signatories of the statement also draw attention to his numerous medical conditions, including heart disease, lumbar disc issues.

Furthermore, the collective of activists highlighted hundreds of disturbing cases of repression against writers during the Mahsa Uprising, including instances of violence, staged suicides, unlawful detentions, abductions, exiles, psychological and physical torture, intrusive home searches, and intimidation tactics.

Statistics from PEN America's latest Freedom To Write Index reveal a distressing surge in the incarceration of writers in Iran during 2022, compared to the preceding year, reflecting the government's heightened suppression of dissent.

The intensified crackdown on anti-government protests following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in police custody has led to a deliberate focus on writers, artists, cultural figures, celebrities, and athletes who challenge the status quo.