The Face of Autonomy.

"The Face of Autonomy" investigates the ongoing struggle of political prisoners in Iran, unjustly detained, tortured, and denied justice by the regime. This performance piece aims to raise awareness, exposing the alarming rates of executions and broader systemic injustices in contemporary Iran.

The dialogues on the apartheid-like regime unfold through abstract formats, mediums, and installations that reflect the hierarchy governing prisoners' lives. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a British-Australian academic, spent over two years in Iranian detention on doubtful espionage charges. After relentless international pressure, she was eventually released in a prisoner swap, exchanged for three members of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). Yet, her freedom came at the cost of highlighting the pervasive use of hostages as political bargaining chips, leaving countless others trapped in this ruthless cycle.

The hierarchy of political prisoners in Iran reflects a complex system where detainees are categorised based on their perceived "threat" to the regime, their nationality, and their political or religious affiliations. This hierarchy plays a critical role in how they are treated, with Iranian activists, journalists, and members of ethnic or religious and queer minorities often facing the harshest conditions. These individuals endure systematic torture, solitary confinement, and denial of legal rights. Foreign nationals or dual citizens, like Kylie Moore-Gilbert, occupy a different space within this hierarchy—used as means in political and diplomatic negotiations, reflecting Iran's strategy of hostage diplomacy.

Hostage-taking by the Iranian regime is a deliberate and calculated tactic. Individuals are often detained on fabricated charges and exchanged for political or economic concessions. This practice is an extension of the regime's authoritarian control and a mechanism for exercising pressure on the Western imperial powers. The obscurity surrounding these hostages is partly due to the regime's tight grip on the media and the mysteriousness of its judicial system. Stories of prisoners are often buried, and the Iranian government controls what information leaves its borders. Furthermore, fearing retaliation or worsening conditions for Iranian prisoners keeps families from publicising cases.

The Face of Autonomy bonds to the Green Movement, ‘The women-Life-Freedom movement, and the many uprisings in Iran, where political prisoners still face daily threats of execution. These movements, demanding justice, reflect the same struggle for autonomy.