by Mary Manning, Heidelberg IWC and Human Rights Team Co-Chair
FAWCO received this letter from a woman in Iran, explaining the dangerous situation in the country as protests following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini have led to a severe crackdown by authorities, with as many as 15,000 people being arrested. The author, who will remain anonymous for her protection, explains what we can do to show our support for their fight for fundamental human rights.
I am writing to you to briefly talk about what’s happening in Iran right now, especially as a few colleagues have reached out to understand more. My reason for emailing you now is that the Islamic Republic has shut off internet access in Iran as an attempt to hide what’s happening from the rest of the world. The last time there were widespread protests in Iran (November 2019) and the internet access was restricted, 1500 people were killed. You probably don’t know about this, which is exactly what was intended. Therefore, now more than ever, Iranians need the international community to know what’s happening and need their voice to be spread in any way, big or small.
On September 13, a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa (Zhina in Kurdish) Amini was arrested by the “morality police” and was beaten for not wearing her hijab properly. Unfortunately, her injuries led to her death. The mandatory hijab has been a symbol of oppression for Iranian women in the past 43 years, one which we have tried to defy since it was made mandatory in 1979. This could have easily happened to me or any of my friends who are living in Iran, as none of us comply with it.
As some of you may have seen, Mahsa’s death sparked women-led protests all over Iran (to as many as 80 cities). People are not only protesting the mandatory hijab, but also the economic hardship (despite significant natural resources) and consistent violation of human rights that Iran has been experiencing in the past four decades. Young women all over the country are putting their lives at risk by standing in front of the police to fight for their basic rights. Many others have been murdered in the past few days, including Hadis Najafi, whose video of tying her hair in a knot and getting ready to protest has gone viral.
This is truly a revolution led by women for equality, freedom and choice that far extends beyond the borders of Iran and concerns all marginalized communities. So please if you can, say her name, Mahsa Amini (mah-sa am-eeni) and talk about the women of Iran, particularly to those who have a wider audience. Please also keep their chant in mind, which represents this incredibly courageous movement: “Woman, Life, Freedom.”
What you can do to help
- Write to your legislators/MPs asking them to publicly state their support for the women of Iran in their fight for human rights. Your government’s official website should have information about how to contact officials.
- With the internet being shut off, it is very important to share and repost fact-based information to lift the voices of those inside Iran on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. If you are not comfortable sharing on social media, it is still very helpful to mention this in any social setting to raise awareness.
- Use social media to follow those who are breaking down the issues and sharing the efforts of Iranian citizens in the streets, demanding accountability from their government. Here are some accounts to follow.
- Nazanin Boniadi, actor and Amnesty UK Ambassador
- Masih Alinejad, activist and journalist
- Nazanin Nour, actor.
- Middle East Matters, organization
- Gissou Nia, Director of Atlantic Council Strategic Litigation Project
- Upload the following image to your social media to show your support for the brave women in Iran.
