Take Action – What Can You Do?
- Lift up the cause: LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on our social posts to amplify the message.
- Educate others and spread awareness: read the two blogs below, and send them to someone who may not know a lot about the current situation going on.
What’s going on, and what’s at stake?
Iran’s women and girls are risking everything to secure their fundamental rights – for themselves, and for everyone in Iran. Their protests were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died at the hands of Iran’s so-called “morality” police because of the way she wore her headscarf. At least448 people including 60 children and 29 women have been killed by security forces.
the Baluchi minority have born the brunt of the vicious crackdowns by the security forces during the uprisings
As many as 15,000 people, including journalists, activists, lawyers and educators, have been arrested since protests erupted in Iran in mid-September and the Iranian law makers are asking for swift and certain punishments (which could include death sentences) for the protestors. Close to 2,000 people have been charged according to Iran’s judicial authorities
The government has just sentenced the first protester to death, and more are in line to be met with the same fate, including 3 children. Upwards of 15,000 protesters could be subject to the death penalty after 227 of the 290-member parliament called on the judiciary to impose the death penalty on the demonstrators.
The government in Iran has largely cut off access to the internet and banned social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Skype. Despite this, girls are still fighting and taking to the streets. Across the world, 877 cities and universities are staging protests in support of Iran’s girls.
What is FUTURES Doing?
FUTURES’ own Director of International Policy and Advocacy, Leila Milani uses her expertise as a previous Expert on Iran at the Department of Defense to offer context and lead action on the issue.
- Petition: FUTURES asked President Biden to do what is within his power, and 1) Ask to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN and 2) Call for the Islamic republic of Iran to be held accountable for extreme violence.
- Blogs: Milani has also written two blog posts setting context on the situation as an expert in international gender-based violence policy and also as a mother to a teenage daughter.
- Social Media: The people protesting in Iran have asked for the rest of the world to support them by amplifying their voices. We are listening, and amplifying their messages across social media channels. We are spreading awareness and letting Iranian girls know we have their back as they ask for freedom under threat of bullets, batons, and prison bars.
