SOLIDARITY W/ IRAN

The public hangings are disguised as lawful punishments for offenses of Moharebeh (Waging War Against God) or Fisad-e-filarz (Corruption on Earth). However, these trials happen behind closed doors and the Islamic Republic "keeps the execution cases as vague as possible to ‘confuse’ domestic and international reactions until the last minute," said Hossein Bastani, a prominent political analyst for BBC Persian. 

Since the establishment of the Mullah regime after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iranian citizens have found international mobilization as their only recourse to halt these executions and injustices.

This call for solidarity with Iran is the cause brought forward by members of the Exil-Iranische Gesellschaften in Deutschland (EIGD) (Union of Iranian Communities in Germany) who protested in front of Parliament in Berlin from the 19th to the 23rd of June.

Some of these victims were family members and friends of the activists. Fahrad (right) revealed that two of his family members who attended protests in Iran were assassinated. Homayoun (middle) mentioned that six of his relatives lost their lives under the oppressive regime. 

Hamid Maasser, Chairman of EIGD says he travels the world but cannot return home. He is one of the 8 million Iranians living in exile for disagreeing with the government.

The Chairman calls for a democratic republic, where women have equal rights and can become president, such as Maryam Rajavi. She is the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He explains that once the people of Iran are given equal rights and freedom of speech, only then can the country rebuild what has been destroyed by the Shah and Mullah.

Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for the future of Iran calls for a republic based on the separation of religion and state, gender equality, abolition of the death penalty and a non-nuclear Iran. With the help of the UN, the politician aims to have the massacre of 1988 recognized as a genocide and bring the regime leaders Ali Khamenei and Abrahim Raisi to justice. Hamid referred to the Iranian government’s leaders as terrorists.

Amongst the numerous posters, portraits in a bigger format show women who suffer under the hijab law. This mandatory law requires women to wear a hijab with the threat of being sentenced to a fine or between 10 days and two months in prison. A portrait of Mahsa Amini was shown. She allegedly wore her hijab too loosely and died at the hands of the “morality police” in Teheran on September 16, 2022.

Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi who first covered and published the death of Mahsa Amini were arrested and are facing trial behind closed doors. The same goes for Hengameh Ghaziani, an actress who shared a video bareheaded and Katayoun Riahi who showed herself without a veil during a televised interview declaring Iran is a prison. The family home of athlete Elnaz Rekabi was destroyed after she competed abroad without a hijab. The teenager Nika Shahkarami was kidnapped after a manifestation and found by the side of a building with her head bashed in, the authorities claim it was a suicide.

The oppression faced by women under Islamic Republic takes various forms. Disturbing reports indicate that thousands of students, primarily girls, have been subjected to toxic gas attacks across the country since November 2022. While the exact numbers remain uncertain, a member of Parliament in Qom estimated that 1,200 cases occurred in Qom and Borujerd alone. Responsibility for these attacks remains unclear. “Due to the Iranian government’s incompetence—or unwillingness—to stop poison gas attacks against schoolgirls in Iran, international support is urgently needed to protect Iranian children and their right to education,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). Additionally, Amnesty has reported that child detainees in Iran are subjected to flogging, electric shocks, and sexual violence.

For over 40 years, Iranians have suffered under the Mullah regime. Prior to the Iranian Revolution, they suffered under the Shah’s dictatorship, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, which pushed the country to adopt Western-oriented secular modernization while suppressing dissent and restricting political freedom as well. For this reason, Iranians are asking for international support. 

On Saturday July 1st 2023, the highly anticipated Free Iran World Summit 2023 took place at the headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. The summit gathered prominent political figures from various countries to express their support for the Iran Uprising and promote the establishment of a democratic republic.

“Our country, movement, and Revolution have reached a pivotal moment. A seldom-seen opportunity in the history of nations is before us: either we allow the religious tyranny and the mullahs’ rule to persist, or we instigate a revolution, topple the mullahs, and establish a democratic republic with the separation of religion and state, thus liberating our people and nation.” states Maryam Rajavi.

The Chairman of EIGD highlights several ways to provide support for the cause. By raising awareness, participating in protests and strikes, sharing information on social media platforms to encourage others to join the movement, following Iranian news, engaging with Iranians, making donations, promoting Maryam Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan, reporting on executions, and standing for truth, individuals can contribute to fostering positive change in Iran.