Solidarity with the brave women of Iran

Dr. Shiva Balaghi on Twitter: "The digital protest art being created in Iranmuch of it anonymouslyhas been absolutely brilliant":

twitter.com/SBalaghi/status/1575641902665170944

I’m blown away by their bravery.

The whole situation is so huge and hostile, I really hope their protests work. I wish there was some way to help but it seems too big, and I’m not convinced that Western interference would improve the situation.

Solidarity.

Hope the amazing women get rid of those horrible old bastards.

Kudos to the Iranian men's football team for taking a stand on this issue:

Iran’s players covered up their national symbols by wearing jackets before the friendly with Senegal on Tuesday evening, showing solidarity with protests against the repression of women in their home country.

[...]

Carlos Queiroz’s team wore black jackets while the national anthems were played, concealing their country’s colours and badge. The match was played behind closed doors by edict of Iran’s football association, which held the rights to the fixture, but a sizeable number of demonstrators gathered outside in an effort to make their voices heard on television feeds.

On Sunday the influential Iran forward Sardar Azmoun had spoken out in support of the protests via his Instagram account. “At worst I’ll be dismissed from the national team,” wrote the Bayern Leverkusen player. “No problem. I’d sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women. This story will not be deleted. They can do whatever they want. Shame on you for killing so easily; long live Iranian women.”

www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/28/iran-footballers-show-solidarity-with-protests-over-mahsa-amini-death

It has become painfully clear world-wide in the past few years that all the actions towards women's equality and rights were nothing more than vague, shallow gestures that served those at the time to make. Hence here we are, world wide, fighting all over again from the ground up the ground we'd already thought we'd won. This time it is going to have to be done with a lot more cynicism and a lot less willingness to trust.

Deepest respect for the women in Iran who have the guts to do this when it is real and immediate threat to their lives that they are putting on the line to stand up to their oppression. They are shaming the men involved across the world's press.

I cant imagine how awful it must have been that you are literally willing to risk your life because the thought of dying isn't as much of a fear as continuing on under that regime. I,m honestly in awe of their bravery.

Solidarity with these strong women and men fighting back against their oppression. So devastating how women are treated still.

My thoughts exactly. Men protesting, too.

Now protests in other countries, including the UK.

'chants heard at rallies, such as “We’ll support our sisters and women, life, liberty”, had been heard around the country.

“This is unprecedented for us. We have never seen women take their hijab off in mass like this. Burning down the police centres, running after their cars, burning down the pictures of [supreme leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei,” she said.'

From the Guardian report.

to all the protesters.

Such courage in the face of such brutality.

It’s heartening to see so many young men out protesting with them, too. Attitudes are really changing.

Incredibly brave women.

The left don't know what a woman is.

It's just horrific. Solitary

Somewhere I saw an idea about posting samples of hair to the various Iranian Embassies around the world.

Such brave women. Women should not have to live like this.

In sisterhood. And with the women in Afghanistan.

Such admiration for those brave women in Iran.
It’s mind blowing that something like this can still happen.

And, of course, last year Iran was elected onto the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, the principal team handling “the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women”. FFS!

Solidarity. If the left was attune to the predicament of women worldwide, would they unite to stop it?
Tired we have the UN declaration of 1998 against violence against women pandemic and little has changed.

It's such a frightening situation. I'm in awe of them for protesting given that men make the laws and men decided women need to be so controlled. They literally do not have a legal voice.

Absolutely. The latest from The Observer: www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/24/protests-spread-in-iran-as-president-raisi-vows-to-crack-down

Which is why the rest of the world needs to take action on their behalf and alongside them.

But the great male dominated governments of the world seem little troubled by the vicious press ion of women.

It would be wonderful if their protests made change but like others I fear for their safety.