Be the voice for those in need

I’ll try to be clear and concise—knowing much more should be said, and that I don’t know it all.

Now is a time to be a voice for the people of Iran, who have been oppressed for over four decades under an extremist regime that stripped them of their freedom. Women have suffered the most—losing fundamental rights, dignity, and safety.

In September 2022, three years ago, Mahsa Jina Amini died in so-called “morality police” custody, igniting the Woman. Life. Freedom. movement. She was robbed of her life—like so many other women, including teenagers, whose only “crime” was trying to be heard. Many endured imprisonment and violence that is almost impossible to put into words.

Some Iranian artists tried to be their voice and were imprisoned or killed. Shervin Hajipour was saved only because the world listened—his song Baraye earned a Grammy.

In recent days, people have taken to the streets again. There is a chance to reclaim freedom—but at an unbearable cost. More than 2,000 lives lost. And still, so much remains unseen and uncovered.

The internet is cut. Communication is silenced. Violence escalates. I received videos from an Iranian friend and decided to share them—not for shock, but in the hope that awareness can help.

I am not Iranian. But because of my long-standing commitment to women’s rights, I have tried to be a voice for Iranian women for more than three years—and for women everywhere for much longer, including Afghan women, whom we must not forget.

I stand with Iranian women.

I stand with the Iranian people.

This concerns all of us.

It is about our shared humanity and human rights.

🕊️

With love and light

Jessica de Vreeze aka Hopeje