We stand with protesters in Iran at this moment of women-led defiance against a deeply patriarchal regime

Joint MenEngage Alliance Statement

MenEngage Alliance, together with its members and networks, stands in solidarity with women and all the protesters in Iran at this moment of women-led defiance against a deeply patriarchal regime.

We remember and speak the name of Mahsa Amini, who died days after being taken into custody by the ‘morality police’. Her arrest was one in a series of ongoing violations of women’s human rights and freedoms over their own bodies.

Our thoughts are with the families of the dozens of people now believed to have died because of authoritarian and militaristic responses to the protests. We stand in solidarity with tens of thousands of demonstrators who have taken to the streets, and hundreds reported to have been arrested, including human rights defenders, journalists and activists. As the repressive regime shuts down social media platforms, we are committed to amplifying their voices. Women’s lives, rights and autonomy can no longer be violated by authoritarian governments and patriarchal male dominance over women and girls in Iran and elsewhere.

This moment takes place within the context of a worldwide rising tide of anti-gender equality, anti-rights groups that are well-funded. Repressive, authoritarian governments have increased their attacks on gender equality, women’s rights, and the rights of LGBTQI people. There is a rise in violence perpetrated by law enforcement, military forces and government sponsored militia and vigilante groups against their own citizens. With alarm, we see the increasing limitations in freedom of assembly, and barriers to individual and collective mobilization by civil society. We condemn the Iranian government’s continued regressive and brutal tactics in line with these trends.

We call on all men and boys—especially men in positions of power and influence across institutions—to act in allyship for women and girls in Iran at this important moment. MenEngage Alliance calls on all Governments to live up to their duty to support these values, and to uphold women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran and everywhere.

“The same women who are waving their mandatory hijab on the pedestrian bridge have [been] beaten, jailed and humiliated by morality police for years, but now see how people are supporting them for taking off their hijab. This is a revolution.” – Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist and activist.

“They have tactics about how to send their videos outside of Iran despite the cut-off of the internet. For the first time now in Iran women are burning their hijabs with the support of men.” – Sima Sabet, Journalist and TV Presenter, Iran International TV station, Source: The Guardian)

Iranian Muslim girl readers share their thoughts on Mahsa Amini’s murder.