Marjan Keypour | United Nations | New York City
September 14, 2023
Ladies and gentlemen,
One year ago, on September 16, we bore witness to the most heinous and what eventually became the most famous act of government-sanctioned femicide in the world. The murder of Masa Amini.
Mahsa, a 22 year old woman, was much like any other young woman here, with dreams, passions, and a zest for life. She loved dancing, music, and education. She cherished her country, just as any of us would. Her tragic death ignited a national movement because she represented not just any woman and girl in Iran, but every citizen. Her innocence and vulnerability resonated, reminding us of the fragile nature of life under a regime that disregards basic human rights.
At StopFemicide, we confront the disturbing reality of countless women and girls struggling to escape the horrors within their families. These horrors manifest in forced marriages arranged by fathers, child marriages driven by poverty, the humiliation of temporary or polygamous marriages, abusive and violent relationships and other disturbing dynamics where the woman and girls are helpless without any support or safety net. The most violent end on the spectrum of gender-based discrimination. WE hear reports of women being beaten, raped, dismembered, abandoned or buried without a word or prayer. Last year alone, nearly 200 acts of femicide were reported in Iran but those were not just statistics, they were mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and ordinary citizens. They met their tragic ends in a country where gender based laws prevail, where women are deemed worthless and worth less and where perpetrators often escape justice.
Mahsa Amini’s murder however served as a catalyst for change. It awakened the Iranian people to the inherent flaws of their so called “justice” system” which values one segment of the society over others and perpetuates discrimination. People realize that they are not safe unless all are safe. This realization led to chants of unity. Praising woman, life, freedom, Natarsim natarsim, ma hameh ba ham hastim.
In the face of adversity, countless individuals took to the streets, knowing the risks that awaited them. They protested despite the threat of violence, arrest, torture, rape and even execution. They protested because they understood that freedom and dignity outweighed everything else. Even as crackdowns intensified, they persevered, outsmarting their oppressors by blocking roads, painting incendiary slogans on walls, burning pictures of their rulers, engaging in widespread strikes and boycotts, shouting “death to the dictator” from their windows and shedding their hijabs. They refused to back down from their fight.
In the face of adversity, countless individuals took to the streets, knowing the risks that awaited them. They protested despite the threat of violence, arrest, torture, rape and even execution. They protested because they understood that freedom and dignity outweighed everything else. Even as crackdowns intensified, they persevered, outsmarting their oppressors by blocking roads, painting incendiary slogans on walls, burning pictures of their rulers, engaging in widespread strikes and boycotts, shouting “death to the dictator” from their windows and shedding their hijabs. They refused to back down from their fight.
Today Iranian women walk without their hijabs, not because they are allowed or that as the propaganda machine reported, the morality police has been dismantled. They do so because they no longer want to wait for permission to be who they are. They are claiming control over their lives, dignity and destiny, defying a government that aims to control them.
In closing, as we commemorate this solemn anniversary, and remember the nearly 700 lost lives in the past year, we honor the brave citizens who fought for a better future. We acknowledge the international allies and human rights entities that stood by the Iranian people. And we hold the perpetrators of human rights violations accountable for their actions. And most importantly, we offer hope for the future by standing in solidarity with the Iranian people, who continue to risk everything for Woman. LIfe. Freedom.
Thank you.
