IWD: Women, Life, Freedom – an interview with an Iranian student and activist

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in today's world, but unfortunately, this right is still not granted to everyone. In some countries, speaking out against the government or certain policies can lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment, torture, and even death. Iran is one of these countries, and today we have the privilege of hearing from a student who has chosen to remain anonymous to protect their family who live in Iran.

Tying into International Women’s Day, and Women’s History Month, this student has kindly agreed to share their views of the current situation in Iran and why they have chosen to discuss it with us.

Can you tell us about your experience of the current situation in Iran and why you've chosen to discuss this with us today?

The situation in Iran is dire, with young schoolgirls being poisoned by gas, peaceful protests being met with violence and brutality, and innocent citizens being executed without trial.

The schoolgirls who have been poisoned by gas are just one example of the human rights violations occurring in Iran. Over 91 schools across 20 provinces in Iran have been affected, and thousands of schoolgirls and boys have been hospitalised. The videos of these children's suffering shared across social media are heart-breaking and highlight the reality of what is happening in Iran.

In the context of resisting oppression, in your opinion, what does the International Women’s Day theme of 'embracing equity' mean to you?

There is no equality in Iran, so it's ironic to talk about embracing equity. However, embracing equity means standing against any government or regime that wants to hold women, or anyone, back from reaching higher positions in society, achieving their goals or simply being free.

Embracing equity is about standing against powerful organisations that don't want people to reach their goals or live in the way they need to.

Do you feel the arts can play a role in raising awareness for political issues? If so, how?

Art and fashion are ways of expressing feelings and ideas that words cannot do. That's why I chose to study in the fashion field and withdrew from science. There are no limits to the arts, and it's a very creative field.

There were recent executions in Iran and people from multiple cities across the world were protesting at the same time. It's a way of connecting Iranian people and people around the world through art. Some of them made themselves naked just to attract attention, signally that we want to be heard, no matter how. Art can do this instead of just saying "women's life, freedom" or giving long presentations or having a lot of conferences and meetings.

There's an Instagram artist named Digianzu who creates animations that are less than a minute. He publishes it every week depending on the situation that is going on in Iran. When a child was killed, he created a silent animation for him. When you see that, you understand that it's the child that he's talking about. The animations also have the same music, which is called " Baraye Azadi" meaning "For Freedom," and that's the song which recently won a Grammy Award. So yes, I think art is a way of expression, and whatever words cannot say, art can address.

Are there any women you would like to celebrate who you feel are forging change?

There are many women that I can name, but one of them is a well-known actor in Iran, Taraneh Alidoosti. She has attended Cannes in France many times and won the Best Foreign Language Film Award at the 89th Academy Awards. She has been arrested by the government because she has taken off her hijab as a way of protest following the death of #mahsaamini. Other actresses have also taken off their hijab and been tortured in prison. Although they were eventually freed after two months due to pressure, this is not something that happens to normal women. There have been cases of women being raped, killed, or committing suicide after being released from prison.

One of the people that I respect and admire is Sarina Esmaeilzade. She was just 16 years old when the government killed her, and she became a hero. Another is Nasim Sedghi, who was killed by government forces at the age of 22. There are many more brave women like them who are surprisingly supported by Iranian men. Many men attended protests and were executed for supporting women's rights. Another woman who is Iranian and lives in France is Golshifteh Farahani, a well-known actress around the world. She had to leave her country in 2008 and has been banished ever since. She has been very effective in spreading the message of women's freedom to be heard and shared across the globe.

There are many more women to celebrate, including journalist Masih Alinejad, who lives in the US but has been targeted by the Iranian government. She has attended many TV shows to talk about this. These women and many others are paving the way for change in Iran and around the world.

In your opinion, what do you think others can do to show their support?

It's very simple.

• By attending protests in London or other cities, like on any weekend in Trafalgar Square.
• Sharing Instagram posts and stories (such as from Middle East Matters, or the Center for Human Rights in Iran)
• Sharing posters or leaflets in the university or workplace
• Or just the other thing is emailing their MP and asking for their involvement

I would say one other thing and the last one, which is very simple, is just to ask people in their workplace or university. Even a simple question like 'how are you? How are things in Iran?' That really helps. In my workplace, there are 20 people, and just one person asked me “How are you feeling? How are things in Iran?” Although it's just one person, even that one is very heart-warming. So yeah, it's just about showing support.