V-Day and One Billion Rising stand in solidarity with Iranians who are taking to the streets in large-scale protests across the Islamic Republic of Iran in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was arrested in the capital city of Tehran by the “morality police” for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly, breaking the country’s restrictive rules around hijab and dress codes.

Mahsa was detained after being arrested and suffered “multiple blows to the head” according to news outlet Iran International. While the police are denying beating Mahsa, eye witnesses are corroborating the tragic events.

Protests continue to grow, with many women defiantly cutting their hair and burning their hijabs to challenge the regime’s strict and brutal stance. The government has responded with violence. CNN is reporting that at least 8 people have died since the protests began a week ago.  As of this morning, The Guardian reports that the government has shut off the internet in parts of Tehran and Kurdistan, while also blocking access to Instagram and WhatsApp in an attempt to stop the rising tide of protest, which has been largely fueled by social media, an important instrument for documenting the historic protests and the government’s vicious response.

As a global activist movement to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence), we stand with the women of Iran against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s brutal oppression of women.

Now more than ever our solidarity is essential. Listen, share, and amplify the voices of people on the ground, the voices of the women of Iran. Tell Mahsa’s story.

Rage, Roar & RISE: Women of the world have our eyes on Iran.

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