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Source: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/media/6024
A Revolution Is Taking Place in Iran - Iranian American human rights activist Masih Alinejad
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) On November 17, 2022, The Washington Institute honored Iranian American human rights activist Masih Alinejad. Here are excerpts of her remarks: A historical revolution is taking place in Iran, which is being led by women but supported by men. It started because of protesting against compulsory hijab laws. The compulsory hijab is not just a small piece of cloth when it is in the hands of the Islamic Republic or the Taliban or ISIS. It is one of the most visible symbols of oppression and the main pillar of religious dictatorship. Jews and Iranians are historical friends. Jews came to Iran thousands of years before Islam came to Iran. We have common friends, the great Cyrus. We are all fighting for the same goal. We want to have a country where Bahai, Jews, minorities, men, women, Kurds, Turks, Baluch, and everyone has dignity and freedom. That is what is happening in Iran right now. For years I have been comparing the compulsory hijab to the Berlin Wall and I strongly believe that. If women can say no to the one who told them what to wear, they can say no to big dictators as well. I believe that if we are successful in tearing this wall down, the Islamic Republic will not exist. My body is here [in the U.S.] but my thoughts, my soul, and everything else is there [in Iran]. I am able to find my own window to sneak into my homeland. My windows are social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I have more than 10 million followers. I have more followers than the mullahs and the ayatollahs all together. The Iranian regime did everything to shut me up, to keep me silent. They put my brother in jail for two years. They brought my sister on TV to denounce me publicly. They actually sent people [to the U.S.] to kidnap me. The FBI arrested a man with a loaded gun in front of my house just three months ago. I don't accept when the politicians in the West say, "We don't want to interfere in an internal matter." By keeping silent, sending billions of dollars to the Iranian regime, or negotiating with them, you are actually interfering because there is a war being imposed on women and men in Iran by the Iranian regime. When you go and negotiate with the warmongers, you are taking sides. Like millions of other students in Iran, I was told that I have to say "Death to Israel" so loud that Tel Aviv could hear us. I was told that we had to say "Death to America" so loud that the White House could hear us. Now Iranians are saying "Death to Khamenei" so loud that Khamenei can hear them.