Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) was proud to join this letter in solidarity with protesters in Iran. The letter was led by the National Iranian American Council and endorsed by nearly 40 national organizations, including Vote Vets, MADRE, J Street, Ploughshares Fund, and Win Without War.
On Sept. 16, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was murdered by Iranian police while in custody over her decision not to wear a headscarf. Ever since this brutal killing, Iranian protesters have bravely demonstrated in the streets, seeking an end to gross human rights violations and an end to the nation’s mandatory hijab laws.
FCNL supports the people of Iran’s demand for “Women, Life, Freedom.” As Quakers, we condemn all forms of state oppression and call on Iranian authorities to end the attacks on peaceful protesters.
View the letter and a full list of signers below:
October 18, 2022
As US organizations committed to women’s rights and justice across the world, we stand in solidarity with the brave people of Iran, overwhelmingly Iranian women and girls, who are demonstrating for their basic rights and strongly condemn the outrageous, widespread and systematic human rights violations of the Iranian government seeking to silence the Iranian peoples’ demands.
We steadfastly support the Iranian people’s demands of “Women, Life, Freedom.”
Since the killing of 22 year-old Mahsa (Jhina) Amini at the hands of Iran’s so-called morality police, Iranian protesters have bravely demonstrated for an end to the nation’s mandatory hijab laws and broader system of repression. Women’s rights have been the catalyst of these youth-led protests: giving voice and momentum to deeply held grievances of many Iranians that go to the very core of a system that has failed to serve its people, which is why these protests have cut across Iranian society. This injustice is compounded by the reaction of the state to protests, which have been met with internet shutdowns and brutal violence from the Iranian security forces, including beatings, mass arrests and deadly force. More than two hundred have been killed – and that number is likely higher – and thousands have been arrested for voicing their demands and hopes for a brighter future.
We steadfastly support the Iranian people’s demands of “Women, Life, Freedom,” condemn the decades of oppression at the hands of the Iranian authorities and call on them to halt their outrageous violence against peaceful protesters, release all prisoners of conscience and heed the rightful calls of Iranian people for change.
Sincerely,
Alliance for Quality Education
Armenian-American Action Network
Art in Praxis
Brooklyn For Peace
CAIR Washington
Center For Popular Democracy
Class Size Matters
Evergreen Action
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Georgia Muslim Voter Project
Indivisible
Integrity First for America
J Street
Jewish Voice for Peace
Justice is Global
MADRE
Muslim Counterpublics Lab
National Iranian American Council
No Separate Justice
Peace Action
Peace Action Manhattan
Peace Action New York State
Peace Corps Iran Association
Ploughshares Fund
Progress America
Queer Crescent
ReThinking Foreign Policy
Syracuse Peace Council
The Feminist Front
UltraViolet
Upper Hudson Peace Action
UpShift Strategies
US Water Alliance
VoteVets
Win Without War
Women’s March