How to help Iranian women and girls amid ongoing protests

Anti-government protests in Iran led by women and girls have continued since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody in Iran in September. Protesters, who also include men, high school students, oil workers and professors, have led to some of the boldest challenges facing Iran’s theocracy in years.

At least 201 protesters were killed by Iranian security forces in the protests following Amini’s death, according to Iran Human Rights Watch, an Oslo-based nonprofit. Amini, who hails from the Kurdistan region of Iran, died in the custody of the country’s “morality police” on September 16 for failing to adhere to the strict Islamic dress code. Iran’s state coroner’s report claims she died of an “underlying medical condition,” although Amini’s family says she had no pre-existing conditions. Due to Iran’s history of violence against women and dissidents in the country, many believe Amini died because of foul play.

Young schoolgirls fight loudly to secure their basic rights and against the largely patriarchal structures in the country. Several countries, including the US, have expressed solidarity with the demonstrations and the protests have spread across the world. “The United States stands with Iranian women and all citizens of Iran who inspire the world with their courage,” President Biden said in a statement to the UN General Assembly in September.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke out, saying he was “deeply heartbroken” at Amini’s death, but condemned what he described as a “riot” that he says was “designed by America and the Zionist regime and its employees.” became”.

However, protests in Iran are not new. Millions of Iranians took to the streets in 2009 as part of the so-called Green Movement – a series of protests against election results.

For these protests, Iranian women and girls around the world have taken to the streets and social media to express outrage at gender inequalities in the country.

Here are some ways to help Iranian women and girls in their fight for justice:

The Iranian American Women Foundation is accepting funds to support its platform for empowering, connecting and mentoring younger generations of Iranian women in the United States and around the world.

United for Iran, an independent non-profit organization based in San Francisco, campaigns for civil liberties in Iran and also accepts donations. United for Iran maintains a glossary of the Iranian judicial system and develops technologies such as apps and web resources to increase the capacity of Iranian civil society.

The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran is raising funds to support its continued work against gender injustices in Iran. The committee serves as a major source of information in Iran and frequently participates in international and regional conferences on women’s issues.

How to avoid charity fraud

• Determine if the organization, nonprofit, or group has a proven track record of providing assistance to those in need.
• Identify local initiatives and efforts based in the areas hardest hit by the natural disaster.
• Beware of phone calls and emails asking for donations.
• Avoid unknown agencies and websites. There is a history of scammers who created websites that look like fundraising sites after a major tragedy, but were actually scams.