“Solidarity requires sustained, ongoing commitment.” – bell hooks 

To whom it may concern, 

The people are chanting “woman, life, freedom” across the world in support of the women-led uprising in Iran. The oppression of women is a global tragedy. Zhina (Mahsa) Amini was 22 years old and visiting Tehran with her family when she was detained by the “morality police” and was killed on September 16th, 2022, sparking the people’s protest across Iran and the world. In response, thousands of protesters, including children, women, and men, have been severely injured, jailed, tortured, and killed. 

Healthcare providers treating and assisting injured protestors are also being jailed and killed. Dr. Ayda Rostami was last seen alive on December 12th in Tehran. She was a street medic, a doctor helping injured protesters. She was tortured, beaten, and killed, although official details of her death are unknown. She was 36 years old.

Additionally, Maedeh Javanfar, a nurse, was killed on October 25th after being beaten in the head with a baton from the Islamic Republic forces during a protest. Dr. Hamid Gharehasanlou, a radiologist, is facing execution, and is among many other healthcare professionals who have been arrested, detained, tortured, and killed. 

In universities across Iran, students continue to lead the protests, risking their lives, in the face of ongoing oppression. The Islamic Republic’s security forces are brutally attacking students on university campuses and killing or arresting students and faculty members. Thousands of students have been arrested and their whereabouts are still unknown. We fear for the lives of the students and faculty and vow to show solidarity. 

The people’s revolution in Iran needs all of us to unite. We denounce the patriarchy and believe women's rights are human rights! We the undersigned believe that the killing of Dr. Rostami and the jailing, torture, and execution of other healthcare providers, is a war crime under the Geneva Convention and needs to be investigated by the International Criminal Court. We demand the freeze of assets on all the Islamic Republic’s officials, condemnation of the gender apartheid, travel ban for all sectors of the Islamic Republic, condemnation of the executions of political prisoners, no negotiations on nuclear deal, and continuing to voice clear statements of support for the people of Iran by all university leadership, healthcare organizations, healthcare professionals, elected officials including President Biden, the U.S. government, and the international community. 

برای آزادی , Barayeh Azadi, for freedom!