Living overseas, not being able to assist your family, friends, and citizens of Iran, while they endanger their lives to fight for freedom can be incredibly frustrating and debilitating. As a member of the diaspora we play the role of standing in solidarity with Iran, through spreading awareness on social media, contacting global institutions and protesting in our local areas. A large number of the second and third generation within the diaspora have never even been to Iran, yet they still fight with tears in their eyes and pain in their voice. This is due to the transgenerational trauma that was inherited through the stories told by relatives and people of their community. 

 

Despite the fact that we are unable to accomplish as much as those back home, we can still contribute from here and take action in solidarity with Iran. The following text is a step by step on how to get involved and stay involved in activism. The dynamics of the country remain turbulent, we are unable to predict what will happen tomorrow, in a week, or even in three months time, but what we do know is that these steps can be used with any form of activism and can adapt with change.  

 

The first step is to identify your cause and use research to build on your knowledge of the topic using trusted sources. This will be helpful when discussing Iran and providing details about the latest incidents in conversation. And remember conversation is a form of activism as it spreads awareness and keeps the topic relevant. In the case of Iran there are many different groups fighting for the same cause but wanting different outcomes, from Kurdish rights, to replacing the dictatorship with communist systems, to advocating for royal lineage to regain its position. While it’s very easy to fall into the trap of debating which sub group is most just, in order to maximise our power it’s better to unite under one voice, which is ultimately the fight for gender equality, human rights, democracy and the removal of the religious state. 

 

Iranain women have been second class citizens of their own country for 43 years and now they are at the forefront of one of the largest female-led revolts of our lifetime. A major factor of the 2022 protest’s has been the hijab, when used correctly the hijab is supposed to be a liberating moment and spiritual choice for Musilm women, but in Iran Wearing the hijab is obligatory for all Iranian women regardless of choice or religious beliefs. In Iran the hijab is used as anything but its true purpose, it is utilized as a weapon of suppression and control by the government, an excuse for murder and a symbol of courage and rebellion by female protestors. On the 21st of September 2022 the Iranian people took to the streets in protest for the unjust murder of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, who was “arrested” and allegedly murdered by Irans ‘morality police’ for ‘breeching dresscode’ by revealing a fraction of her hair under her headscarf. While the right to autonomy and corrupt policing of the people ignited the protests, this was only the surface as the fight for Iran's lack of human rights go much further.  

  

According to Minority Rights Group International (MRGI),  “Iran is one of just six UN member states that have not signed the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and its national legislation enshrines many barriers to accessing basic rights in areas such as employment, marriage and citizenship.” Restrictions like these are incessantly justified by national values and the states interpretation of Shi’a Islam, and are effecting women in their public and private lives. Women are lacking rights in domestic affairs, which can be incredibly dangerous as it permeates the normalisation of marital rape and physical violence, which are not criminalised. Despite the many attempts to reform Iran, women continue to experience marginalisation. According to MRGI, protesters and activists or simply opposing opinions of political discourse are approached with “physical attacks, detention and prosecution, with some high-profile activists handed lengthy sentences in prison.” This is why it is vital for those from the diaspora and international bodies who have the ability for freedom of speech to be the voice of Iranians. 

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Once you have done your research you can start to get involved in activism. The following are a list of ways you can get involved as a member of the diaspora community.

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1 Follow accounts on social media 

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In the last couple of years social media has not just been used for posting cute photos with friends but as a platform for politics. Follow accounts who are advocating for Iran and posting the latest news that is not covered on mainstream media such as: @Middle East Matters, @From___Iran, @lilly_moo on Instagram and @Hell_yeaaaa and @kimito026 on Tiktok.

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2 Post! Share! Comment! Like!

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The significant difference between the current protests in Iran and previous ones is that the Iranain people's voices are being heard globally through social media. Share and interact with information that is not being covered by the news, be the news source for your non-Iranian friends and let them know what is happening with daily posts on Instagram stories. Share tweets and like comments to keep the conversation going. Play musician Shervin Hajipour’s song “baraye” on spotify, created for the protestors and now anthem for the 2022 protests and use the sound in your Tik Toks. Use hashtags such as #mahsaamini,, #iranrevolution2022, #iranprotests and #zhinaamini to gain more traction to your content. 

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3 Write a letter to your local MP asking them to support women's rights in Iran publicly

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It is essential we get the government involved as they have the power to condemn Iran's dictatorship. If you are struggling to write this email head to @beiransvoice on Instagram for pre-written templates. 

 

4 Join protests

 

The visual representation of people who stand in solidarity with Iran globally speaks volumes more than the chants at the protests. Invite your friends and family to come and show their support too, the bigger the crowd to more news coverage. 

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5 Read up on the history of Iran 

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The following books are suggested for those interested in learning more about Iran's history and of women's rights: Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi, Iran: Empire of the mind by Michael Axworthy, The English Job: Understanding Iran by Jack Straw and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.

 

6 Get creative 

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Have a go at making your own infographics to share on social media, create posters to take to protests, start a photography page and photograph protests, start using Tik Tok trends to spread information on the latest news in Iran. 

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7 Be apart of the demonstration 

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While being a part of the protest in London you may have seen organised performances such as the human chain, protestors laying on the ground in fake bloody t-shirts and choreographed actors in costume. These demonstrations are designed to be impactful and be unique enough to make noise on social media for people to share and talk about.  

 

8 Keep raising your voice

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Bring up the current issues in Iran in conversations, at work, with friends and family members. Keep the topic relevant and be the voice for the ones that aren't heard.   

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It is important to note that it is easy to lose consistency with activism and only do it on a preformative basis. Posting on your social media or bringing up topics in conversation when freedom for Iran is globally trending certainly makes an impact, but until change is made, persistently contributing to the activism even when it is no longer trending online or covered by the news is vital. The lack of news converge about Iran in the West, the cutting of the internet in Iran and the rampant scare tactics from the Iranian government creates blocks for global uproar to fizzle out. As an activist it is crucial to keep the discourse around the freedom for Iran going, challenge yourself to stay consistent by completing one form of activism on a weekly basis.  

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Where do we go from here?

 

Attempts to silence the people fighting in Iran combined with the determination of the internet to spread information like wildfire has proven to be the greatest challenge for Iran's government to date. Yet Iran still needs international intervention, help from other countries with no hidden agendas and organisations like the United Nations to step in. Despite this, hope is still in the air for Iran, more people stand in solidarity with the new generation of Iranians who were raised to fight for a better future.