A Palestinian message to Iranian women and men

 15th November 2022

A Palestinian message to Iranian women and men

Since mid-September, after the murder of the Iranian Kurdish woman, Jina “Mahsa” Amini by the “morality police,” images of revolt against the Islamic Republic of Iran have been circulated to us. We followed pictures of girls and women, leading the protests and shouting, “Women, Life, Freedom.” In return, they paid a heavy price: repression, arrest, disappearance, and murder.

The Iranian regime did not start its repression recently. Their crimes are a continuous oppression against their own people and other peoples in the region. For more than 40 years, the regime has utilised people's suffering for its geopolitical goals.

Now, a group of young Iranian demonstrators are facing death sentences against the backdrop of protests. The Islamic Republic of Iran wants them to be a "lesson" to anyone who would dare protest against it.

In light of this, Palestine comes into play. The Iranian regime exploits the justice of the Palestinian cause and Palestinian suffering from Israeli occupation and ethnic cleansing. It uses the Palestinian cause to grant itself legitimacy. Then, the regime abuses its authority to silence, suppress and persecute all those who demand a minimum threshold of freedoms and a decent life. This is particularly true for Iranian girls and women, against whom the regime practises Iran's worst form of persecution. Not to forget, Kurdish women, who pay a double price, for belonging to both a gender minority and an ethnic minority.

We, the undersigned, Palestinian women and men living in Palestine or the Diaspora, wish to send the following message to Iranian women and men, whether in the streets of their country, or in exile, dreaming of their return after being banned from Iran since Islamists came to power:

"We are with you. We know very well that a regime that oppresses its own people and kills its own women and men cannot support our freedom as a Palestinian people, nor our just cause. We cannot accept that our freedom comes at the expense of any other people’s freedom."

Freedom for Iran... Freedom for Palestine!

Jin, Jiyan, Azadi,

Zen, Zandegi, Azadi

Women, Life, Freedom

(If you would like to add your signature, please send your name and occupation to PalestiniansIranians@gmail.com) 


Signatures| Name, Occupation:


Rasha Hilwi, Writer and Journalist

Ghassan Zaqtan, Poet, Novelist and Journalist

Ibrahim Abu Hashhash, University Professor and Writer

Anton Shalhat, Writer, Critic and Researcher

Amer Badran, Poet and Doctor

Hasan Khader, Writer and Literary Critic

Honaida Ghanem, Researcher in Sociology

Reem Talhami, musician and actress

Alaa Hlehel, Writer and Novelist

Saleh Masharqeh, University Professor

Nahed Abo Tueima, Feminist Activist and University Lecturer

Jumana Mustafa, Poet and Journalist

Terez Sliman, Musician

Tarik Hamdan, Poet and Journalist

Qassim Al- Massri, Doctor

Himmat Zu’bi, Academic

Mustafa Abu Hanoud, Actor and Theater Director

Omar Suleiman, Theatre Director and Activist

Jadal Al-Qasim, Poet and Writer

Abir Kopty, Writer and Journalist

Amer Hlehel, Actor

Asmaa’ Azaizeh, Poet and Journalist

Simon Nassar, Writer and Journalist

Fatin Farhat, Activist and Cultural Manager

Maisa Mansour, Writer and Activist

Karim Abu Alroos, Writer and Activist

Anas Alaili, Poet and Academic

Meisa Irshaid, Lawyer

Sobhi Khatib, University Lecturer

Eyad Barghuthy, Writer and Novelist

Ghayath Almadhoun, Poet

Mary Ann Jaraisy, Graphic designer

Nawaf Radwan, Poet and Journalist

Fida Shehada, “Women Against Weapons Coalition” Coordinator

Bana Shoughry, Lawyer

Camelia Ibrahim- Dwairy, Psychotherapist and Academic Lecturer

Abeer Baker, Lawyer, Human Rights Advocate and Legal Advisor

Maram Massarwi, Academic Lecturer

Saleem Albeik, Writer

Khulood Ershied, Feminist Activist

Mohammed Tayseer, Writer and Translator

Ola Alsheikh, Journalist

Dana Alsheikh, Visual Artist and Journalist

Kifah Abdul Halim, Translator and Cultural Producer

Akram Musallam, Novelist and Journalist

Sabreen AbdulRahman, Cultural Manager

Samya Ayish, Journalist

Aya Zinatey, Feminist and Political Activitst

Hana Amoury, Social Activist

Farah Barqawi, Writer, Editor and Feminist Activist

Ali Mawassi, Writer and Journalist 

Sherene Seikaly, Author and Associate Professor

Tanya Keilani, Communications Director

Ibrahim Abusitta, Visual Artist

Dina Mohammed Omar, Academic and Activist

Issa Amro, Human Rights Defender

Mohammad Qasem, Journalist and Communication Specialist

Reem Shadid, Cultural Curator and Organiser

Mariam Afifi, Musician

Lana Sadeq, Coordinator of Development Projects 

Fairouze Nustas, Theatre Artist 

Hamza Badran, Artist 

Randa Obeidat, Engineer

Jamil Dakwar, International Human Rights Lawyer

Carol Mansour, Documentary Filmmaker

Sarah Amawi, Market Research Manager

Nisal Mohana, Journalist 

Yazan Khalili, Artist 

Yaser Abu Areesha, Journalist and Human Rights Activist 

Marzuq Halabi, Writer 

Izabel Ramadan, Academic Lecture 

Maha Igbaria, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist

Leena Dallasheh, University Professor

(If you would like to add your signature, please send your name and occupation to PalestiniansIranians@gmail.com)