Open letter from several Iranian women’s and human rights activists to Peace Nobel Prize winners 2022

Dear Nobel peace prize winners,

Dear and Honorable Nobel Prize winners,
Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine;
Ales Bialiatski (Jailed activist); and
Alexander Cherkasov, Memorial’s Chairman.

We extend our warmest congratulations for your outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power, in your respective countries.

We, Iranian women´s rights activists and human rights defenders write to you in great respect of the role the Nobel Prize plays in recognizing exceptional achievements and the great role and responsibility you play for the world and humanity.

We are in great pain and are very concerned about the Iranian government’s brutal violence against peaceful demonstrators and people of Iran.

In the aftermath of the tragic death of Mahsa (Jina ) Amini, and since the beginning of the protests in Iran, footage of police violence and regime brutalities has been widely spread on social media. Iranian unarmed kids, teenagers, women, and men chanting “woman life freedom” on the streets, have been targets of the reckless use of firearms and military weapons of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Internet communications have been disrupted since the protests started, preventing access to, and sharing of information, including about alleged human rights abuses against protesters.

Hundreds of protesters have been killed including 57 children. In addition, 3 more children who have been detained during the protests, have committed suicide after being released from prison. Thousands of protesters including women and children have been arrested, and hundreds were subject to forced disappearances. This has left families devastated, searching for their loved ones to see whether they are alive or dead.

During the protests, women have been the main victims of the regimes brutality. A chocking and important investigation made by CNN (How Iran´s security forces use rape to quell protests, Qiblawi et.al.) revealed how the regime uses sexual harassments to stop the protests.

What we are witnessing in Iran is unacceptable, and deeply worrying. The way in which peaceful protests are being violently suppressed goes against everything we stand for, and this must be condemned.

Therefore, with great respect, we would highly appreciate if you could openly condemn the violence against the people of Iran in the Nobel Prize ceremony in Norway.

In sincerity and solidarity,

Turkish Women’s Center of Iran

Iranian Kurdistan Women’s Center

Ahvaz Women´s Voice Organization

The Voice of Women of Balochistan (Bramsh)

Shamila Nejadhashemi – Human rights defender

Hayedeh Ravesh – Civil activist

Kawsar Fattahi – Women´s rights activists

Kimia Pazoki – Human rights defender

Effat Gohari – Women´s rights activists

Women’s Commission of Iranian National Solidary Council-Tasmim

Left Women Unity

Iranian Women Society Parto

Iranian – German women’s association, Cologne Germany

Associations Donne Libere Iraniane in Italia

International Committee Against Executions (ICAE)

Iranian women von northern California (IWIN)

Women for sustainable freedom and equality 

28.11.2022