Tell Meta to Stop Silencing Iranian Voices
While the Iranian people continue to protest for freedom and democracy, their government has been restricting access to platforms like Facebook and Instagram in an attempt to block their messages from getting out to the world.
To help spread the cause of the Iraian people, many Iranian-Americans have been posting images and videos from the protests inside Iran. Unfortunately, there have been reports of Meta, the parent company behind WhatsApp and Instagram, removing these posts.
As a woman-led movement following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, this is an extremely crucial time for Iranian women and all citizens of Iran. The ability to share images and messages with the world is pivotal in their pursuit of freedom, and their efforts should not be censored by a private company.
Please tell Meta to stop removing content posted in support and solidarity with the people of Iran. Iranian citizens are sacrificing their lives in pursuit of basic human rights, and their images, videos and messages should be allowed to be seen across the world.
Who is Mahsa Amini, and why are there protests?
On September 13, 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was taken into custody by the “morality” police for “Inappropriate attire” for not properly wearing her Hijab (veil). Hours after her arrest, Mahsa was taken to a hospital in a coma, where she died three days later.
Police claim that she died after spending two days in a coma following a heart attack at their facility, but eyewitnesses said she was severely beaten by police. Along with leaked medical scans, independent medical examiners concluded that Amini died from a cerebral hemorrhage and stroke as a result of the severe beating.
Protests broke out following the news of Amini’s death, and citizens from different classes and social groups within Iran came together in solidarity against Iran’s repressive government, calling for an end to the regime in Iran. Unfortunately, these protests have led to the deaths of many more Iranians who were in pursuit of obtaining freedom and basic human rights.