“We have lost our voices: you have to be our voice.”

Why do Iranians need our support? That’s a question that many ask. The answer is that millions have gone out on to the streets to demand their rights at great risk to their personal safety. Women’s rights activists, reformers, professors, writers, artists, teenagers, mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, grandparents, minority rights activists, and students have all gone out into the streets. Many have stayed home as well: many who wished they could join the call for more rights and freedoms.

United4Iran (U4I) is loose global network aiming to make linkages and provide support to various groups working on human rights issues for
Iran. U4I is non-political group working focusing specifically on human and civil rights in Iran.

Young people and students in Iran have been in the forefront of the opposition in Iran. They have been targeted by government forces for
especially brutal treatment and have had their dormitories attacked as well.

You might ask why Iran? There are thousands of places we could focus on. One non-Iranian activist says, “For me, Iran is important right now because there is a strong, mature internal movement with leaders that support equal rights for women and minorities and free speech and peaceful assembly. They have shown that millions of Iranians want change and are willing to work hard to gain it. Iran is now engaged in an historical struggle for civil rights. Those of us outside Iran can help them most by showing that we are listening and by making sure that their cause does not get forgotten.”

On December 12, United4Iran is organizing a global day of arts for human and civil rights in Iran. We are inviting artists, musicians, and others to honor the hard work of those in Iran who are struggling to gain civil rights for themselves and others.

U2 has been dedicating songs and performances to the opposition in Iran.

Wyclef Jean has also done a piece:

Other projects have included: a 2 kilometer green scroll that was
unveiled in Paris, digital paintings (some disturbing drawings included), and countless songs by Iranian performers.

We asked some people in Iran to tell us what the support of people outside Iran means to them, and this is what we heard:

“We have lost our voices: you have to be our voice.”
52-year old school teacher

“Isolate the regime without isolating us.”
29-year old teacher

“What the EU is doing is so important for us. It is giving us strength.”
37-year old engineer

“Knowing that the world is behind us helps to keep us sane.”
42-year old translator

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