“Women! Life! Freedom!”

On Tuesday, 22 November 2022, MEP Irena Joveva addressed the European Parliament during its plenary session in Strasbourg on the European Union’s response to the worsening crackdown on protests in Iran. Borrowing the slogan “Women! Life! Freedom!” she expressed support for protesters and joined their struggle.

Joveva began her speech by saying that Iran could be an idyllic country were it not for the leadership under the government in office and were it not possible for the world to see everything happening in Iran. She referred to the constant repression of the people and the curtailment of fundamental human rights, including use of the death penalty,

It is precisely this kind of repression and the tragic fate of Mahsa Amini and many others, stressed Joveva, that have resulted in the very opposite effect this time, uniting Iranian women and men in a revolution. “They have brought together all classes, the old and the young, ethnic minorities, oil industry workers, top athletes”, said the MEP, recalling that a few days ago, Iran’s national football team boycotted the national anthem at the World Cup in Qatar.

“In doing so, they demonstrated the importance of this revolution on the world stage and manifestly joined the struggle, which has thus far generally been led by Iranian women. This struggle for women’s rights is receiving support from all corners of the world – including from this House. We have broken off relations with Iran, and rightly so.”

You can watch the MEP’s address on this link.