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On June 30, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit<\/a> in Paris, former US Representative Loretta Sanchez delivered a passionate speech underscoring the dire situation faced by women in Iran under theocratic rule. Sanchez painted a vivid picture of the oppression faced by Iranian women, recounting the tragic story of Armita Garwand<\/a>, a 17-year-old who was assaulted for not wearing a headscarf and later died from her injuries. She highlighted the brutal reality for women in Iran who face severe punishment for basic acts of self-expression and desire for human rights.<\/p>\n Emphasizing the importance of freedom, Sanchez detailed the additional hardships faced by Armita’s family, who were assaulted during her burial and forced to publicly decry her actions under government pressure.<\/p>\n The former member of the US House of Representatives praised Maryam Rajavi<\/a>‘s unwavering stand for human rights and her Ten-Point Plan<\/a> for a democratic republic in Iran, which promises to enshrine essential human rights and acknowledge the significance of women in Iranian society. She highlighted the plan’s commitment to freedom of speech, political parties, assembly, press, and the internet, asserting these are crucial for a free Iran.<\/p>\n She passionately supported point five of Rajavi’s plan, which advocates for complete gender equality in politics, society, culture, and the economy. This includes the abolition of discrimination, the right to choose clothing freely, and the right to marry, divorce, obtain education, and employment.<\/p>\n Sanchez concluded by calling for the end of Iran’s theocratic regime and dictatorship, emphasizing that freedom is the most important thing for which everyone must fight, particularly for the women of Iran.<\/p>\n The full text of former Representative Sanchez\u2019s speech follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n I want to begin by giving a shout-out to my Latinas there from Costa Rica and other countries in Latin America. It’s great to have you here.<\/p>\n Imagine, imagine you are a 17-year-old high school student walking with your friends going into the metro station in Tehran. And of course, as young people do, you defy authority and decidedly are not wearing your headscarf. As you stand on the platform, suddenly an enforcer jumps out and begins to assault you. And you fall to the ground, hitting your head and going unconscious. And 28 days later, you are dead.<\/p>\n Former Congresswoman @LorettaSanchez<\/a> speaks on the bravery of Iranian women and their resistance for freedom. "Maryam Rajavi knows that it takes courage to fight for freedom" and outlined her 10-point-plan embodies the freedom for a secular republic Iran. #FreeIran2024<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Le23ebEhN2<\/a><\/p>\n — OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) June 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n