{"id":325621,"date":"2024-11-09T13:15:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-09T12:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=325621"},"modified":"2024-11-21T08:54:16","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T07:54:16","slug":"uk-parliament-hosts-women-for-a-free-iran-event-expressing-solidarity-with-iranian-womens-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-resistance\/uk-parliament-hosts-women-for-a-free-iran-event-expressing-solidarity-with-iranian-womens-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Parliament Hosts Women for a Free Iran Event, Expressing Solidarity with Iranian Women\u2019s Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On November 5, in a show of solidarity, members of the UK House of Lords convened with <\/span>Women for a Free Iran<\/span><\/i> in Parliament to support the women-led movement in Iran fighting for human rights and freedom under the banner \u201cWomen, Resistance, Freedom.\u201d The event, attended by British lawmakers and Iranian activists, brought attention to the courageous struggle of Iranian women against oppressive laws and human rights abuses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rosa Zarei<\/strong>, the event host and daughter of a former political prisoner, opened the meeting. Zarei highlighted the urgent need to address the repression Iranian women face, saying, \u201cIranian women and girls have bravely stood at the frontline of the struggle for dignity, equality, and justice, facing grave adversity, risking their safety, and sacrificing their well-being to demand the same fundamental rights many of us here take for granted.\u201d She emphasized that their rallying cry, \u201cWomen, Resistance, Freedom,\u201d reflects universal values, as Iranian women strive not just for personal freedoms, but for the core human rights of safety, dignity, and autonomy.<\/p>\n

Among the speakers was Baroness Beverley Hughes of Stretford<\/strong>, a long-time advocate for women\u2019s rights and a Labour member of the House of Lords, who spoke passionately about the strength of Iranian women leading this movement. \u201cThe battles that the women of Iran are fighting make our battles seem insignificant, although they\u2019re not,\u201d she said, commending the courage of Iranian women who risk their lives and families to stand up against a repressive regime. \u201cTheir resistance is a bulwark for the more fundamental change of the political, economic, and social system in Iran,\u201d she added, urging that their courage deserves every possible support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Baroness <\/strong>Meyer<\/strong> offered a personal connection to the struggle, sharing her family\u2019s history of persecution and repression. \u201cFreedom for women is very close to my heart,\u201d she expressed. Reflecting on her visit to Iran, Baroness<\/span> Meyer described the suffocating reality faced by Iranian women, expressing her strong support for their right to freedom and an end to dictatorship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking next was Baroness Redfern<\/strong>, who voiced her horror at the recent wave of executions in Iran, including the deaths of over 250 people since July and several women executed in October. \u201cThere must be an end to the Mullahs\u2019 Sharia law and the banning of Islamic revolutionary courts,\u201d she insisted, calling for fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, the press, and the ability to make personal choices. Redfern urged Iranian women and girls to \u201cnever lose heart\u201d and assured them that their bravery was recognized and supported internationally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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We need more parliamentarians to join this movement. Please retweet and show your support. https:\/\/t.co\/tQOZnhIBdZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Baroness Meyer, CBE (@ladylilo2) November 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n