This episode is dedicated to the plight of the brave women currently fighting for their rights in Iran, and it is a real honour to be joined by the actress and activist, Nazanin Boniadi and to shine a light on the voices of Nazanin’s homeland, Iran.

Last month, 22 year old Mahsa Amini, died whilst being detained by the ‘morality police’ in Iran for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.

Peaceful protests have erupted in the wake of her death with women symbolically cutting their hair and burning headscarves on the streets. This is one of the first major female-led revolutions in the world, and it is even more remarkable when you consider many of them are of school age and young people.

It is the boldest challenge to the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979, and sadly it is estimated that 222 people have been killed in the widespread demonstrations at the hands of the oppressive regime in Iran.

With the internet cut off in Iran, we need to make sure the voices of the brave protestors are heard, and as an ambassador for Amnesty international, Nazanin is doing exactly that in this episode.

After visiting the White House to speak to Vice President Kamala Harris, Nazanin joins us to emotionally talk about the stories she is hearing from Iran. Nazanin also discusses how we can all be allies to Iranian people right now and how her character, Bronwyn in Amazon Prime’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV show is a symbol of the strength of Iranian women.

I hope you will be just as inspired by Nazanin as I am and if you can help the brave people of Iran right now, Nazanin recommends the following:

1. There isn’t any domestic avenues for justice in Iran and Amnesty International has launched a global action, calling on people to sign a petition targeting UN member states. You can find the petition here: www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-the-protest-bloodshed-in-iran
2. Please amplify the voices of the Iranian people by sharing information from reliable organisations and activists using the hashtags #MahsaAmini and #IranProtests.
3. Donate to credible, Iran-focused human rights organizations that document and report rights abuses, such as Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and Amnesty International Iran.
4. With the internet curtailed in Iran please visit apps like Toosheh that help Iranians gain internet access and avoid censorship through VPN servers. Visit the site here: https://www.toosheh.org/

Thank you so much for listening and please join us in sending all of our love and support to the brave people of Iran at this time. Love, Josh x

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