Iran faces international pressures as global day of action nears 85 cities and counting, Peace Leaders, Artists and Organizations Join Worldwide New Media Driven Movement in Solidarity with Iranian People United4Iran, July 23, 2009 – On July 25th in more than 80 cities worldwide, Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Jody Williams, Betty Williams, Mairead Maguire, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Wangari Maathal, Lord David Trimble, Kim Dae-jung, joined by Dolores Huerta, Sean Penn, Dariush, Simin Behbahani, Ismael Khoie, 43 Arab Human Rights Organizations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, FIDH, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Nobel Women’s Initiative, Peacejam, Reporters without Borders and hundreds of thousands of citizens around the globe will stand in solidarity with the Iranian people’s human and civil rights. “The people of Iran have shown their desire for freedom, democracy and equality. No one needs to be told that injustice and oppression are wrong. We know that those who strive for freedom are on the winning side. You in Iran who want democracy and accountable government are on the winning side and we support you.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1984 “There have been critical moments in history when people have risen up to demand their human and civil rights. Once again we are at such a moment. Mass protests in Iran join Gandhi’s India, Martin Luther King’s USA, and Mandela’s South Africa. We are bearing witness to global outrage and solidarity. The world must unite with the people of Iran on July 25th, the global day of solidarity.” United4Iran “Through Global Day of Action for Iran, we will raise the international public’s awareness toward the Iranian people’s fight for democracy and ask Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to travel to Iran at once in order to stop the escalation of violence and to investigate the human rights violations committed by the government of Iran.” Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate, 2003 “I join with my five Nobel peace laureates, and millions of people both in Iran and around the world in calling upon the government of Iran to immediately restore civil liberties, release all political prisoners, withdraw police and special guards from the streets, and to respect the fundamental rights of the Iranian people.” Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1976 United4Iran was born on July 1st 2009 in response to the images of atrocities committed against peaceful protestors that were Tweeted instantaneously around the world by Iranian youth. After watching blogs in horror and anguish, Firuzeh Mahmoudi, a San Francisco Area Iranian-American mother, decided to plan a global day of action for Iran. The next day United4Iran was launched with a rudimentary website. Mahmoudi called Hadi Ghaemi, Director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Ghaemi connected with his global network of activists, academics and NGOs. Ghaemi leads strategy, outreach and press. Mahmoudi leads grassroots organizing and volunteer coordination. Bitta Mostofi, an immigrant right’s attorney and Pantea Beigi, Director of Communications for PeaceJam Foundation, are spokespeople. The response was overwhelming. Throughout the world, countless citizens have turned into activists, making the Global Day of Action an unprecedented grassroots movement in solidarity with the people of Iran. In three weeks, working 18 hours days out of Mahmoudi’s living room, volunteers are typing, Skyping, talking and texting to activists around the globe. One by one, Nobel Peace Laureates joined United4Iran’s movement. Rallies are planned from Manila, Lahore, Amsterdam, Cairo, Caracas, Toronto, Los Angeles, Paris, Melbourne, to New Delhi. United4Iran is a non-partisan collaborative of individuals and human rights organizations. United4Iran does not promote any political agenda. United4Iran is opposed to any foreign interference or military attack on Iran. Our only aim is to support Iranian people’s human rights and to stop the widespread and systematic violations. We promote non-violent peaceful citizen activism. Check www.united4Iran.org for a full list of participating cities, supporters and supporting organizations.
