- Culture
- 12 Jan 23
Karen O, Shirley Manson, Suki Waterhouse and Samuel L. Jackson among those to join the #StopExecutionsInIran call
Over the past several years, ongoing demonstrations in a bid to bring back democracy to Iran have led to approximately 500 deaths associated with the ongoing protests.
More of the music world joins in as Karen O, Shirley Manson and Suki Waterhouse all join the cry to end protestors’ executions in Iran.
As per the Hollywood Reporter, more than 50 A-listers have participated in an online video, holding up a piece of paper with the handwritten hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran in full view.
The project was orchestrated by Iranian-American screenwriter Nicole Najafi, director, writer and producer Ana Lily Amirpour, and actress-writer Mozhan Marnò.
“We stand with the people of Iran in their fight for freedom,” a message onscreen reads. “Thousands of protesters have been arrested. Some have already been executed. Many more are in danger. But the world is watching.”
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Marnò explained how the video’s aim is, “to get as many eyes on this issue as possible, and in so doing, make the Islamic Republic feel the pressure – the international community is watching”.
The actress continued to issue a message of solidarity with regard to the video’s creation, “The other purpose of this is to show Iranians in Iran that the world is with them; that they are not forgotten; that their protests and suffering are not in vain. They are out there in the streets risking their lives, and it has been going on for months now.”
These protests are just one in a series of demonstrations over the past few years against the Islamic Republic in an attempt to return democracy to Iran.
1. At least 476 people including 64 children and 34 women, have so been killed by security forces in the current nationwide protests across #Iran. Furthermore, at least 100 protesters are currently at risk of execution, death penalty charges or sentences.
#StopExecutionsInIran pic.twitter.com/iqSCKG2eUN— Iran Human Rights (IHR NGO) (@IHRights) December 27, 2022
The death of Mahsa Amini in September of last year triggered huge protests across Iran, as well as sparking international outrage. Claims that the 22-year old died in Tehran due to heart failure is widely disputed against accusations that she was beaten to death by authorities. She was originally arrested for not wearing her hijab in accordance with government standards.
The government’s response to the backlash came in the form of blocking access to apps like Instagram and WhatsApp, and limiting internet accessibility in the most severe manner in the country since 2019. Protestors were physically suppressed with pellets, water cannons and tear gas.
Yungblud, Pearl Jam and Bebe Rexha were among the first to speak out in the wake of the young Iranian woman’s death.
According to Iranian Human Rights, an estimated 500 deaths had been associated with the ongoing demonstrations, with thousands more having been arrested and 100 at risk of execution.
The #StopExecutionsInIran video features a host of actors as well as musical icons, which include Samuel L. Jackson, Cate Blanchett, Bryan Cranston, Brian Cox, Kate Beckinsale, Jason Segel and Elijah Wood.
