TOOLKIT

Background: Most of the news you may hear about Iran is about war or nuclear issues. Meanwhile, many of us inside Iran are suffering from violations of our human rights. Talks of war and sanctions not only help the regime clamp down, but also alienate us from the world. We are just like you, no matter what our governments do or say, we want to live free and full lives. In 2009, thousands of us took to the streets to protest when our votes for president were not counted. The government reacted by shooting, killing, arresting and jailing us. Dozens died, hundreds were locked up. Since then weve supported the Arab Spring, and tried to keep speaking out. But about 500 political prisoners are still in jail for speaking or acting out. These people include students, activists, human rights lawyers, journalists, community leaders, and ordinary Iranians. Since a majority of the people in Iran are young (over 60 percent are under 30-years-old) our future generation is being crushed when it tries to push for change.

Campaign: In April, a Facebook group called Mad Graffiti Week Iran is launching a campaign to use graffiti in solidarity with human rights! They are inspired by and supported by Egyptians who started the movement of Mad Graffiti Week to protest their military regime. The group is asking everyone around the world to make stencils, paintings and murals related to your peoples struggles and Iranians. Its the first step of an arts solidarity movement! Some solidarity themes you could stencil: Human rights! Democracy reform! Free expression! Freedom of speech! Freedom of religion! Gender equality! Stop executions! Stop trying youth as adults! Youth demand our rights! Long live the power of the youth! We are all __ (In the Arab Spring and in Iran many of the people killed in connection to unrest/uprisings were mostly younger than 30 (like Ned Soltn in Iran and Khaled Said in Egypt).

Neda was a 26-year-old student shot in the chest during protests in 2009. Her death was caught on video and spread around the world. She became a symbol for the Iranian uprising.

Khaled Said was a 28-year-old beaten to death by Egyptian police during arrest. Photos of his brutal death spread online, which helped spark the online push for Revolution.

ParTIcIPaTe!
STEP 1 Pick an image from this packet OR MAKE YOUR OWN STENCIL OR PAINTING STEP 2 Print the stencil page(s) THE BIGGER THE BETTER STEP 3 Glue image to posterboard or cardboard STEP 4 Cut out black parts with box cutter or exacto knife STEP 5 Hold stencil to surface. Spray 8-10 inches away CLICK TO WATCH A HOW TO VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B02RDg1kV1s FINISH: Take photos, video. Share it here on the | Mad Graffiti Week Iran Event page. Click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/249978948425479/ If you create your own stencils, share it on the page so others can use it too! If you are in the Bay Area and want a pre-made plastic 8x10 stencil, message the group. SEE ALL THE STENCILS ON THE NEXT PAGES...

History and Iran Solidarity Movements U.S. & Iran: This is a video showing the history of relations between the U.S. and Iran since the 1953 coup - when the U.S./CIA overthrew a democratically elected prime minister of Iran and installed the Shah, or king. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_IIaw11Jlo Britain and the U.S. wanted regime change because of Irans oil. The CIA trained the Shahs brutal secret police. In 1979, the Iranian people had a Revolution and an Islamic opposition leader, Khomeini came to power. Official U.S.-Iran relations have been nonexistant since.

Womens movement: The new wave of the Iranian Womens Movement started 10 years ago in the reform era. The issues women are still fighting against: being married off by your father; being tried as young at 9-year-old as an adult (meaning possibly facing execution); needing your husbands approval to travel; a father/husband being able to terminate your schooling or employment; stoning for adultry. We made a stencil based on the photo above. Students movement: This is a great article about the students movement, with interviews with some of the leaders http://www.payvand.com/news/09/dec/1146.html In Iran students have been imprisoned for things like giving speeches, participating in protests, speaking to the media, organizing. One student we have a stencil for is Bahareh Hedayat - who is celebrating her 31th birthday on April 5 in Evin prison. Spokesperson of the biggest student organization in Iran, she was sentenced to 10 years for anti-state propaganda. Free Bahareh! Lawyers movement: In Iran some lawyers have chosen to defend freedom of expression, religious freedom, and labor rights, as well as by fighting against discrimination and cruel punishments. Other lawyers have helped women escape domestic abuse, challenged stoning sentences, and defended Kurdish rights activists. Many lawyers are facing persecution and jail time, like Nasrin Sotoudeh, who we have created a stencil for. She will celebrate her 49th birthday April 3 in Evin Prison. She was entenced to 11 years in prison. Free Nasrin! Religious persecution: Unfortunately religious minorities in Iran are also persecuted. For this campaign we are helping the Bahai community call for the release of their seven leaders, who have spent 10,000 days total combined in jail for practicing their religion. Free Bahai 7!

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IMAGE designed by our Egyptian partners

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stop iran

Free expression

Freedom of religion

Gender equality

Solidarity