Overturning 44 years of suppression is a tough ask. The Islamic Regime in Iran has ruled with an iron fist in all that time. Turning this tide is a massive ask. The regime has the army, government, and access to resources and finances.
Protestors are barehanded and to date, peaceful. They have their voice, will and help from social media (despite severe internet restrictions).
With the odds stacked against it, this revolution can seem like an unwinnable proposition.
I am a strong believer in celebrating wins. I am by no means minimising sacrifices (of which there are heartbreakingly many), nor the systemic nature of the task ahead, but I also know that we need energy to keep going. As many have said, this is a marathon and not a sprint. In a marathon, you keep your eye firmly on your goal. You pace yourself. You know the distance to the end, but you can also look back and look at how far you’ve come. You are strategic with your stride and use of energy.
I am therefore suggesting that reflecting on ‘the wins’ is important for us, otherwise we end up in a hopeless spiral. I will update this list from time to time and if you note a win I have missed, please reach out and let me know.
The Wins
- 8 months of ongoing protests – even through winter
- Sweden parliament unanimously voting to recognise the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organisation
- The Mahsa Act in the US being marked up. It will go to vote soon
- Iran kicked off the UN Women Rights Body
- Voting got a fact finding mission at the United Nations Human Rights Council
- European Parliament agreeing to list IRGC as a terrorist organisation (yes, I know it needs the Council to pass the same resolution)
- Hundreds of thousands of people marching collectively around the world for Women, Life, Freedom
- ‘Pausing’ of negotiations on nuclear talks
- Sanctions slowly ratcheting up
- Many strikes around the country
- ‘Baraye’, anthem of the revolution winning Grammy for ‘Song for Social change’
- EU Parliament votes to demand independent investigation to chemical attacks on school children in Iran
- Chaharshanbe Suri reignites revolutionary fire
- Iranian girls dancing goes viral (girls of Ekbatan)
- The United Nations Human Rights Council votes to condemn human rights abuses in Iran. First time for such a condemnation at UN Human Rights Council (April 2023).
Women, Life, Freedom 