Ginger

This was me as a little girl, forced into hijab. And this is me after I broke free. In Iran, I was told: wear the hijab or be kicked out of school. Resist, and you can be arrested, beaten, lashed, or imprisoned, or killed it in the hand of morality Police. Then I came to the West and was told: be careful telling your story, it might cause “Islamophobia.” I am a woman from the Middle East. I have lived under Islamist ideology. I have every right to fear it, criticize it, and speak about it. Don’t silence us in the name of tolerance. Let us talk.

Every morning I write about someone Iran just executed, within minutes, a message arrives a mother, a sister, a friend, begging me to write about their loved one who is on the death row. Before it's too late. This is why I want to write before the execution of this young woman, not after. Arghavan Fallahi. 24 years old. Evin Prison. Sentenced to death. Judge Salavati one of Iran's most notorious hanging judges, sentenced her under "Baghi," armed rebellion. During months in solitary confinement, she was subjected to severe psychological torture and pressure to make forced confessions. But she refused. So they sentenced her to death anyway. Fellow female prisoners who were with Arghavan inside Evin say her situation is urgent. The torture has left her with severe psychological trauma and physical illness. She is not just facing the death sentence, she is suffering right now, inside that cell. But is still alive and is still time to save her life. Please join me and help us Iranians to say her name now and demand international community and the leader leaders of the world to put pressure on these that republic to stop them from executing her and other political prisoners. #StopExecutionsInIran