Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
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Pressure Mounts on President Biden to Support Internet Freedom in Iran [[link removed]]
As reports break that the Iranian government is increasing its grip over the internet, it's becoming increasingly urgent for the Biden administration to ensure that the sanctions that also limit access do not further enable the Iranian government's repression. Luckily 21 Members of Congress banded together in sending a bipartisan letter to Biden [[link removed]] urging him to do just this.
Supporting the right of Iranians to communicate freely online, unimpeded by Iranian government censorship or U.S. sanctions, is one of our top human rights priorities. And while we're pleased that there's been significant movement on this front in the last few days, we need the Iranian-American community and our allies to write to Biden today [[link removed]] to make sure that supporting internet freedom in Iran makes it onto his priority list.
So, will you join us in urging the Biden administration to support internet freedom in Iran? Only by raising our voices can we ensure this issue does not fall to the wayside. Join the effort today > [[link removed]]
Learn More
➡️ Bipartisan Letter Urges Biden to Support Internet Freedom in Iran [[link removed]]
➡️ Take Action: Tell Biden to Support Internet Freedom in Iran [[link removed]]
➡️ Letter to Treasury Highlighting Issues with U.S. Sanctions Policy [[link removed]]
➡️ Amendment Passes Requiring Report on Efficacy of U.S. Sanctions [[link removed]]
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Building Political Power
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Apply to Join NIAC Action's Board of Directors! [[link removed]]
If you're looking to make a real difference for the Iranian-American community, then here's your chance! We're looking for our next NIAC Action Board Member, and encourage you all to apply!
The NIAC Action Board plays a key role in setting the trajectory of the organization, helping us build political power, and advancing our mission to champion the priorities of the Iranian-American community. The deadline to apply is 11:59pm ET on October 15th.
✏️ Learn more and submit your application here > [[link removed]]
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Support Sheila Nezhad in the Race for Mayor of Minneapolis [[link removed]]
This November, Minneapolis has the opportunity to make history by electing Iranian American Sheila Nezhad for Mayor! Sheila has worked for over a decade as a community organizer and policy advocate on a variety of social and racial justice issues. Not only does she have the education, experience, and track record the people of Minneapolis need, but she's also the frontrunner in this race!
This seat is within reach—but Sheila needs the Iranian-American community's support to get across the finish line. Will you take a moment to learn more about Sheila and donate to help bolster her campaign? [[link removed]] Together, our community can ensure that our vision, voices, and values are reflected at all levels of government.
🗳️ Support Sheila's campaign > [[link removed]]
📱 Volunteer to text-bank for Sheila > [[link removed]]
Spotlighting Human Rights in Iran
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Siamak Namazi’s Unjust Imprisonment in Iran: 6 Years and Counting [[link removed]]“Under this heavy confinement, not just my hair but even my eyebrows have become white,” wrote Siamak Namazi, a dual national of Iran and the U.S. imprisoned in Iran, in a recent letter to Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Esmaeili.
October 13th marked six years since Siamak’s arbitrary and unjust arrest by Iranian authorities. He is the longest actively-held American prisoner in Iran and one of many dual nationals who the Iranian government has taken hostage and used as geopolitical pawns. Read more > [[link removed]]
📖 See more from our Human Rights Tracker > [[link removed]]
➡️ Follow NIAC's Human Rights Tracker on Twitter > [[link removed]]
📥 Subscribe to receive our Human Rights Tracker in your inbox > [[link removed]]
Community & Culture
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#IAPride: Navigating Queer Identity in the Iranian-American Community [[link removed]]
Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11am PT/2pm ET
While Pride month has become a widely celebrated occasion, the lived experience of the LGBTQ+ community is an everyday affair. For the LGBTQ+ community Pride continues outside of June, along with the continued struggle for acceptance and equal rights. Please join us for an important discussion [[link removed]] that looks at attitudes on queerness and LGBTQ+ rights in the Iranian-American community.
NIAC's Assal Rad will lead a virtual discussion about these issues with Dr. Sima Shakhsari (Associate Professor in the Department of Gender, Women & Sexualities Studies at the University of Minnesota), Shawndeez Jadalizadeh (PhD Candidate, Department of Gender Studies at UCLA), and Abdi Nazemian (author, screenwriter, and producer).
🏳️‍🌈 RSVP today > [[link removed]]
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From Our Staff
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America Should Help Iran Get COVID Vaccines [[link removed]]
Sina Toossi for Defense One
It is of utmost importance that Iranians are included in President Biden’s pledge to vaccinate the world. Doing so would not just be a necessary goodwill gesture to the Iranian people at a time of diplomatic deadlock over the nuclear issue but would also help curtail the spread of COVID variants that threaten everyone. Read More > [[link removed]]
#ICYMI: NIAC’s Assal Rad on Fred Hampton Leftists Podcast [[link removed]]
NIAC Senior Research Fellow Dr. Assal Rad joined Dr. Peter Beattie, Dr. Karim Bettache and activist Josanna Vaz in a roundtable discussion on Class and Race with Fred Hampton Leftists. Listen here > [[link removed]]
NIAC’s Sina Toossi on Ploughshares’ Press the Button Podcast [[link removed]]
NIAC Senior Research Analyst Sina Toossi joined Ploughshares Policy Director Tom Collina to discuss how Iranians have been affected by the pandemic and why the U.S. should offer Iran humanitarian relief. Listen here > [[link removed]]
Why Iran’s Raisi is decisively pivoting to the east [[link removed]]
Sina Toossi for Amwaj Media
Raisi’s ascendance thus represents the cementing of Khamenei’s worldview and the dissolution of Rafsanjani’s school of thought. To reiterate, this momentous shift could not have happened without the Trump administration reneging on the JCPOA and reimposing severe sanctions. Read More > [[link removed]]
Iran Unfiltered: Tensions Flare Between Iran and Azerbaijan [[link removed]]
In the latest issue of Iran Unfiltered, tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan flare as each side conducted war games near their border. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry clarified that Iran has no “precondition” for resuming the Vienna talks, while a Green Movement leader has given a speech after 10 years under house arrest.
📖 Read the latest Iran Unfiltered > [[link removed]]
📥 Subscribe to receive Iran Unfiltered in your inbox > [[link removed]]
Events
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Help Sheila Nezhad become the first Iranian American Mayor of Minneapolis! [[link removed]]
Tuesday, October 20 at 4pm PT/7pm ET
NIAC Chicago will be hosting a virtual text bank to help elected Sheila Nezhad as the Mayor of Minneapolis! If elected, Sheila will be the FIRST Iranian American ever to lead a major city in the U.S. Midwest. Join our community-powered campaign and help get Sheila elected! This text bank is open to all members across the country and volunteers will receive a quick training on how to use the texting app.
📣 RSVP > [[link removed]]
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Sign-Up for NIAC's October Open Mic Night [[link removed]]
Thursday, October 28 at 4pm PT/7pm ET
NIAC DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) chapter will be hosting October’s Open-Mic Night. ALL NIAC Chapter members across the country are welcome to join! Please join us to share your poems and short stories--or simply show-up to listen to some of our talented chapter members.
The event will feature Professor Fatemeh Keshavarz of the University of Maryland, who will kick off the event with a presentation about the significance of classical Persian poetry for today’s global issues.
🎤 RSVP > [[link removed]]
Support niac. Donate Today. [[link removed]]

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