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Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
Pressure Mounts on President Biden to Support Internet Freedom in Iran
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 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 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 >
Learn More
➡️ Bipartisan Letter Urges Biden to Support Internet Freedom in Iran
➡️ Take Action: Tell Biden to Support Internet Freedom in Iran
➡️ Letter to Treasury Highlighting Issues with U.S. Sanctions Policy
➡️ Amendment Passes Requiring Report on Efficacy of U.S. Sanctions
Building Political Power
Apply to Join NIAC Action's Board of Directors!
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 >
Support Sheila Nezhad in the Race for Mayor of Minneapolis
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? Together, our community can ensure that our vision, voices, and values are reflected at all levels of government.
🗳️ Support Sheila's campaign >
📱 Volunteer to text-bank for Sheila >
Spotlighting Human Rights in Iran
“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 >
📖 See more from our Human Rights Tracker >
➡️ Follow NIAC's Human Rights Tracker on Twitter >
📥 Subscribe to receive our Human Rights Tracker in your inbox >
Community & Culture
#IAPride: Navigating Queer Identity in the Iranian-American Community
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 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 >
From Our Staff
America Should Help Iran Get COVID Vaccines
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 >
#ICYMI: NIAC’s Assal Rad on Fred Hampton Leftists Podcast
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 >
NIAC’s Sina Toossi on Ploughshares’ Press the Button Podcast
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 >
Why Iran’s Raisi is decisively pivoting to the east
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 >
Iran Unfiltered: Tensions Flare Between Iran and Azerbaijan
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 >
📥 Subscribe to receive Iran Unfiltered in your inbox >
Events
Help Sheila Nezhad become the first Iranian American Mayor of Minneapolis!
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 >
Sign-Up for NIAC's October Open Mic Night
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 >
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