The killing of 22-year-old Iranian Mahsa Amini sparked one of the largest waves of demonstrations Iran has witnessed in decades. Amini, now widely known, was on a visit to her family in Tehran when she was stopped by the morality police, accused of improper hijab, arrested, then tortured to death. Within a day, her name was known to all Iranians. Within two, her name became a symbol of resistance to tyranny worldwide.

Due to the heavy restrictions imposed by the Iranian regime, including on reporters and journalists, foreign and domestic, it is hard to assess how large the demonstrations are and if Iran is actually witnessing a major uprising. One thing remains crystal clear: most Iranians are done with ayatollahs. The death toll has reached 90, nine of whom are women and six of whom are children, killed by Iranian security forces. Official numbers indicate nearly 2000 have been arrested. The protests have now spread to over 300 towns and villages, many witnessing protests for the first time in their history.

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About the speaker: Cynthia Farahat is an Egyptian-American author, columnist, political analyst, counterterrorism expert, and fellow at the Middle East Forum. She co-founded the Liberal Egyptian Party in Egypt, which advocated for peace with Israel, capitalism, and the separation of mosque and state. She studied Islamic jurisprudence for more than twenty years and co-authored Desecration of A Heavenly Religion, which was officially banned by Al-Azhar University in Cairo in 2008 for its criticism of Egypt’s blasphemy law.

Farahat landed on an al-Qaeda affiliated group’s hit list and was officially banned from entering Lebanon for her work fostering regional peace. For almost a decade, she received daily death threats from Islamists. After her brother was tortured, her friend was murdered, and Islamists tried to assassinate her, Farahat immigrated to the United States.

Farahat has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, briefed more than two hundred congressional offices, and advised intelligence and law enforcement agencies. She received the Speaker of Truth Award from the Endowment for Middle East Truth and the Profile in Courage Award from ACT for America. Her writing has been published in many national and international outlets, and her work has been translated into more than fifteen languages.

• Create a long-range strategic plan to achieve EMET’s mission
• Coordinate with the advisory board and CEO about financial goals and helps with the fiscal development of the organization
• Oversee resources, support and coordination necessary for EMET operations, including for the annual dinner and fundraising appeals
• Collaborate with volunteers and staff to implement plans and policies authorized by the Board, including implementation of speaking engagements through the country
• Help promote active and broad engagement by volunteers and support volunteer leadership development
• In partnership with the Board, develop strategies to advance EMET’s goals
• Maintain official records and documents to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations

• Help with with the scheduling and follow up with appointments
• Attend, virtually or in person, all appointments 
• Eventually, handle and contribute to our policy discussions with Congress members and foreign policy staffers
• Must have good interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and written 
• Have the philosophical and ideological point of view of EMET to be able to represent us well