Iranian-American State Senator from New York Comments on Iranian Protests

CARLE PLACE, NY (SEPTEMBER 26, 2022) - Following protests in Iran over the killing of Mahsa Amini, New York State Senator Anna Monahemi Kaplan (D-Port Washington) issued the following statement:

Senator Anna Monahemi Kaplan said “I'm awestruck by the courage and bravery on display by Iranian women who are fed up with the extremist regime that has robbed them of their freedom, dignity, and hope for far too long.

In the name of so-called modesty, the regime has shamefully taken something that should be a personal expression of one's faith and beliefs, and twisted it into an excuse to punish and control women.

I proudly stand with the courageous Iranian women who are risking their lives and their freedom to demand dignity and autonomy over their own lives. To everyone in the streets across Iran fighting for a better life at all costs: I see you, I'm proud of you, and I support you."

Senator Kaplan previously wrote about her experience as a 13 year old girl living in Iran during the revolution in an op-ed for the Daily News.

ABOUT SENATOR ANNA MONAHEMI KAPLAN: Anna Kaplan was born Anna Monahemi in Tabriz, Iran to a Jewish family. When the Islamic Revolution swept the country, Anna's parents made the difficult decision to send her on her own to the United States for safety. She arrived in Brooklyn as part of an international effort to save Iran's Jewish children and was sent to live with a foster family in Chicago, where she learned to speak English (her fourth language, having been raised speaking Aramaic and Farsi at home, and learning Hebrew) and completed high school. Eventually, Anna was granted political asylum by the United States government.

Today, Anna has devoted her life to public service as a way of giving back to the country that has given her so much. Now serving in her second term as a New York State Senator representing the 7th Senate District on Long Island, Anna is fighting hard for Long Island and delivering results for our community on important issues like funding our schools, middle class tax relief, women’s rights, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence and hate crimes.