Iranian American Women Elected to Public Office from Across the US Release Letter of Solidarity with Women of Iran, Ask Other Officials to Join in Solidarity

The letter, signed by Senator Anna Kaplan, the first and only Iranian-American elected to the New York State Legislature, outlines three main requests of the Biden administration and the global community in order to support the movement for Women, Life, and Freedom in Iran

PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Anna Kaplan and student performers at the 2022 NYC Persian Parade Click here to download hi-res image

CARLE PLACE, NY (November 3, 2022) - This week, a group of Iranian-American women elected to office across the United States released a letter of solidarity with the women and people of Iran as they risk their lives for freedom. The group includes New York State Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-Port Washington), the first and only Iranian-American person elected to the New York State Legislature. Senator Kaplan, who fled unrest in Iran as a child refugee, previously issued her own statement of support of women in Iran in their struggle for freedom.

The letter, which can be found here, outlines three main requests of the Biden Administration and global community. The signers first ask that all discussions on the JCPOA should be paused, and instead the U.S. government should provide assistance in maintaining internet access so that the people of Iran may continue to expose the injustices of their daily lives. The signers also urge citizens to call their federal representatives to push for a U.N. Investigative Mechanism for crimes against humanity committed by the Islamic Republic, and to push for the Islamic Republic to be immediately removed from the U.N. Women’s Commission. The signers also vehemently oppose all efforts and remarks (past and present) by anyone downplaying the brutality of the Islamic Republic, and call for unity among the Iranian-American diaspora.

"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. I want them all to know that they're not alone as they fight for Women, Life, and Freedom. We see them, we're proud of them, and we support them," said Senator Anna M. Kaplan. "Today, I'm proud to join with Iranian-American women leaders from across the United States in showing solidarity with the women in Iran fighting for a better life, and I call on elected officials of all backgrounds to join us."

The letter of solidarity comes at a time when 27 powerful women from around the world released a full page ad in the New York Times requesting that the Islamic Republic also be removed from the U.N. Women’s Commission. Individuals may sign on to that community-wide letter here: www.womanlifefreedom.today

Elected officials who are not members of the Iranian-American diaspora are invited to sign on to the letter in support. Click here to sign up.

About Senator Anna M. Kaplan: New York State Senator Anna Kaplan (D-Port Washington) is a former child refugee who has devoted her life to public service as a way of giving back to the country that has given her so much. Born Anna Monahemi in Tabriz, Iran to a Jewish family, Anna’s parents made the difficult decision to send her on her own to the United States for her safety when the Islamic Revolution swept the country. 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. Anna wrote about her experience as a child living in Iran during the outbreak of revolution in an op-ed in the New York Daily News.

 Now serving in her second term as a New York State Senator representing the 7th Senate District, including the Northwest portion of Nassau County, 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. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business, Senator Kaplan has been a leading voice and a strong advocate standing up for New York’s small business community.

For more information about Senator Anna Kaplan, visit kaplan.nysenate.gov