Event report, July 19, 2010: Georgian women protest in front of the Embassy of Iran in Tbilisi, Georgia

Mission Free Iran is honored to post this event report from a group of Georgian women protesting against stoning and execution in Iran. Submitted by Tiko Japaridze (ed note: original submission edited ).

On July 19, 2010, a flash mob protesting the death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran was organized in front of the Embassy of Iran in Tbilisi, Georgia. The protest was prompted by the information spread about the stoning execution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. The death penalty is one of the methods that the Islamic Republic regime uses to intimidate Iranian citizens and to strengthen its dictatorship.

The protesters in front of the Embassy of Iran were 15 female 2 male citizens of Georgia who were symbolically covered with veils, and wore nail polish and dark sunglasses – both of them banned for women in Iran. The main messages were “Stop Killing Women!” (in English), “Down with Dictatorship!” and “How Much is Each Stone?” (in Farsi), pointing to the oppressive authoritarian regime which additionally is corrupted. The protesters were carrying posters with different slogans (see Facebook photo album) in three languages – English, Farsi and Georgian. After 15 minutes of demonstration each protester took off her veil and publicly burnt it, in this way protesting against controlling women’s body and sexuality and against violation of women’s human rights. The demonstration attracted attention of general public (passers-by) – as well as the staff of the Iranian Embassy who were observing the event from the distance and recording the last part of it.

According to data from Amnesty International, 388 people were sentenced to death and executed in Iran during 2009, and at least 126 people shared the same fate during the first half of 2010. The aim of the 20-minute-long flash mob was to protest against the death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran and to express solidarity with Iranian women.

This group will hold another demonstration on July 24 (Internatinal Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Day), from 1-3pm, in front of the Embassy of Iran (address: 80. Tchavchavadze Ave). Mission Free Iran hails their efforts and looks forward to hearing more from this amazing group from Georgia.

Below are the slogans in English that were used during the demonstration:
1. TAKE OFF YOUR RELIGIOUS HANDS FROM MY SACRED BODY!!
2. ALL WOMEN ARE SISTERS!!!
3. IN SOLIDARITY WITH IRANIAN WOMEN!!!
4. WHERE WERE ALLAH AND LAW, WHEN YOU WERE RAPING ME?
5. GOD IS LOVE, LOVE IS SEX!!!
6. MY BODY BELONGS TO ME!!!
7. STOP KILLING WOMEN!
8. MY BODY IS NOT YOUR PROPERTY!!!
9. DON’T BUILD UP YOUR REGIME ON MY STONED BODY!!!!
10. I WAS STONED BECAUSE I HAD SEX WITH YOU!!!
11. I HAVE NEVER HAD SEX BUT I WAS STONED ANYWAY!
12. ONLY IGNORANT USE KORAN AGAINST WOMEN!!!
13. I HAD SEX WITH YOU, WHY DID NOT YOU STONE ME?
14. HOW MUCH DOES EACH STONE COST?
15. DO NOT COMMIT A CRIME IN THE NAME OF ISLAM.
16. DOWN WITH THE DICTATORSHIP!