Many people believe you are safe in the US
and endanger women with your campaign.
Many of them end up behind bars because of this.
They don't get that Iranian women are cognizant themselves.
It's their choice to protest.
I haven't taken women's agency away, nor brainwashed them.
What's jeopardizing Iranian women is the Islamic Republic, not me.
Someone sent me a video of a girl,
who was standing and waving a white scarf
on a stick in silence.
I had no idea who she was or what happened to her.
The man who sent me the video said that she was arrested.
I created a hashtag to find the girl.
The hashtag was
"Where is the girl of Enghelab street?"
Nineteen thousand people tweeted it in one day.
One said that she was the girl of Enghelab Street.
She put her scarf on a stick.
Then a young man sent me a video titled I am the girl of Enghelab Street.
Next, a man from Mashhad.
Then a woman from Tehran had a scarf on a stick.
Then there was another girl standing up.
And a movement was born!
Masih Alinejad is a prominent Iranian journalist and activist.
In recent years she's complained, challenged, protested and boycotted
all those who support the compulsory wearing of the hijab.
Masih Alinejad is a courageous advocate for women's rights,
who has propelled one of the largest
civil disobedience movements in Iran's recent history.
With over five million followers across social media,
Masih's campaigns have emboldened women inside Iran.
Her My Stealthy Freedom campaign, launched in 2014,
encourages women who oppose Iran's compulsory hijab laws
to uncover their hair in public.
This act of disobedience is a crime
punishable by prison.
I'm nobody without you. No one at all.
I get my strength from you.
No to forced hijab!
The Islamic Republic of Iran has used the hijab
to play the whole nation.
Once we get rid of the hijab, there will be no more Islamic Republic.
-Hello. -Hello, dear. How are you?
Fine, thanks.
I emailed you a few days ago.
I'm thinking of making a movie about you
and the situation of women in Iran.
If that's OK with you.
Why not? I'm pleased.
If you don't mind, I'll need to look you up.
Because I don't know you.
I live in Sweden. One of my documentaries is
The Queen and I.
Oh, right. Then I like you a lot.
Most of my movies are about my homeland Iran
and its brutal regime.
In 1979, we revolted against the Shah's dictatorship.
Our goal was to achieve equality, freedom of expression, and democracy.
But we never even dreamed
that the reactionary, anti-women clerics would take power.
Islam doesn't allow women to go out lightly-dressed
as they did under the previous regime.
If they don't obey the law,
we skin them alive.
I'm not a Muslim.
My face is covered with glasses and my clothes cover my body.
What more do you require?
Alright, honey.
-Bye now. See you later. -Alright, honey. See you later.
Look at your hair! We'll start a hair revolution.
-Such thick hair! -Yes, very.
I'll show my brother I found someone like me.
Ali! I've found someone with hair, nose, and eyes like mine.
She made the documentary about Farah Pahlavi that I'm sure you saw.
She's here to make a documentary about me. I'm extremely excited.
Love you!
Look, this girl didn't know how to use the camera before.
I filmed myself and said,
"Do it just like me. Put the camera over there."
This is the video.
Put the camera like that and start walking.
Then turn your back.
And draw back the curtains.
Well done.
Like this… and move back.
I want you to send me a video of you walking like this.
No looking at the camera or talking.
I'm thrilled to see they're turning into documentary filmmakers in Iran.
-Is this from Iran? -Yes.
They arrested her. In the village.
-When did they arrest her? -Today.
-Because she sang? -Yes.
My land You're a patient with no cure
My land I roamed with no home
I roamed, house to house
Without you and always with grief
I roamed, shoulder to shoulder
See, no one arrested me.
No one called me crazy or assaulted me.
Masih has several social media channels.
She writes and makes documentaries.
Her TV show Tablet,
which is hosted by Voice of America,
is watched by millions in Iran and worldwide via satellite.
Hijab is God's ruling!
Go to hell!
You must obey the ruling.
As soon as someone tells them to cover their hair, they protest and film it.
Let's make a list to put in the program.
Write down the numerous arrests of women:
"Three women were arrested this week."
Add: "Give women the right to ride a bike."
I have videos that girls sent from a stadium.
They wore beards and mustaches.
When the police discovered them, one girl hid under a seat
and sent a video, saying,
"Look, I'm here, because I've been identified."
Those with beards and mustaches are all women.
Because women are not allowed to enter the stadium.
This gate must be opened!
-Is that enough microphones? One more? -You mean me?
-Yeah. -I'm good.
Hi! I'm Masih Alinejad and this is Tablet.
Again, you've imprisoned two more activists this week. Why?
They were good people,
educating Afghan immigrants
about women's rights.
They practiced civil disobedience and took off their hijab.
They only wanted equal rights.
But you put them in jail.
Whether you're a woman or a man, whether you wear a hijab or not,
whether you're religious or not, right or left,
reformist or conservative, environmentalist, young or old,
whoever you are…
you can't avoid this catch-22 situation.
And don't forget:
Be your own broadcaster by using your phone.
Do away with censorship! Keep rolling!
I didn't ask for it
but they sent me these videos.
But I know that my story is the same for millions of Iranian women.
I even wrote that this is my freedom and it is stealthy.
I started my campaign by asking,
"Would you make your stealthy freedom explicit, too?"
Suddenly, I was inundated.
People didn't shout, "Yes!"
They sent me pictures and videos.
Why would I wear a hijab in this wonderful rain?
Feels awesome!
I suggest all girls remove their hijab and enjoy the spring rain.
Hi, dear Masih! This is Ghoo Beach. Every day is a White Wednesday for us.
No oppression, no hijab! I'm the leader! You're the leader! Cry out "freedom!"
The Islamic regime led girls of Masih's generation
to believe they were not equal to men.
But now, Masih and her husband, the journalist, Kambiz Foroohar,
are fighting day and night against the misogynist regime in Iran.
Did you film my roses?
They're amazing, right?
-Take this. It shows that we're equal. -That we're alike.
Because we look like sisters.
-Should I have two pillows like you? -Yes.
I was born in a very small village.
Ghomi Kola, in northern Iran.
I grew up in that village
and enjoyed everything about it.
I was two years old when the revolution broke out.
My father was involved.
Like many Iranians, he wanted a better life.
My brother was two years older than me.
But he had everything.
He's given it by law, by family, by the regime and the village.
He was set to have a great life.
He could go swimming in the river or ride a bike.
He could play volleyball or football.
That's wonderful for a kid. But I was not allowed.
And that made me want to fight.
We had no toilet in the house. It was in the back garden.
I was afraid of the dark.
My mother said that this darkness is like a monster.
It is full of ghosts.
And the more you're afraid of the dark, the more it would attack you.
If you don't want to be afraid, you should open your eyes as much as you can.
The more you stared at the dark,
the more it would fade away.
I believed her and stared every time I went to the toilet.
The more I opened my eyes,
the braver I became.
But my brother was afraid of the dark.
Because he didn't know how to conquer it.
He was always afraid to go to the toilet at night.
I told him I'd take him every time, on one condition.
That he'd take me to play football and to ride a bike.
Anything to get out of the house.
Otherwise, I wouldn't take him and he would pee his pants.
I started my own revolution from the kitchen.
My mother and I worked hard in the fields.
But we also had to do the dishes.
The kitchen was designed with a woman's height in mind.
I put a plastic chair in the kitchen
and told my brother to sit to wash the dishes.
As a woman in the village,
I did a lot of things that could have torn our family apart.
I was the first woman to get divorced
and to get expelled from school.
I was the first to go to prison.
I was the first woman who became pregnant before marriage.
I was first to become a parliamentary reporter
and to be kicked out.
I loved my job.
I was excited at first.
I could ask any question I wanted and challenge MPs.
It felt amazing.
Female singing is prohibited. May I sing?
Female singing has a high penalty.
-Really? -Yes. That is Khomeini's fatwa.
I have a beautiful voice.
Oh God! Oh God!
If you make me cry
I'll make your sky
Rain out of sorrow
Well done.
Then some MPs said they lived a simple life.
Since they said they don't earn much,
I asked one of them to see his pay slip.
He refused.
But then he saw me writing about it and asked to remain anonymous.
When I published it, the news made a big splash in Iran.
REFORMIST CANDIDATES BACK JOURNALIST
Then, after the holidays, they didn't let me into the parliament.
PARLIAMENT KICKS OUT JOURNALIST
I couldn't make a difference in Iran after that.
They'd shut me up.
I always spoke up,
but I was stonewalled.
They silenced me, so I decided to study abroad.
I sold my car and my house.
When I came to Oxford, I wore hats.
That was important to my family.
I didn't want to be a disgrace to my family again.
So I kept the hat on my head.
Because my mom liked it that way.
Today was… amazing.
And I'm really proud of my people in Iran.
My son said his teacher had seen me on BBC.
And he had wondered why I was always wearing a hat.
But my mom saw the hat and was excited.
And said how it was good.
I was stuck in the middle
between two generations.
Our whole lives,
we haven't lived for ourselves.
I hated it so much. I felt I'd caused this confusion.
I need to live for myself. Neither for my mom nor my son.
I took off my hat.
And I spoke out about it. I wrote about it.
Everyone is responsible
for avoiding facing the issue.
If everyone removed their hat
and be themselves, they would triumph.
NO TO FORCED HIJAB.
Have you seen these kids who imitate me?
They tagged me on Instagram.
They put flowers in their hair.
Like this.
Hi, Masih! I'm Andia.
I love you so much.
No to forced hijab!
I have ringlet curls just like you.
Hi, dear Masih! I don't like to wear a headscarf at school.
Look what the guards do to me.
There are a lot of them.
Let's look at one.
Hi, dear Masih. I'm on the street bare-ass, look!
I'm walking bare-ass, Masih.
They all say, "Hi, dear Masih," and start mocking me.
-Hi, dear Masih! -Hi.
This is Pol-e Dokhtar, Lorestan. Jihad boys are here to help people.
We're short on blankets and have started a campaign: "No to blanket shortage."
Now we're going to remove our blankets.
Oh my God, shame on me!
Shame on me, Masih!
-Hi, Masih! -Hi!
How do you feel?
I feel disgusted at first.
I wonder what they would do to me if they were here.
I mean, just look at their faces!
I still remember how they humiliated and annoyed us in Iran.
But they can't reach me now.
-What they're great for… -I was saying…
-Hand me that shovel. -Oh, yeah, wait.
She is stuck.
I'm stuck.
Yeah, let's see. Stop pulling!
-Thank you, my darling. -Oh, my goodness.
I'm crazy about you.
-How beautiful! -Isn't it?
I need an adapter for this.
I knew you'd solve it, like always.
We'd be destroyed if the Islamic Republic saw our set up.
They think there's a great organization behind us.
We don't even have a adapter.
You heard me. You're welcome, but--
I can't leave my hair behind and enter.
Cover your hair like her.
We're two different individuals.
Why did you become a police officer?
They've never had a woman argue with them.
A woman who presents her arguments to the world.
Women are empowered now.
Their camera is their gun.
They can record the suppression and it makes them stronger.
It encourages them to refrain from covering their hair.
That's what I want! To give them the power to say no,
to challenge the police and stand up for themselves.
If a woman or a man can defend their right to their body
and say no to the police,
then they can also say no to the dictator.
When others decide what you should wear, how you should think,
what type of regime or educational system you should have…
How so? Because you're compliant.
But if you dodge the first blow,
you can stand tall in the end, like my story.
As a reporter in the parliament
I wasn't allowed to ask any questions if there was a single hair showing.
I have a photo with an MP saying,
"Cover your hair or I'll smack you."
-This is dictatorship! -And it's legal?
The law gives them the right
and they get rewarded.
You get a higher status if you give orders to women who aren't appropriately dressed.
Men have the right to rule over women.
-Put your hijab on! -Don't shout.
I'm calling the police.
-Just don't look at me. -You can't say that! You're in public.
-Put on your headscarf! -Why are you hitting me, jackass?
They arrested her!
Leave her alone!
-Come here. -You piece of shit!
What does this smell like to you?
It smells like Iran.
Yes, it's the same.
-You see? Can you smell it? -Yes.
It literally drives me crazy.
Every time I smell basil, it's like I'm back in Iran.
There was nothing here before. Nothing!
I created a small version of my village.
I planted a peach tree for my dad.
That tree, planted at the center,
is my brother, Ali.
I planted all the members of my family in the garden
to have them close to me.
Look, I sent this to my brother.
Ali! Look at my beautiful garden.
I've planted for Mom, Dad and Shima. Even for Mina.
Do you know which one is yours?
This is you.
You, who helped me to blossom and told me to keep writing.
I realized that I can write about all the misery and pain to be rid of it.
You made me blossom! This tree is you!
Aren't you incredibly beautiful?
My brother replied,
"Seeing a familiar tree so far away
in a foreign land made me cry."
"Thank you, sis."
I'm enjoying my life. If I'm sad, I get totally devastated.
But despite this,
my life is full of passion and love.
I haven't seen my family in ten years.
When I travel, I long for my mother.
I long to go home and hug her.
See how tall my mom is?
This is our home in Ghomi Kola.
-Is that you? -Yes, that's me.
-Dad! Can I drive? -No.
-Why? -Because driving is wrong.
He means "improper."
-What? -It's wrong.
-Who's that? -My brother, Ali.
I've been away for ten years.
My father hasn't talked to me.
-He doesn't talk to you? -No.
Why?
He used to love me so much. I mean, he still does.
But the regime has given them a hard time.
Not everyone can tolerate what they've done to my parents.
Look, my mom.
This is my home, my life. We used to eat together.
The more popular and influential Masih becomes
the more pressure there is on her family in Iran.
My brother!
My love!
The regime has threatened her parents, brothers, and sister.
The regime's goal is to turn the family members against each other.
What would you wear instead?
Nothing matters to me except the hijab.
I'm her sister,
but I'll oppose her if she goes against our great leader, Khamenei.
We'll turn against her.
I can't talk. They're a bunch of assholes.
You're powerless against them.
You can't do anything.
Turn off the camera. I need a hug.
Hi, Masih.
Our sister was completely fooled by this regime.
She's trying to persuade our parents to accept the regime's offer
of a paid trip to Turkey.
To invite you over and convince you to stop what you're doing.
This is clearly blood money, not travel money.
The Ministry of Intelligence has influence there and has killed countless Iranians.
They have killed many people in Europe.
Turkey is their backyard.
They want to lure you to Turkey and kill you.
Be careful.
I'm not worried about myself, Masih.
After I'm apprehended,
you can speak freely and don't worry about anything.
Don't be silent. Speak up. Carry on with what you're doing.
You're doing a great job. I love you.
I need some energy. I should go and read people's messages.
Yes, do that.
Wouldn't you like a calmer life?
It is calm sometimes. Life's like that.
It's an exciting life, full of events. We're dealing with all that.
But then…
They say life's a kind of struggle. Our life is in a way.
I don't know if I'm in the frame.
You are in frame. This is Masoumeh Atai.
The acid attack took her eyes, but not her courage.
Watch the story of Masoumeh's life tonight.
Like her, narrate your own stories.
My dear, look! Your documentary has started.
It was almost 11 p.m.
The man told me to close my eyes. He wanted to surprise me.
I closed my eyes confidently.
I had no idea
what would happen next.
Unfortunately,
my son Arian saw me with a totally burnt face the next day.
A face that looked like it was totally covered with a black mask.
She held back her cries,
even during the first days, when her burnt face was still unfamiliar.
-Did you do the film yourself? -Sure!
-Do you like it? -Yes, very much.
Who's filming?
She is.
I'm watching you on TV now, sweetie. I love you so much!
Who else but you can speak so beautifully?
I wish the man who did this to you could watch this movie.
I love you and I'm proud of you.
…to be proud of who I am now
and not to have any problem with my condition.
"Not to have any problem with my…" That's not easy to say.
I'm proud of her.
I have enough energy to go out there and carry everyone on my shoulders.
Fall rain, fall
Cry with my heart Shed my tears
Yeah, this shower is a blessing.
-Very good. -It is.
Watch out for the car, Masih!
Please!
The movie I made about Masoumeh…
I would be happy even if I died right now. I've done all I wanted to do.
I never said I wanted to change the whole world.
I just want to change the world around me.
Everyone can do that.
They say one flower makes no garden.
But if we all planted one seed, the world would be full of flowers.
Mina is the only friend
I visit unannounced.
If sad, I go there crying. If happy, I go there dancing.
Until the door opens
And it's time to meet
You are my everything Can't breathe without you
Mina!
In hard times, when social media is full of negativity,
when the media attack me, use my sister and talk about a fake rape,
I come here and talk
to feel like I'm part of a family.
It gives me my energy back.
I completely forgot to edit my show, Tablet.
It'll only take 15 minutes. We're still together.
God says you are to wear a hijab,
so you won't be harassed.
-So you won't be followed in the street… -Asshole!
Afshin, make sure to include the part where he says,
"The hijab means you're virtuous and nobody will follow you."
They were attacked for not wearing a hijab.
The president acknowledges this.
According to the Quran, the hijab protects women.
Hi, dear…
-What's wrong? -I'm exhausted.
Oh, sweetie! What is it?
Goddamn it!
Who was it?
What happened?
I've already shed my tears for the day.
I've made a documentary for one of the acid attack victims.
Now a lot of people have turned against me.
Why?
They say I should tell their story. I'm going nuts.
You can't tell everyone's story.
But their faces are awful.
It's alright.
I made a documentary about the acid victim Masoumeh.
Now a girl from Tabriz is asking
why I don't care about her story.
There are too many of them. I can't handle it.
Look.
I receive 1,000 to 1,500 messages every day.
This post, for example, has had 6,000 comments.
Kambiz, darling.
Yes, write it down. I'll get it on my way back.
There may have been a car accident.
You've got a live broadcast soon.
I hope I get there in time.
Otherwise you'll have to drive so I can go live.
OK?
Being with me means you have to work.
Who will film then?
-You didn't think of that? -No.
I'm just thinking about the people in Iran
waiting for me to go live.
I forgot about your movie.
Masih's live broadcast today is with Roya Hakakian.
Roya?
Hello! Hi!
Roya has written many books about Iran's regime of terror abroad.
These 2.3 million people know nothing about you.
Tell your stories so people get to know you.
About your books, about your interview on 60 Minutes.
Show them you weren't an overnight success.
That's it. Sit there.
You see how good it is now?
See, the light is way better now.
Where will you be in ten minutes?
Exactly!
Wow, 1,100 people joined right now, 1,200 people.
-Hi, dear Roya! -Hi!
I'm so happy to see you.
You know those watches that you wind up by hand?
Masih winds herself up.
When she has an idea,
she can work around the clock.
I don't have her energy.
Don't you worry about her?
No, she's living the life she wants.
Her energy is boundless.
I only worry when she goes silent,
when she stops being active.
When she's full of energy I know it's fine.
Thank you all for being with us.
I'll check the comments later and I'll stand up to the negative ones.
Roya?
Come and see this!
51,000 people were watching us.
52,000 people, actually.
-What do they say? -We went to Iran.
We had a wonderful debate. Thank you!
We nailed it!
Eat your food now.
Screen down.
-OK. -Thank you!
Kambiz, let me show Roya that clip.
-Would you like anything else? -No, I'm fine.
Listen to me now. This video has been viewed 1.4 million times.
It's March 8th,
International Women's Day.
My friends and I would like to congratulate all of you.
Iran belongs to all of us,
with or without the hijab, regardless of faith.
Here you are.
I wish one day I could
walk the streets beside you like this.
I hope so!
Today is Women's Day.
We talked to women on the subway.
A man just warned us.
We might get arrested.
Mojgan has disappeared. Maybe she's been arrested.
Darling, Fereshteh. Are you safe?
Message me, so I know you haven't been arrested.
Sweetheart, take care.
When you and Fereshteh meet, be careful not to get arrested.
How are you?
-Fine, and you? -I'm good, thanks.
I tried to be quiet,
so I wouldn't wake you.
-I had a good night's sleep. -I'm glad to hear that.
Hi, Masih. I'm Yasaman Ariani. I've been arrested.
I'm in the Guidance Patrol van now.
I'm Saba Kord-Afshari. We were caught at City Theater.
I'm Saman Zandian, City Theater.
Azar Heydari, City Theater.
Farshid Rostami. I was also at City Theater.
-His head is bleeding. -Let me film it.
The news is shocking,
but Masih has to be strong.
They imprisoned them to deter other women.
They were sentenced severely
to make others aware of the consequences.
What was the result?
A woman in a hijab sent a video
that shakes the regime to its core.
The Islamic Republic regime is a kind of gender apartheid.
A religious regime that is very harsh against women.
I like this type of hijab and chose it myself.
I have two daughters and I'll never tell them what to wear.
I call upon everyone to put an end to the Islamic Republic.
We've had enough during these 40 years. They've made our lives a misery.
Great, wasn't it?
It's what millions of Iranians want.
Hi! They arrested Yasaman. Mojgan became her voice.
They arrested Mojgan. Fereshteh became her voice.
They arrested Fereshteh. I, Ava, am Fereshteh's voice.
Mr. Khamenei,
your prisons are filled with political prisoners.
We are anvils turned into sledgehammers. Now is the time to strike.
Mojgan Keshavarz, Yasaman Ariani and Monireh Arab-Shahi
were only giving flowers to ladies in the subway
and promoting peace and friendship.
They were sentenced to 55 years collectively
for propaganda against the regime.
We are here
to give flowers
to you lovely people
in support of these three
brave and liberal women.
Hi! I haven't been able to reach you for a while.
Where have you been?
How are you?
Ali! Look, all my sunflowers have bloomed.
Hi, dear, Ali. The garden makes your sister crazy.
-Looking good? -Very!
You're leaving tonight?
-When? -I just said it's our last dinner.
I thought you were flying home tomorrow morning.
No, my flight's later tonight.
Wow!
Very beautiful.
I told them that one day I will steal this branch.
-Could you be quiet for a minute? -Sure.
She asked me to not look at the camera, no talking.
Just be natural, like this?
After a couple of weeks in Masih's world,
I return to Sweden.
Masih's words echo in my head.
"If we all planted one seed, the world would be full of flowers."
A cartoonist posted this on Twitter.
The Islamic Republic told him to switch around the boy and the girl
because the girl is sitting on the father's neck
and he might be aroused.
These guys are sick.
They're in a constant state of arousal out there on the streets.
Where do they learn this?
From the Imam of All Goodness and Golden Times,
Khomeini, who wrote in the book Tahrir al-Wasilah:
"Touching, hugging with lust and sex, even with an infant, is fine."
It makes me so mad. I want to bang my head against the wall.
Watching Masih's reports makes me worried.
There's speculation about the arrest…
And then, the news about my friend Rohollah Zam.
…of the head of the counter-revolutionary network Amad News…
The head of the counter-revolutionary network, Amad News, has been arrested.
Rohollah, is a journalist and activist, living in France, who I've filmed before.
After being lured to Iraq…
he was kidnapped and brought to Iran.
He was forced to show remorse for his activities
on Iranian public television.
I'm Rohollah Zam, the founder of Amad News Media.
I regret what I've done in the past few years.
I also regret the interviews I've done in the media.
This is not the Rohollah that I know.
Is your name Elsa Zam?
Now he faces execution.
How awful.
I try to call Masih, but she's not answering.
I don't know what happened to her.
Hi, Nahid. My brother Ali was taken.
They tried to access my email via his phone
and they texted me on WhatsApp.
I knew it couldn't be my brother texting.
I called my family and my niece picked up. She said Ali had been taken.
I just wanted to let you know.
Nahid, I wish you were here. Awful days! I need a sister now.
-Hey, darling! -This is so sweet! I'm glad you're here.
It's OK!
-Hi, Nahid. -It's my turn to console her.
-She hasn't cried yet. -Yes, I have.
I almost had a heart attack.
I was in the office and kept calling him.
Then his daughter picked up.
I asked where her dad was. She said he'd been taken.
I've been the voice of prisoners, telling their families to speak up.
Now I'm in trouble. When I call my mom she doesn't talk.
Neither does my older brother.
They text Kambiz asking him to tell me to be silent.
-Hello? -Hello, Mother-in-law. How are you?
Hello?
It's understandable. Perfectly understandable, sweetie.
She knows that she's being bugged.
-Hello? -Dear Mom, just talk to me. Don't hang up.
Stop calling. Think of Ali and his children.
Why? Because the Islamic Republic said so?
-They took Ali and ruined my life. -We're through.
How long will you brag about your strength?
You should be mad at the Ministry of Intelligence.
They're the enemies of Iran.
Why do you support the murderers of the Islamic Republic?
They killed thousands of innocent people. Why don't you have my back?
Support me and Ali.
We haven't committed any crimes.
"My brother Ali is Iran's latest hostage."
This is my article.
This regime is on the verge of collapse.
And it is going to extreme lengths to prevent this.
My brother was sentenced to eight years in prison.
They want me to shut up.
Why would I do that?
So they can torture another mother and take her child?
This is what the regime does to families.
And we shouldn't be silent.
My brother was like a bridge
between me and the family.
He was my bridge to Iran,
to Ghomi Kola and to my mom.
My bridge to my entire life for ten years.
He set up a camera, so I could be with them in Ghomi Kola.
They want to take this from me,
because they know I am a rural person.
I miss my flower
My daughter Go and get her for me
My flowers are in bloom at home
But they can't speak They're silent
You are my Narges flower, my daffodil
And I am your dew
Can you believe the life I've made here? I could be depressed.
Look!
So beautiful!
This is the garden of my life.
Do you want some?
Wait.
You look like my mother.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
You're welcome. Have fun.
In order to beat me, the Islamic Republic has to imprison and torture people.
I'm stronger than them without imprisoning or torturing anyone.
-Hello, are you alright, dear? -I'm trying to be.
When will you be taken to prison after sentencing?
My lawyer says it's unclear.
It could be in ten days, one month or a year.
Shahnaz Akmali has been in contact with Masih for ten years.
Her son was shot in the head during the 2009 protest.
She has been imprisoned twice for questioning why her son was killed.
Let me ask her a question.
Dear Shahnaz, what does it feel like to go to prison?
If I were you, I would get out of Iran.
I won't run, sweetheart. I'm neither a thief nor an embezzler.
I haven't done anything wrong.
They're the ones who should be ashamed.
They'll imprison me for being a mother.
I won't hold back even if they threaten execution.
My dear Shahnaz, you're so strong and say you won't hold back,
so why shouldn't I come back to Iran and fight with you?
No, Masih!
If you come to Iran, you will be imprisoned.
Who would be our voice then?
Each of us in Iran is a Masih.
You speak for thousands of people here.
I love you so much, Shahnaz.
When I want to give up, I call you for strength.
I love you so much.
Isn't it unbelievable
that we've never met?
Masih? I hope they will be gone soon, so you can come back to Iran.
-She's wonderful. -She really is.
Crazy! What else could I want?
I'm so happy!
I'm like, "Fuck them!"
This is how happy I am. I have hundreds of moms like her.
Wait, it's Raheleh. Let's see what she says. Oh, sweetie!
I'm Raheleh Ahmadi, the mother of Saba Kord-Afshari.
My daughter has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
What has my daughter done wrong?
Saba, my 20-year-old daughter,
said no to the compulsory hijab.
Must those who remove this headscarf
spend their life in prison?
People around the world, why are you silent?
Be my 20-year-old daughter's voice.
I'm a mother. I cannot be silent.
I will scream so loud
that the world will hear my daughter's voice.
You oppressors, you must pay for all your oppression!
After Raheleh posted this video on Instagram
she was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
Masih travels to Europe.
Where the political leaders pay lip service to human rights.
She's expecting politicians to respond to what's going on in Iran.
It is a pleasure for me to be in the Norwegian parliament
and to talk to you, the members and the speaker of the parliament.
So, what we want
is this.
When you negotiate with the government, just bear this in mind:
Do not normalize dictatorship.
Just bear in mind that this government kills people.
If you shake the killers' hands without asking what happened to those they killed,
then you legitimize the dictatorship.
This is the right time.
Do you want to stand on the wrong side of history?
And shake the hands of the killers, the murderers?
Or would you not rather shake the hands of these people?
The freedom fighters.
The women's rights activists.
If you don't take action,
you will be the second victims after the people in Iran.
This weekend, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven
and Ann Linde, Trade Minister, visited Iran.
They talked about increased trade between Sweden and Iran.
It's heart-breaking. Those women put themselves in danger,
fighting for their freedom.
And we see female politicians from the rest of the world
going to my beautiful country and obeying the same laws
without even challenging them.
Wearing the compulsory hijab
in the name of culture, "respecting our culture."
They are actually insulting the culture of our nation.
Basically, they are legitimizing and normalizing a dictatorship.
I asked the Swedish minister why she wore a hijab and she said,
"It's not a big deal, it's like wearing a hat."
I said, "Is wearing a hijab really like wearing a hat?"
"Have you been expelled from school, because of your inappropriate hat?"
"Your 'inappropriate hijab'?"
"Have you been told that you cannot get a job without a hat?"
"Have you been beaten by the Police, because your hat wasn't on straight?"
What was Karen Pierce's position in the UK?
Political director of foreign affairs.
Exactly.
There she is. He's telling her to wear a hijab.
What kind of woman are you? Shame on you!
"OK, it's your culture." It's not my fucking culture. It's not.
It's you fucking being a coward.
In Canada, someone came up to me and said,
"Despite all your fighting, how come nothing shakes the Islamic Republic?"
I said, "When we manage to shake the Islamic Republic,
then you go there and shake their hands."
On her return to New York the threats have a different tone.
You cannot say whatever you want just because you are abroad.
You can be put through hell there as well.
What are you trying to say?
You're the one calling me. I have nothing to say.
I'm just doing my job.
You've got a problem.
Who are you and what am I doing wrong?
Anyhow, I have told you.
OK. I'm glad you didn't curse this time. Now back to work.
Mrs. Masih Alinejad. We'll soon burn your face with acid.
Stop corrupting Iranian women.
And now online threats against activists:
A well-known member of Basij threatens Masih Alinejad.
"Say goodbye to your family. We will slaughter you."
But why?
Masih Alinejad must be removed from the face of the earth.
The sins of those who question wearing the hijab
are worse than those who don't wear the hijab.
The Islamic regime is obliged to stand against her.
-Hi. -Hi, how are you?
-I think her life is in danger. -I'm not scared.
I only have one life.
If my only life…
My father used to save as much as he could and his life was tough.
He never took us out to have fun or bought good food.
He saved for a rainy day.
Very little meat to eat?
Dad brought us up poor.
Fearing that one day we might end up poor.
Should I now live in constant fear that someone might kill me?
Why? I only have one life.
I live every day as if it's my last and I live well.
Who's the most scary?
Them or this guy here?
All our childhood and youth
we've lived in fear of them.
How about putting it here, like this?
Good idea! Why not?
We can print it out and set it up here.
In Iran, it's Halloween all the time.
I want us to overthrow the regime with lawsuits.
And you should be in charge.
-They killed my only brother. -I understand, dear.
-My only brother, a scientist-- -We are short-staffed.
I receive 1,000 emails a day.
Show your anger to the regime.
-What? -What are you thinking?
I'm thinking about Masih's well-being.
She's stressed. Family stress, work stress.
Everyone wants something from her.
-All of us together, united! -You have shaken the Killer Republic!
-We've done that together. -You blew it up.
-Thank you. -Bless you.
The Islamic Republic is holding my brother hostage
so as to keep me silent.
We want to stage a revolution free of blood and violence
against a murderous regime.
Something is going on.
Masih's phone beeps constantly.
Hi, Masih. We're in Sirjan.
We've gathered today to protest
against the increase in gas prices.
Hi, Masih.
We're in Mashad.
We've turned off our cars to protest against the gas prices.
Say hi to the end, dictator!
With unity and endurance we Iranians
will put an end to your cruelty.
Burn, son of a bitch! Burn!
Khamenei! Be ashamed and leave this country alone!
The Mullah must disappear!
We take our rights back!
We don't accept humiliation!
Everywhere in the world, when protests take place,
journalists flock to that country
to cover them.
But not in the Islamic Republic.
They not only censor the Iranian media,
they also deny foreign journalists access.
Even though the Internet in Iran was shut down by the regime,
people still found ways to send videos to Masih.
This video is for you, Masih.
They're arresting them!
I hope the horrible Mullah
and their guards
disappear soon.
Hi, Masih! Look what they're doing to the people!
They're shooting people.
They're shooting everybody!
They're shooting people. From everywhere.
They're shooting people.
He's been shot.
She was shot.
Sons of bitches!
No!
No! No!
Someone's been shot.
The sons of bitches shot someone!
Go! Go! Go!
They've killed him! No!
Make way!
He's my son!
Show the wound in his head.
You've screwed this country, Khamenei!
Coward!
You beat the young!
Down with the Islamic Republic!
For 40 years!
I waited every day!
Damn you, Khamenei!
In three days, 1,500 people were killed on the streets.
7,000 have been arrested.
Many of them have been sentenced to death.
Hi! I'm Masih Alinejad.
I've heard that your nephew
Mehdi Nekouei was killed in the recent protests.
Thank you for doing this.
I'd appreciate it if you could broadcast our voice.
Could you talk about
how your son Farzad Ansari-Fard was killed?
My son was 27.
He was a tiler.
Majid is a Persepolis FC fan. Or he was.
He has two young children.
My son and I held hands,
but were separated after teargas was thrown.
All of a sudden, I saw my son's beautiful body being carried.
What did he do wrong?
Why should these two orphans suffer?
They cry all night.
They say, "I want my dad!"
"Give me my dad!"
You can become a shoulder to cry on for other mothers.
You'll be the voice of a whole nation.
Thank you so much for calling me
and allowing me to be your voice.
Pouya and I
were holding hands
on this street.
I told him,
"Promise me you won't let go of my hand."
"And on this one condition,
we'll go together to protest."
I never thought that Pouya would be shot and I survive.
I found it. I want you to see this.
I've got several videos like this.
"I'm Shahram Ahmadi… awaiting execution."
Shahram, a Kurdish prisoner,
used a cellphone, that was secretly delivered to him,
to show life inside prison. He sent his diary to Masih.
My friends in the prison yard.
Some read, some watch, some sit,
some play volleyball.
My brother was in this prison, too, before he was executed.
He was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison
where he was executed after a few days.
I have also been sentenced to death
without any cause or evidence.
The trial was the same for everyone.
You've heard it before.
"You're accused of belligerence against God and sentenced to death."
You're not even given the chance
to utter one word in your defense.
Interrogations…
were conducted while blindfolded.
I was asked to sign and fingerprint a blank page.
I wanted to know what I was signing, but they didn't allow me.
They told me I have no right to see it.
On many occasions, they beat us.
We've had guys here who've been given 80 to 150 lashes.
Also, there's been a great deal of torture and insults targeted at families.
Some of the guys' families were threatened.
They were threatened with things I'm embarrassed to mention.
I don't know if my family will receive my body after execution.
What are you doing here?
Fox News
wants me to talk about the families I've interviewed.
But I feel guilty if I talk about Pouya and not about Mehdi,
not about Farzad
or Majid
or Ameneh
or Azadeh Zarbi
or Nikta.
These aren't just numbers.
I hate it when people turn into a number.
I'd want to mention how enthusiastic Pouya was.
I want to show the video where he's saying,
"You rock, everyone!"
"Kudos to all of you!"
How hopeful he was.
They shot down his hopes, his dreams.
They shot down all his enthusiasm.
I'd like to talk about his mother. How proud she was of me.
All these fantastic mothers.
My own mom is afraid to talk to me.
But Pouya's mother says, "Be my voice."
People in these protests are sending you thousands of messages,
because as you say the social media is their weapon.
-Yes. -Tell me about that.
So, we, we just had
one of the most
violent demonstrations in Iran.
People took to the street because they had a message.
They want to get rid of the Islamic Republic.
When I see the President of Iran on Chris Wallace's show…
When CNN interviews them,
they're treating them like normal leaders.
They're not! They're criminal.
Finally, in a TV studio in London,
Masih will debate with the regime face to face.
Will your interview be in Farsi?
English.
Why are you looking at Twitter?
I want to ease my mind.
When I read in Farsi I find it calming.
When the correspondent speaks bullshit,
I need to know what's on Twitter.
Who's watching me,
who wants me to stop the regime correspondent from lying.
I need peace and quiet before interviews. I'm not a machine.
It's the wrong analysis.
When Rouhani says, "We don't jail Iranians for their opinion,"
I will not say, "Mr. President, there's another question."
But I will say, "Mr. President you are fucking lying."
-We want you to be professional. -I'll try to--
If you shout and scream, and lose your temper and keep saying,
"I fucking this, I fucking that,"
you'll be ignored and become furious.
They'll call you hysterical.
I don't care what they call me.
Why is this important?
The people want to see you as a leader.
I don't want to be a leader!
Why should I be their leader?
No, I'm the continuation of their voices.
Let's hope we get there soon then.
I might have a heart attack if you keep telling me to relax.
-I'm just saying, relax. -I can't!
OK.
Love you!
You're made up good!
Yes? Thank you.
-Hi! -Great!
Oh, I look fantastic here.
I will be talking to the editor of Fars News Agency in English
about whether Iranians are mad at US sanctions or the Islamic Republic.
Why are you here?
To take care of Masih.
He's here to calm me down if I raise my voice.
Oh, here we go!
The Iranian government has decided to raise petrol prices.
That has led to some of the deadliest protests
the country has seen in years,
with security forces accused of targeting demonstrators.
Masih Alinejad is in London.
She's a journalist and human rights activist.
And in Tehran is Iranian affairs analyst Seyed Mostafa Khoshcheshm.
Good to have you all on.
Masih, do you broadly agree with that
sanctions are a small part of this puzzle?
There is no doubt that sanctions hurt our economy.
But across Iran
they were actually chanting against
the Revolutionary Guard.
They were chanting against the clerics.
There was no single chant against sanctions
or against the US president.
People inside Iran are fed up with the Islamic Republic.
That is actually why
the government used live bullets.
And the Revolutionary Guard
actually is a terrorist organization
holding the Iranian economy hostage.
And the Revolutionary Guard
took my brother hostage to keep me silent.
You know, they arrested my brother in front of his two small children.
The Revolutionary Guard shoot people--
And that is why you sue the Iranian nation for five hundred million dollars?
Not the Iranian nation.
I sued the supreme leader of Iran,
who arrests thousands of people and tortures them and kills them.
And you are working for Fars news agency
which actually forces journalists,
forces bloggers, and forces political activists
to make false confessions.
-So that is why I am not-- -And that allows you…
-And that-- -Let me finish.
Your hand is full of blood. And now you are blaming me?
-They're criminals! They kill people! -What are you doing, you're on air?
No, it's over. They're killing my brother.
I'm worried about Ali.
After what I just said, they'll kill Ali.
-Darling. -I didn't cry during the program.
I was strong. It was very good.
Yes, you were phenomenal, darling.
Phenomenal and strong.
The day Mostafa was killed
I promised him I'd file the lawsuit.
That is a big responsibility.
My 26-year-old son is now buried and all he did was protest.
I feel hatred towards them.
It's OK to hate them.
What calms me down is…
what Shahnaz said:
"Guilty are only the ones who put a bullet in Mostafa's head."
"If you return to Iran, because you have a guilty conscience
you will be imprisoned and you'll have betrayed us all."
"Because when I shout, I know my voice will be carried everywhere by you."
"But if you go to prison and I lose my voice,
you will have betrayed me."
This makes me strong.
I will bloom Despite my wounded body
Having been judged To be a woman, a woman, a woman
If we raise our voice together If we hold on together
If we hold each other's hands We will be free from oppression
To create a world of equality Empathy and sisterhood
A happier and better life for all
A world with no stoning No death penalty
No crying over and over again No disgrace and misery
To create a world of equality Empathy and sisterhood
A happier and better life for all