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Political sponsorship: effective international support!
Global support and solidarity with the Iranian ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement has taken many forms. French President Mr. Macron and German Chancellor Mr. Steinmeier, for example, have met with prominent Iranian celebrities as gestures of humanitarian concern and solidarity with the struggles of the Iranian people.
While these actions are very welcome, there is a more practical and effective means of expressing solidarity, as exemplified by a number of EU and European parliamentarians.These representatives have very publicly taken on political sponsorship of one or two protesters under threat of imminent execution. So far as we know, these actions have meant a stay of execution for many sponsored protesters -a major achievement!
Political sponsorship consists of a few simple steps.First, sponsorship by theMP, includingthe prisoner's name, date and place of detention, is formally Annonceto officials of the Islamic Republic, includingand Iran's ambassador to their respective countries.The MP's own ambassador in Iran also is informed. Simultaneously, they communicatetheir sponsorship through social media and other channels to the world at large, providing as much publicity of the individual prisoner's circumstances as possible.
While the Islamic Republic will never admit this process influences their actions, in fact it can result in many death penalties being suspended.Within the regime itself, there is enormous tension over how to handle the current mass movement's unprecedented challenge to the Islamic Republic.Experience has shown that postponed executions,in practice, often are quietly converted into prison sentences, which subsequently can be reduced dramatically.
We ask that you consider asking your own national parliamentary representative, no matter where in the world, to take up this approach by sponsoring another Iranian political prisoner.They are very welcome to contact us for prisoners' details.
IRAN: View from the LEFT 36
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