Angelina Jolie stepped down as special envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in December, but the move has not stifled her humanitarian efforts for refugees.
On Friday, the actress, director and activist expressed her support and solidarity with Iranians demanding sweeping changes to the country’s strict laws following the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who died in police custody six months ago, according to NPR.
The writer and director of In The Land Of Blood And Honey named two of the protesters who suffered serious eye injuries when troops from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a multi-service primary branch of Iran’s armed forces, cracked down on demonstrations.
“I think of the young Iranians who suffered eye injuries protesting the murder of Mahsa Amini, such as @elahetavokolian14 and Zanier Tondro,” Jolie wrote, though the name of the former is spelled Elahe Tavakolian by most publications and the latter as Zaniar Tondro.
“Many survivors have lost sight in one or both eyes. It is a reminder of the price young Iranians pay in their fight for rights and freedoms,” she added, as well as the hashtags: “#womanlifefreedom #Iran #mahsaamini #elahetavokolian #zaniertondro.’
Message of support: Angelina Jolie, 47, expressed her support and solidarity to the people who have been protesting in Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in police custody six months ago
Jolie also shared a photo of Tavakolian, a PhD student in Iran, in a hospital with her right eye bandaged, along with a quote from her that symbolizes her determination in these turbulent times.
“You aimed at my eyes, but my heart is still beating,” she declared after the brutal act that resulted in the loss of one eye that has since been replaced with a prosthetic eye.
Tavakolian even went so far as to address her attacker, saying, “I don’t want to complain to you because I don’t regret losing my sight. I am even grateful to you for this honor.’
There is also a photo of Tondro, an 18-year-old protester, with both eyes bandaged. He would also lose the sight of his right eye.
Tavakolian and Zanier Tondro are two of hundreds of Iranians who suffered serious eye injuries after being hit by bullets, tear gas grenades, paintballs or other objects fired by security forces during the crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
Human rights activists estimate that more than 520 people have been killed and more than 20,000 illegally detained in connection with the demonstrations. Iranian thread reported at the end of March.
There have also been reports that by the end of 2022, at least 100 protesters were at risk of execution, the death penalty or conviction, a human rights group reported, and many of the other detainees were given lengthy prison terms.
Uprising: Jolie shared the stories of Elahe Tavakolian and Zaniar Tondro, though it seems she misspelled their names, who are just two of the protesters who seriously injured their eyes in a crackdown by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards
Revolt: Tavakolian, a PhD student in Iran, shared this quote after she lost her right eye in clashes with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards
Honor and courage: Tavakolian, who lost her right eye and has since received a prosthetic, came out to say she “has no regrets about losing my sight” as she pushed for sweeping government changes in Iran
Brave victims: Zaniar Tondro, 18, who also lost his right eye, is one of hundreds of Iranians who suffered serious eye injuries after being hit by bullets, tear gas grenades, paintballs or other objects fired by security forces during the crackdown on anti-government demonstrations
Iranian clashes: Jolie shared how there are reports of Iranian government forces deliberately shooting protesters in the face with rubber or rifle bullets, resulting in the loss of one or both eyes
Three weeks earlier, Jolie shared news of children detained during protests and then harshly treated while in custody.
“Children witness horrific torture while imprisoned in Iran,” she wrote in a March 17 post, which included a quote from one of the children who claims to have been tortured.
“They gave us electric shocks, hit me in the face with a gun, gave me electric shocks in the back, and beat my feet, back, and hands with batons. They threatened that if we told anyone, they would [detain us again]do even worse and deliver our corpses to our families,” wrote an Iranian schoolboy who was arrested for writing “Woman, Life, Freedom” on a wall.
Jolie then shared her thoughts, writing: “Every child has the right to express his opinion on all matters that concern him (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). Release children detained for peaceful protest. @AmnestyIran #womanlifefreedom #iran #humanrights.’
More disturbing allegations: In March, Jolie shared news of children being held after protests and then tortured while in custody
Shining a light: In The Land Of Blood And Honey writer and director shared the story of an Iranian schoolboy who claims to have been tortured while in custody
Brutal treatment: Jolie claims in an Instagram post on March 17 that “children witness horrific torture while held in Iran
In December 2022, Jolie announced that she had resigned from her position as Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
‘After more than 20 years, I am today resigning my work at the UN Refugee Agency. I believe in many things the UN does, especially in the lives it saves through emergency aid. UNHCR is full of amazing people making a difference in people’s lives every day,” she shared on December 16, 2022.
She concluded: ‘Refugees are the people I most admire in the world and I am committed to working with them for the rest of my life. I will now work with organizations led by people most directly affected by conflict, who give them the most voice.
Furthermore: Jolie announced she will step down as Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in December 2022
Making a Difference: Jolie’s humanitarian work for the United Nations spans more than 20 years; she works on behalf of the UN in Mosul, Iraq in June 2018