Nika Shakarami was a 16 year old, like any other teenager.   She loved to sing, dance and had all the joys and hopes in the world, and she loved to laugh.

Exactly one month ago, on September 20, 2022, she left her house to join the stand, along with other brave women in Iran, for their basic human rights, simply to be able to choose whether they wants to wear the hijab or not.

During the demonstrations, her and other women, removed their hijab as a show of their united stand for their rights and for democracy, simply for the right to choose.

she was in touch with her mother and then suddenly her phone went silent and was turned off.  No one heard from her for 10 days. After 10 days, her lifeless body was returned to her family.  The medical examiner determined that over the course of 10 days, she was beaten, assaulted, raped, her nose cut and determined the final cause of death to be heavy blows to the back of her head as her skull had caved in.  To write about this makes my heart break and brings tears to my eyes.

She was a fearless warrior and today multitudes of women are putting their very lives in danger to stand up for women’s rights, for their basic human rights.

We have started this petition in their names with the hope of creating awareness throughout the world and to highlight the courage and strength that the women in Iran are showing daily against unimaginable dangers and severe oppression.

We know everyone can’t do the same thing and one person can’t do everything.  Every one of you is helping the cause for Women’s rights in your own way and every bit of all the work helps and counts greatly.

We started this petition two days ago and so far over 18,000 people have seen it and over 1,300 have signed. 

Today, on the one month anniversary of Nika’s untimely, unjust, and brutal death, please consider sharing this petition with anyone you feel will also arise for the cause of Women’s rights.

With much appreciation as always

Sahar & Nassim