In the midst of global celebrations marking the International Day of the Girl Child, a reminder of a brighter tomorrow forged by empowering young girls, the Iranian narrative paints a grim picture.

Iran, under its harsh, misogynistic dictatorship, has set a daunting stage for its girls. Cloaked under religious pretexts, a cruel gender apartheid thrives, throttling the dreams and aspirations of countless young souls.

Harrowing truths emerge from Iran every year. The chilling fact that girls can face criminal punishment from the tender age of 9, and are legally sanctioned to marry by 13 with instances of them being forced into matrimony even earlier stands testimony to the appalling conditions. Reports on child brides, honor killings, and child widows send shivers down the spine. The dark tales of girls deprived of education, those working in squalid conditions, and facing dire poverty and abuse only add to the anguish.

Yet, piercing through this shroud of darkness, shines the indomitable spirit of Iranian girls. Their essence can be condensed into two potent words: courage and resilience. Four decades of struggle by the women of Iran has kindled a fire in these girls, a will to fight for their rights, no matter the cost.

The plight of Armita Gavand serves as a painful reminder. After a brutal assault by a “veil watcher”, Armita lies in a coma, her condition guarded like a state secret, with her family being denied any access. The cause of this atrocity? A brave stance against wearing an imposed veil.

Another heart-rending tale is of Zahra Hatami. A young girl expelled from school for merely adorning nail polish, she feared being forced into marriage and tragically chose to end her life. This highlights the oppression borne out of regressive laws that dictate personal choices and rob girls of their agency.

The recent nationwide uprising bore witness to young Iranian girls, as young as 14, facing brutality for raising their voices. From being beaten, thrown off buildings, to enduring chemical attacks on their schools, the regime’s onslaught seemed endless. Yet, their spirit remained unbroken.

On this International Day of the Girl Child, we remember the young martyrs—Sarina Esmailzadeh, Nika Shakarami, Setareh Tajik, Mona Naqib, and many others—who laid down their lives in the quest for freedom during the 2022-2023 uprising. These girls, along with millions of others, are the bedrock of change in Iran.

“ A female veil watcher”, “We killed Armita.”

In solidarity, we urge the global community to lend its support, amplifying the voices of these resilient women and girls in Iran, as they remain the beacon of hope for a better tomorrow.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu