Biden Calls for ‘Free and Democratic’ Iran in Congratulations to Iranian Dissident Nobel Prize Winner
US President Joe Biden addresses the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City, US, Sept. 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar
US President Joe Biden on Friday endorsed the Iranian anti-government protest movement’s call for a “free and democratic future” in a message congratulating jailed women’s rights advocate Narges Mohammadi for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel committee said that the award to Mohammadi, who is serving 12 years of jail time in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, was intended to honor the entire Iranian woman’s protest movement, a sentiment echoed by Biden.
“The people of Iran refuse to be silenced or intimidated as they fight for a free and democratic future for their nation, and their peaceful movement — ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ — demanding respect for their human rights has brought hope to people the world,” Biden said in a statement. “We will continue to honor the bravery of all human rights defenders as well as the memory of Mahsa Amini and all those who have been killed, wounded, or imprisoned by the regime.”
More than 500 people have been killed and over 22,000 detained in the Iranian regime’s crackdown on nationwide protests that erupted in the wake of the killing of Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in custody after she was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly flouting the country’s strict and mandatory dress codes for women.
Biden’s comment implicitly endorsing protests calling for the downfall of the regime echoes comments the US president made at a rally in November 2022, but marks a break from the typically more reserved official statements issued by the White House.
“Don’t worry, we’re gonna free Iran. They’re gonna free themselves pretty soon,” Biden said at the California rally.
Asked about those comments, a State Department spokesman walked back the claim that the US would be involved in toppling the Iranian government.
“The Iranian regime would like nothing more than for these protests to be about us,” then-spokesman Ned Price said at the time. “We have made very clear, but more importantly, the Iranian people have made very clear that this is a movement that is an expression of their legitimate and their genuine aspirations. Our role in this is to hold accountable those who are responsible for the repression, for the violence, for these internet blackouts, and to signal our solidarity for the Iranian people … It’s going to be up to the Iranian people to determine the course of this movement.”
In addition to Amini, Biden in his message on Friday cited the example of Armita Garawand, a 16-year-old girl who has reportedly been in a coma since Sunday, when according to a leading human rights group she was likewise beaten by the morality police for failing to wear a head covering in accordance with the regime’s dress rules.
While the crackdown on protests in Iran has undermined the protest movement, sporadic protests continue throughout the country. According to a database maintained by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, Iran in September had 465 protests.
Biden on Friday said that his administration would continue to support the protest movement at the UN, with sanctions on regime officials, and by continuing to provide anti-censorship tools for Iranians to access the internet.
“The United States will continue to stand with Ms. Mohammadi, with the brave people of Iran, and with all those around the world who are working with resilience and resolve to make our world more equal and more free,” Biden said.
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