Angelina Jolie stood by Iranians ‘defending basic rights and freedoms’ on Tuesday in a social media post.
The 48-year-old actress and humanitarian took to Instagram to call attention to the situation in Iran following the death last September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the country’s morality police.
Jolie shared an image of a woman wearing clear glasses with tears running down her eyes in the colors of the Iranian flag along with the words, ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’.
‘Respect and solidarity to Iranian women and men for their courage in defending basic rights and freedoms, and thinking of those imprisoned or facing prosecution – as in other situations where freedom of expression is restricted or denied – including #ElahehMohammadi #NiloofarHamedi #NargesMohammadi #ToomajSalwhi,’ Jolie wrote in the caption for her roughly 14.5 million followers.
Jolie in her hashtags referenced Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, who was imprisoned in September 2022 for reporting on Amini’s funeral. Hamedi, 30, also was imprisoned for reporting on Amini’s hospitalization and death.
Showing solidarity: Angelina Jolie, shown in October 2021 in Italy, stood by Iranians ‘defending basic rights and freedoms’ on Tuesday in a social media post
Narges Mohammadi, 51, is an Iranian human rights activist who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for ‘spreading anti-state propaganda’ and has remained vocal despite her imprisonment.
Salehi, 32, is an Iranian hip hop artist who was sentenced to six years in prison for participating in the 2022 Iran protests following Amini’s death.
Jolie also took to Instagram last September to raise awareness about anti-government protests in Iran by sharing images of women demonstrating.
‘Respect to the brave, defiant, fearless women of Iran. All those who have survived and resisted for decades, those taking to the streets today, and Mahsa Amini and all young Iranians like her,’ Jolie wrote in the caption.
‘Women don’t need their morals policed, their minds re-educated, or their bodies controlled. They need freedom to live and breathe without violence or threats. To the women of Iran, we see you #WomanLifeFreedom #MahsaAmini,’ she added.
Jolie began her humanitarian work after filming the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in war-torn Cambodia.
She contacted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and went on field visits in Africa before being named as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in August 2001.
Jolie has been on dozens of field missions in more than 30 countries and was promoted in 2012 to the rank of Special Envoy to High Commissioner António Guterres.
Basic rights: ‘Respect and solidarity to Iranian women and men for their courage in defending basic rights and freedoms, and thinking of those imprisoned or facing prosecution – as in other situations where freedom of expression is restricted or denied – including #ElahehMohammadi #NiloofarHamedi #NargesMohammadi #ToomajSalwhi,’ Jolie wrote in the caption for her roughly 14.5 million followers
Humanitarian work: Jolie is shown in January 2018 in Belgium holding a press conference as part of her work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Custody death: The actress called attention to the situation in Iran following the death last September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, shown in an undated photo, while in the custody of the country’s morality police
She resigned from the ambassadorship in December 2022, but pledged to continue to advocate for refugees.
Jolie has six children including Maddox, 21, Pax, 19, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, Knox, 15 and Vivienne, 15.
She was in a 12-year relationship with ex-husband Brad Pitt, 59, but they separated in September 2016 after two years of marriage and both were declared legally single in 2019 amid divorce proceedings.
Iranian authorities claimed that Amini after being detained for not wearing a hijab properly had a heart attack at a police station, collapsed and fell into a coma before she was taken to a hospital, but women detained with Amini reported that she was severely beaten and died as a result of police brutality.
Amini’s death sparked a series of protests against the government, which cracked down against protesters with violence that killed an estimated 476 people.