Pop star Madonna has spoken out in support of the people of Iran as protests continue against the country’s leadership. In a post shared on Instagram, the 67-year-old singer said she stands with Iranians who are risking their lives to demand change and basic freedoms.
Madonna said she has been thinking about Iran while reflecting on her own ability to live freely, travel, and express herself without fear. She explained that many people, including herself, often take these freedoms for granted. She pointed out that Iranian women, in particular, do not have the same rights and are punished for speaking out, choosing how to dress, or living independently.
“I cannot think of a more relevant phrase than this as we enter the year of the Fire Horse! As I reflect on my time in Morocco over the holidays I think of all the people in Iran who are fighting a much needed revolution and willing to die for what they believe in.”
The protests in Iran are directed at the government led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and are tied to deep economic problems and long-standing political repression. Reports from human rights groups say thousands of people have been killed as the government cracked down on protesters.
Madonna said she cannot fully understand the suffering Iranians have endured, but she expressed solidarity with them and offered her thoughts and prayers. She urged the world to pay attention, saying the moment for change is now and that the voices of the Iranian people deserve to be heard.
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