In Iran, the fight for freedom comes at a steep price. Activists, journalists, and everyday citizens risk everything to challenge repression, as seen in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement’s defiant stand. Since 1991, NED has stood with Iran’s pro-democracy movement—documenting abuses, amplifying voices, and strengthening civil society. NED’s grants empower changemakers inside Iran and across the diaspora, advancing a vision for a free and democratic Iran while countering the regime’s repression at home and malign influence abroad.
With NED’s support, Iranian partners are:
- Documenting and exposing regime abuses through human rights reporting, advocacy, and digital tools.
- Countering regime propaganda by amplifying democratic narratives and uniting voices for Iran’s democratic future.
- Expanding the democratic movement by strengthening labor unions, business communities, and grassroots networks.
- Empowering frontline activists with training, resources, and international connections to sustain momentum for change.
NED Impact Case Studies:
1. Exposing the Regime’s Crimes:
During the Women, Life, Freedom protests, a NED partner published the first report on Mahsa Amini, who became the movement’s symbol. Other grantees documented protester deaths, injuries, and arrests, providing critical evidence for international media and human rights investigations.
2. Holding Perpetrators Accountable:
Documentation by a NED grantee contributed to the arrest and later prosecution of an Iranian official involved in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners – marking the first-ever criminal prosecution for the mass executions and torture committed by the regime.
3. Providing Lifelines to At-Risk Activists:
NED partners have delivered emergency support, including relocation assistance, safe house support, medical aid, and legal and psychosocial services to frontline activists facing severe repression and violence inside Iran.
4. Securing International Action:
NED grantees played a key role in Iran’s removal from the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the creation of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran. Since then, they have worked with the Commission to gather evidence and hold the regime accountable for human rights violations.
5. Bridging Divides for a Democratic Future:
A NED partner has united civic and political activists across ideological and geographic lines, fostering collaboration for a democratic transition.
6. Countering Iran’s Authoritarian Influence:
Beyond Iran, NED supports efforts in the broader Middle East to push back against the regime’s attempts to undermine democracy, equipping local activists with the tools to resist authoritarian expansion.
Learn more about how NED supports Freedom in Iran:
Documenting Victims Killed by Iran’s Government, NED Grantee Provides Hope
