While awareness-building is a crucial first step, cohesive efforts are needed to translate this into real-world change.

Despite the fact that Rouhani has been a long-time insider in a government that has committed countless human rights violations, and that he himself called for the execution of peaceful activists in 1999, many people inside and outside Iran are optimistic that he might indeed favor greater respect for the rights of the Iranian people.

As an Iranian woman and activist, Sotoudeh's plight resonated with me on a deeply personal level.

Nazanin Boniadi Quotes