Madonna posted an emotional message of support for protesters in Iran on Thursday, drawing attention to a movement that has received limited engagement from major Western entertainers.
Her Instagram post, accompanied by footage of a recent family trip to Morocco, reads: “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. We take so much for granted. Myself included. The freedom to travel the world. To wear what I want to wear. To ride a horse across the desert. To speak Freely and not be silenced by punishment, torture, and possibly death. To sing. To dance. To choose my spiritual path, not someone else’s. The women of Iran do not have this freedom. I stand with them.”
The 67-year-old pop icon continues, “The people of Iran have not known freedom for centuries. I cannot claim to truly know the suffering that has been endured but my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Iran. The time is now. Hold Tight! I stand with Iran. Let their voices be heard. FREE IRAN!”
Madonna closed the sentiment with an emoji of the current Iranian flag. The statement stood out because relatively few A-list entertainers have addressed the current unrest.
Iran has been rocked in recent weeks by nationwide protests driven by economic collapse, inflation and political repression, with demonstrators increasingly calling for fundamental change.
Authorities have responded with force and expanded internet restrictions. Casualties are feared to be in the tens of thousands, while the country’s judiciary has threatened execution of protestors.
President Donald Trump has threatened a U.S. attack over the civilian deaths — a move that Israel and other Arab countries in the region have urged him to postpone, citing the possibility of retaliatory strikes.