New York Artists Have a Five-Story-Tall Human Rights Message for Iran

Source: www.takepart.com

As world leaders gather for the United Nations’ general assembly, a dozen massive murals all over New York City are trying to send a big message to the Iranian government about human rights and persecution of religious minorities.

The murals are intended to call attention to the plight of journalists imprisoned by the government in Iran and religious minorities such as the Baha’is, who report persecution. Activists hope to catch the eye of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who is expected to address the United Nations on Sept. 28.

“We want to create a discourse in the city so when world leaders, different delegates come to New York in September, at least some of them will talk about the situation of the Baha’is in Iran, some of them will talk about the journalists in Iran,” journalist Maziar Bahari told The Associated Press.

Marina Zumi’s “No Truth No Light” features the striking image of a neon blue gazelle for the purpose of inspiring conversations on social justice.(Photo: Paint the Change/Instagram)

The project is inspired by Bahari’s #NotACrime campaign, which highlights the injustices that he and others faced in Iran. After joking about being a spy on a segment of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, the former Newsweek reporter was arrested in Tehran in 2009 and spent 118 days in prison before being released.

South African artist Faith47’s mural depicts the mouthless face of Iranian artist and activist Atena Farghadani, who was sentenced to 12-plus years in prison for a politically charged satirical cartoon. (Photo: Paint the Change/Instagram)

Some of the famous international artists involved in the project are American POPaganda artist Ron English, Iranian American painter Nicky Nodjoumi, and Argentine artist Marina Zumi.

A mural created by artist Slawek Czajkowski illustrates the human rights violations occurring in Iran.(Photo: Facebook)