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Guaranteed Human.

There's been a lot of talk about the geopolitical implications of the protests in Iran, but there has been little heard from protesters themselves.

That is not merely a failing of the media.

Part of the reason is that the government there has shut down the internet for an extended period of time,

which is blocking people from reaching loved ones or reaching Western or any other media

outside of Iran.

And it's blocking people from inside, journalists who are inside Iran from getting images out.

There's also the phenomenon that we know of transnational

repression, that even if you are able to get in touch with one of your family members who is

in Iran, if you speak publicly and they find out who you are, there's a significant risk for

the family back at home. So joining us today will be a person who has been involved in protests for,

you know, several decades at this point inside Iran and was there at the height of the

demonstrations, has since left. We're not going to talk about where she has left to or where she came from

in order to conceal her identity, but we're grateful that she's joined us today. Thank you so much

for being here. Thank you for having me.

And so can you tell us a little bit about, well actually tell us the first protest

that or how did you realize that this protest movement which started shortly after Christmas

was something serious and when did you first start participating in it? I went home to visit family.

I had no idea that there was unrest until Thursday night, 8th of January.

And we were sitting around.

But you had been there for weeks at that point.

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