BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts Hello and welcome back to another episode

of Do a Leaper at Your Service, a podcast series in which I sit down with guests who inspire

me deeply, including today's once-in-a-lifetime talent, the author and storyteller Min Jin Lee.

Before we dive into today's conversation with Min, I just want to take a moment to share

some of the many messages that we've received from women in Iran in response to the death

of Masa Amini. As most of you will know, Masa was arrested two weeks ago for not wearing

her hijab in accordance with government standards. She died in what can at best be described

as suspicious circumstances while in police custody. The protests that have followed

on the streets of Iran have been some of the most powerful acts of defiance I have ever witnessed.

Women are cutting off their hair in public and burning their hijabs in what is being called

a women's revolution. A big motivation for me when I started this podcast on the service

95 newsletter was to provide a platform for those fighting oppression and standing up

for human rights, so it feels appropriate now to share voices from women on the front line

in Iran. Obviously, these women and men protest at great risk to their personal safety

in Iran, so even sending a plea for solidarity can be seen as a subversive act against the

state. For that reason, I won't read aloud the names of those who have sent these messages.

I'm a girl who's from Iran who is scared of being murdered by this government. We need

the whole world to be our voice. We are scared. We are broken. The people of Iran need help.

People of all ages, especially young women, are suffering from the mandatory hijab law.

Not only do they not have the right to choose their appearance, but they are oppressed by

many people, including the police. The police are trying to impose this law on people by

hurting and physically harassing them. Iranian people need help to make their voice heard

...