Woman, Life, Freedom

A banner created in solidarity with women’s protests in Iran

September 16, 2023 to March 31, 2024

This event has passed.

A white banner hangs on a wall, bearing the words "Woman, Life, Freedom" in black. Small coloured squares with text are attached to the banner around the text. Partially obscured.

CMHR, Annie Kierans

Event details

Cost:
This space is free to access
Location:
The Forks North Portage Partnership Classroom Lobby

Woman, Life Freedom will be open to the public starting September 16, 2023, in the Community Corridor at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The Community Corridor is located in The Forks North Portage Partnership Classroom Lobby on the Main Level and can be viewed free of charge during the Museum’s hours of operation.

Hajar Moradi, creator of the Woman, Life, Freedom banner, explains the origin and significance of the banner.

This collectively made banner features the famous feminist Kurdish slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom,” which became the rallying cry of the recent uprising in Iran, along with 100 solidarity messages. The banner was carried and displayed at Toronto’s International Women’s Day (IWD) rally in March 2023, and later completed by the artist.

Hajar Moradi, an Iranian Canadian artist, designed and created the banner to amplify a collective message, bringing together women’s voices across borders. The English translation of the Kurdish slogan “Jin, Jian, Azadi” (Woman, Life, Freedom) is featured in the centre in raised black letters. Surrounding it are colourful fabric squares displaying messages of support and solidarity in various languages. Volunteers, including Azadeh Pirazimian and Saeedeh Niktab Etaati, assisted the artist in completing the banner.

Moradi made the slogan letters from braided fabric strings, symbolizing women’s hair strands, the cutting of which became a global act of solidarity with Iranian and Kurdish women throughout the 2022–23 uprising in Iran. The 100+ participants in Toronto’s IWD rally wrote their solidarity messages for the banner in different languages, including Farsi, Kurdish, Turkish, Chinese, Hindi, Anishinaabemowin, Spanish, French and English. The Iranian activist group Feminists4Jina carried the banner at Toronto’s IWD rally in March 2023 and at the Alternative Pride March in June 2023.

The banner’s main message seeks to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by Iranian, Kurdish and Afghan women in their tireless pursuit of rights and freedom. The banner also aims to cultivate international allyship by highlighting the shared challenges women encounter worldwide.

Wishing for the victory of humanity’s reason.
(Farsi)

Piece of cloth with "Wishing for the victory of humanity’s reason" written in Farsi.

We are with you,
We love you,
Thank you for your courage
Woman, Life, Freedom

Piece of cloth with "We are with you, We love you, Thank you for your courage Woman, Life, Freedom" written with a black marker.

Woman, life, freedom
Happiness, welfare, prosperity 
(Farsi)

Piece of cloth with "Woman, life, freedom Happiness, welfare, prosperity" written in Farsi.

Woman, Life, Freedom
(Kurdish)

Piece of cloth with "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish.

We stand with you.
Keep fighting!

A piece of cloth with "We stand with you. Keep fighting!" written.

We support you!
And stand with you.

A piece of cloth with "We support you! And stand with you." written.

Dear Jîna, your name became a symbol for all those oppressed! WomanLifeFreedom
(Kurdish)

A piece of cloth with "Dear Jîna, your name became a symbol for all those oppressed! WomanLifeFreedom" written in Kurdish.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Piece of cloth with "We love you!!!" written.

We are here to support!

Piece of cloth with "We are here to support!"

In solidarity with women across the world.

Piece of cloth with "In solidarity with women across the world." written.

Poisoning school girls is a revenge against Women Life Freedom movement.

Piece of cloth with "Poisoning school girls is a revenge against Women Life Freedom movement." written.

We are women
We are the bearers of miracles
We are life givers
(Farsi)

Piece of cloth with "We are women We are the bearers of miracles We are life givers" written.

We scream for the freedom of the women of my motherland until the last breath.
(Farsi)

Piece of cloth with "We scream for the freedom of the women of my motherland until the last breath."

Women, Life, Freedom

Piece of cloth with "Women, Life, Freedom" written.

We are stronger together!

Piece of cloth with "We are stronger together!" written.

Woman, Life, Freedom
(Kurdish)

Piece of cloth with "Woman, Life, Freedom" written in Kurdish.

I stand with you.

A piece of cloth with "I stand with you" written.

The liberation of society depends on the liberation of women.
(Farsi)

Piece of cloth with "The liberation of society depends on the liberation of women." written in Farsi.

Woman, Life, Freedom
(Farsi)

Piece of cloth with "Woman, Life, Freedom" written in Farsi.

Break the shackles, free woman power for revolution.
(Farsi)

A piece of cloth with "Break the shackles, free woman power for revolution" in Farsi.

The time to act is NOW!
Freedom for WOMEN
Freedom for LIFE!

Piece of cloth with "The time to act is NOW! Freedom for WOMEN Freedom for LIFE!" written.

About Hajar Moradi

Hajar Moradi is an Iranian Canadian multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. With a profound dedication to the power of art as a catalyst for transformative conversations, Hajar explores the intricate dynamics of identity, resilience and politics within the realms of existence and belonging. Her captivating works span painting, installation and video, delving into poignant subjects such as memory, displacement, inclusivity and the multifaceted nature of female identity in contemporary society.

Hajar Moradi holds a BFA (double major in graphic design and illustration) from Shahed Art University in Tehran, Iran. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants from major national and international cultural organizations, including: the Canada Council for the Arts (2020); the Ontario Arts Council (2017 and 2022); Canadian Screen Award Nomination for the best animated short (2023); Best Short Animation at FIC AUTOR Festival (2022); Special Jury Mention award for her animation film The Shadow of My Life at the Mexico International Short Film Festival (2022); the third prize for her animation film The Shadow of My Life at Mecal Pro; the Barcelona International Short and Animation Film Festival (2022); and the First Prize for her short animated music video at the Farhang International Film Festival (2014).

Her work has been exhibited and screened across North and South America, Europe and the Middle East, including at the Aga Khan Museum and the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, the Harlem International Film Festival in New York, the Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland, the Barnes Film Festival in London, UK, and the Mexico International Short Film Festival, Mexico.

Hajar Moradi is also the co‐founder and Creative Director of Vivido Studio in Toronto, Canada.

For more information about Hajar Moradi and her work, visit https://www.hajarmoradi.com/.

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