Woman Life Freedom NYC stages protest performance at Met Museum

On December 4, 2022, activists from Woman Life Freedom NYC performed a 'death' action at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Assyrian Sculpture Court, lying on the floor with fake blood and handmade signs to represent victims of Iranian protests. The performance, lasting about 30 minutes from 10:30 AM, aimed to amplify voices of those in Iran amid ongoing crackdowns. Artist Shirin Neshat (Iran, 1957) promoted the action on social media. Since the killing of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa (Jina) Amini by Iran's morality police in September 2022, protests for women's rights have spread globally. The group cited that over 18,000 protesters have been arrested and 470 killed, including 64 children, according to human rights activists. The performance was not open to the public due to lack of permits but achieved its dissemination goal. The video documentation features a 2021 song by dissident rapper Toomaj, who has been detained, tortured, and held in solitary confinement since October 30, facing possible execution.