W.O.M.E.N in Iceland would like to make a formal statement in support of Lenya Rún Taha Karim.
Leyna Rún was elected deputy member of parliament for the Pirate Party in elections this autumn.
Ever since the news broke that Lenya Rún had been formally elected to parliament for 9 hours on this fateful day, she has been subjected to huge amounts of personal attacks and harassment due to her religion, race, and we also believe because she is a young woman of foreign origin. (Read more about it here in Icelandic)
Angela Davis said it best when she said, “In a racist society it is not enough not to be a racist, we have to be anti-racist.”
Here at our organization, we are very proud to have a woman of foreign origin as a representative as a deputy MP. Our voices deserve to be heard there just like any other member of society.
We strongly oppose such bias in society and against Lenya Rún.
We also urge other MPs and elected representatives at all levels of government to stand up and condemn the treatment Lenya Rún is receiving.
Local elections will be held this spring and parties are already looking for their candidates. If we do not condemn the prejudice and discrimination of our elected officials and frankly in society in general, we are not creating an environment in which all citizens can equally participate in the democratic process.
We also encourage parties to promote diversity within the primary election period. Our elected officials should reflect the composition of society itself.
We wish Lenya Rún unwavering support in the years to come and encourage our members to stand by her as well. When we stand together, we can overcome any adversity that comes our way. Solidarity is our strength!
From your Board Members at W.O.M.E.N in Iceland
