The Call for Solidarity and Joint Action
The “Life Against War” civil movement began with the publication of a joint call to action, in which more than 70 Iranian civil society organizations condemned war as an anti-life phenomenon and invited all social activists and civil institutions to solidarity and joint action against war and aggression. This statement, published under the title “Life for All, War for No One”, emphasized fundamental principles, including that war, wherever and by whomever it is started, is condemned; Iranian society desires life and deserves to improve its situation; military aggression by Israel and the United States against Iran is condemned; and any warmongering in Iran, the region, and the world is rejected. The call also demanded a return to reason, dialogue, ethics, freedom, and justice, and stressed the immediate cessation of warmongering, occupation, and military actions. Recalling the bitter experiences of the Iranian people with war, sanctions, and various crises, the invitation text clarifies that Iranians do not want any new war. It also asked everyone to join this solidarity by using the hashtags #زندگی_علیه_جنگ, #الحیاه_ضد_الحرب, and #LifeAgainstWar on social media and by taking joint or independent actions from July 18th to 20th. This statement effectively became the cornerstone of a movement intended to be the voice of life against the deadly policies of war.
The Movement’s Launch with the Participation of Over 70 Civil Organizations
The “Life Against War” movement started its work with the extensive support of civil organizations. The initial call was signed by more than 70 non-governmental organizations, professional associations, and social groups, covering a diverse range of activity areas. According to a report by Didar News, a wide spectrum of civil organizations, including networks and institutions active in children’s rights, environmental groups, and even professional and specialized associations, were among the initial signatories. Such diversity in the composition of the initial supporters indicates the determination of various sectors of Iranian civil society to oppose war and violence with a unified voice.
Independent Statements Supporting the Movement
In addition to the main call to action, several independent statements were issued and published by various civil institutions and groups in support of this movement, which are listed below:
- Supporters of Civil Society (Hojm): This civil coalition, by issuing a statement titled “Peace for All, War for No One,” while condemning the illegal aggressions of Israel and the United States, invited all civil institutions, NGOs, associations, unions, independent activists, and social capitals in Iran and around the world to join the National and Global Civil Solidarity Campaign for Peace. This statement emphasized the necessity of a just peace for all (not just the powerful) along with justice and a dignified life, and called on global civil society to strengthen the discourse of non-violence.
- Dar-ol-Ekram Institute (Beh-Mehrabani Online System): This charitable institution, which has been active in providing educational support to orphaned students for two decades, announced its solidarity with the “Life Against War” call in a statement. Dar-ol-Ekram noted in its statement that in the event of a large-scale war, children would be the first victims, and war severely threatens the physical and mental health and the right to education of this vulnerable group. Relying on its social mission, this institution condemned any military aggression and warlike behavior and called for a halt to tensions and a return to dialogue and political wisdom.
- RAZ Institute (Media, Thought, Woman): This non-governmental organization in the field of thought, women, and media also issued a statement in support of peace, human dignity, and a dignified life for all. With the central slogan “Life for All, War for No One,” the statement declared that the RAZ Institute desires peace, justice, and the preservation of life against the destructive logic of war. This civil institution emphasized that it speaks from the lived experiences of people who have felt the pain of silence and have experienced war not only on the battlefield but also in the silencing of voices and hopes.
- Little Tree Bird Association (PADAK): This association also announced its support for the “Life for All, War for No One” call by issuing a statement. The PADAK association’s statement was reposted on its social media pages, showing that this organization has also joined the unified voice of civil society against war.
- Iranian Sociological Association – Qazvin Office: The provincial office of the Iranian Sociological Association in the city of Qazvin, by publishing a statement, while expressing solidarity with the “Life Against War” movement, called for attention to the social consequences of war and for solidarity for peace. This statement was published on the association’s social networks with the hashtags #زندگی_علیه_جنگ and #LifeAgainstWar, reflecting the entry of the academic community into the circle of supporters of this campaign.
These independent statements, issued by reputable civil institutions, each supported peace and opposed war from a different angle and helped to strengthen the anti-war discourse in the public sphere.
Gradual Joining of New Organizations and Their Diversity
In the days and week following its launch, the “Life Against War” movement witnessed the gradual joining of an increasing number of civil organizations. On the first day after the call was published, more than 50 other civil organizations declared their solidarity, bringing the number of participating organizations to about 120 right at the beginning. These new groups included a diverse range of institutions, from peace and environmental associations to organizations supporting civil rights, charities, provincial networks, and even institutions of Iranians living abroad.
By the fourth day of the campaign (July 15th), the number of participating organizations had surpassed 131. The growth of this coalition continued in the following days, so that by July 17th, at least 162 civil organizations from all over the country had joined the movement. These organizations covered a wide range of professional and social fields: labor and teacher unions, retiree associations, professional associations of artists and guilds, scientific and academic associations, environmental groups, women’s and youth organizations, and even specialized peace and human rights institutions. The participation of a number of Iranian organizations from abroad also added to the geographical diversity. Such a diverse range shows that opposition to war has become a non-partisan and widespread demand, and various groups with different concerns have united around this common goal.
To more clearly show the increasing trend of organizational participation, the table below provides a summary of the number of affiliated organizations at different times:
|
Date (2024) |
Number of Affiliated Organizations |
|
July 12 (Start) |
More than 70 organizations |
|
July 13 (Day 1) |
Around 120 organizations (70 + >50 new) |
|
July 15 (Day 4) |
More than 131 organizations |
|
July 17 |
۱۶۲ organizations |
Individuals and Activists from Various Groups Joining the Movement
Simultaneously with the expansion of participating organizations, hundreds of independent personalities, civil activists, and well-known academic, cultural, and artistic figures also joined the “Life Against War” initiative. On the first day of the movement, in addition to the organizations, more than 200 artists, cultural and media figures, academics, and social and civil activists announced their support. The first wave of individual support included well-known names, indicating the professional and social diversity of the signatories. The number of these individuals gradually increased, and by the fourth day of the campaign (July 15th), more than 240 people, and by July 17th, about ۳۲۹ people from academic, cultural, and media circles and other activists had signed the “Life Against War” statement.
The individual signatories of this movement represent various strata of society. Among them are prominent cultural and artistic figures, including Rakhshan Bani-Etemad (renowned film director), Lily Golestan (writer, translator, and gallery director), Mohsen Abdolvahab (filmmaker), Maryam Salour (ceramic artist and painter), and other famous artists. University professors and renowned thinkers also have a significant presence; individuals such as Ehsan Shariati (philosopher), Sara Shariati (sociologist), Seyed Hossein Serajzadeh (former president of the Iranian Sociological Association), Hassan Taee (economist), and Kamal Athari (development researcher) are among the academics who have signed this statement. Also, long-time civil activists and activists for women’s and environmental rights are on the list of supporters; figures like Firoozeh Mohajer and Fatemeh Ghavaraie (pioneers of the women’s movement), Emadeddin Baghi (human rights activist), Mohammad Darvish (environmental activist), and dozens of other names from social and political activists with diverse orientations.
Another noteworthy point is the support of Iranians living abroad for this campaign. From the very first days, a number of university professors, journalists, and Iranian specialists living in Europe and America also joined the signatories. For example, Amir-Mosaddegh Katouzian (sociologist and civil activist in Washington), Kourosh Homayounpour (retired professor at George Washington University), and several other academic and artistic figures from America and Europe announced their support. The presence of this wide range of individuals with different specializations, orientations, and social bases—from inside and outside the country—shows that the message of “Life Against War” has resonated beyond geographical and political borders and has become a popular demand.
The Movement’s Media: A Trilingual Website, Instagram, and Telegram
The organizers of “Life Against War” took steps from the beginning to design and launch dedicated media for the movement to disseminate news and attract public participation. A trilingual official website at lifeagainstwar.net was created to serve as a reference for information and an archive of the movement’s news and activities. This site, available in Persian, English, and Arabic, publishes the latest calls, statements, names of supporters, and reports of related events.
In parallel, an official Instagram page named “Life Against War” was launched to give the movement’s message a wider reach through social media. The campaign organizers asked people to follow this page and share its content so that the slogan “Life for All – War for No One” could reach more people. Also, in all related media content, the three hashtags #زندگی_علیه_جنگ, #الحیاه_ضد_الحرب, and #LifeAgainstWar are used to unify the content.
In addition to the website and Instagram, the movement’s information is also disseminated through a Telegram channel. This channel, which acts as a news and coordination hub, publishes new news, statements, and calls daily and has been an effective tool for attracting more supporters due to the widespread access to Telegram among Iranian users. To organize participants, the movement’s officials invited members of the solidarity to also be active in three specialized Telegram working groups. These working groups included the “Media and Information” group, the “Advocacy” group, and the “International” group, which will be described in the following sections. The use of these diverse communication platforms enabled wider participation of people and organizations and helped to quickly spread the message of peace against warmongering.
Events, Artworks, and Messages of Solidarity
As the days of joint action (July 18-20) approached, the campaign planners arranged for support not to be limited to issuing statements and signatures, but to extend to practical and symbolic actions. From July 15th, a system for registering events was launched, and all participating individuals and institutions were asked to register any program, gathering, campaign, or activity they organized within the framework of the movement’s principles on the website. This initiative led to the formation of dozens of independent local and virtual events in different places, from brainstorming sessions and art exhibitions to symbolic peace gatherings. The organizers emphasized that the principles of this civil movement are based on public participation, decentralization, lack of individual or organizational leadership, independence from the government, and non-violence. Thus, the planned events also had to be held within the framework of these principles and in solidarity with the civil movements of Iran and global anti-war networks.
In addition to field events, receiving artworks and public messages formed another part of this movement. Many artists and creative citizens presented their works in solidarity with the campaign. For example, Dr. Mohammad Iranmanesh—a civil activist with experience as a volunteer on the fronts of the Iran-Iraq war—sent a message and provided a collection of his anti-war drawings and cartoons, which he had created between 1980 and 2000, to the campaign for publication. Having witnessed the suffering and destruction of war firsthand, he emphasized in his message: “War has no winners, and both sides are ultimately losers. Therefore, we must do our best to prevent it.” The publication of these cartoons displayed a fusion of art and a peace-seeking message and was welcomed by supporters.
In another example, Mansoureh Yazdani, an environmental and children’s rights activist, inspired by the movement’s slogan, wrote and performed a song titled “Life for All – Death for No One”. This song, recorded by her and sent to the campaign, was reshared as a voice from the heart of civil society in opposition to war. Mansoureh Yazdani is a member of the Association for the Protection of Children’s Rights and noted in her accompanying message how war threatens the future of children and why we must strive for a dignified life for all children in peace.
One of the creative and inclusive initiatives of this movement was the launch of a “Digital Wall” in the virtual space. On the night of July 19th, the campaign organizers invited all interested people to use the hashtag #زندگی_علیه_جنگ in their Instagram stories to publish a message in support of the slogan of life against war. In fact, this digital wall was designed as a common space to reflect the independent and diverse messages of different individuals and groups in society in opposition to war. The goal was to provide a platform for dialogue and solidarity against war and to promote a unified voice in defense of life. Following the call, a large number of stories and messages with the relevant hashtag were sent, and the campaign organizers published samples of these public messages on the digital wall. The shared content covered a wide range, from personal notes and experiences of the war period to children’s drawings with the theme of peace. This innovative action not only increased public participation but also created a valuable bank of anti-war messages from ordinary people that can be inspiring in the future.
It is worth mentioning that some partner institutions also held special programs. For example, the “Mehr o Mah” institute organized an event to hear children’s opinions about war and provided its output in the form of a video to the campaign (the voice of children also joined the chorus of peace-lovers). The collection of these events and artworks showed that the “Life Against War” movement has become more than a statement, a cultural-social movement in which every individual can play a role with the language of art or practical action.
International Support from Foreign Personalities and Groups
The peace-loving message of “Life Against War” resonated beyond Iran’s borders and was met with the welcome and solidarity of a number of foreign personalities and groups. One of the prominent examples was the Afghanistan Women’s Voice Movement, which officially declared its solidarity with this civil movement. This movement, composed of Afghan women’s rights activists, has well understood the importance of peace amidst the crises in their own country and, by joining the Iranian campaign, emphasized the bond between the civil struggles of the two nations against war. The presence of the Afghanistan Women’s Voice in this movement showed that the demand for “Life for All – War for No One” is not limited to Iran and is a common concern of the people of the region.
On the global stage, prominent voices also rose in support. Among them, Musaemura Zimunya, a distinguished Zimbabwean poet and writer with decades of civil activity, joined this movement and declared his solidarity. Zimunya, who is considered one of the influential figures of resistance literature in the Global South, showed with this action that poetry and words can stand up against the walls of oppression and war and be an echo of hope, justice, and life for all. His joining brought an inspiring message from the heart of the African continent and the Global South and highlighted the international dimension of the “Life Against War” campaign. Zimunya’s participation was also accompanied by a statement emphasizing that the voice of poets can stand against war and injustice.
In addition to the solidarity of non-Iranian personalities, support also came from Iranians living abroad and international institutions related to Iran. In the very first days, the Society in Defense of Human Rights and Democracy in Iran – Sweden, a human rights institution based in Europe, joined the signatories. Also, an international NGO in the field of mental health (IntoGreatUs) announced its support from abroad. This shows that Iranian civil networks abroad have also played a role in unison with those inside the country. In addition, letters and statements were published by international academic associations condemning the war; for example, the Union of Social Science Associations and the Iranian Sociological Association, in a joint letter, called on the world’s sociological associations for immediate global support following Israel’s attack on Iran (an action that was also reflected on the movement’s website).
This collection of reactions and cross-border support showed that the “Life Against War” movement has found an international resonance. The central slogan of this campaign has been able to connect with peace movements in other countries and also address awakened consciences in different parts of the world. In other words, defending life against war is a common language that knows no borders.
Mechanism for Member Participation Through Working Groups
To make optimal use of the capacity of the affiliated members and to organize activities, the initiative to form specialized working groups was put on the agenda by the movement’s organizers. As mentioned, three virtual working groups on Telegram were created, each to follow up on a part of the affairs in a focused manner. All supporters were invited to join these working groups in the remaining days until July 20 to help advance the collective goals. The defined working groups were:
- Media and Information Working Group: For the managers of the virtual pages of member organizations and individuals specialized in the field of media and communications. The task of this group was to create synergy to improve information dissemination and news coverage of activities, so that with more coordination among the media admins of the organizations, the content related to the movement would be published more widely and effectively. This working group focused on content production, message management, responding to doubts, and directing the news flow of the campaign.
- Advocacy Working Group: This group consisted of public relations experts from member organizations and other individuals with experience in attracting social support. Its mission was defined as creating grounds for attracting support from reference groups and influential figures in society. The members of this working group, by identifying effective individuals and institutions (artists, athletes, university professors, professional associations, etc.) and communicating with them, tried to expand the wave of support for the movement to wider layers of society.
- International Working Group: This working group was formed with the presence of activists from the international affairs section of organizations and volunteers fluent in foreign languages. Its goal was to get the voice of the “Life Against War” movement beyond Iran’s borders and to connect with anti-war movements in the region and the world. The members of this group translated statements into other languages, sent messages to international organizations and foreign media, and coordinated cross-border support to form global solidarity with the people of Iran in opposition to war.
According to the statement inviting participation in the working groups, these three groups operated on a completely voluntary and intensive basis over a few days. Volunteers participated in the relevant group based on their expertise and background and announced their cooperation through the introduced Telegram ID. The formation of these working groups, while keeping the movement away from centralism and individual leadership, helped its internal cohesion and coordination.
Daily Updates and Publication of Signatories’ Names
One of the transparent and motivating actions during this movement was the regular announcement of the names of new supporters (both individuals and organizations). From the beginning, the campaign organizers decided to report the increasing trend of signatures on a daily basis. In this regard, an online file (Google Sheet) was created that contained the complete list of names of affiliated organizations and individuals and was updated every night at midnight. The link to this public list was made available to everyone so that anyone could see the latest status of support. The related announcement message emphasized that for better viewing, it is preferable to use a laptop or computer and that the information on this page would be more complete every night.
In addition to the online list, statistical and aggregate reports were also published at different times. For example, on July 17th, the campaign issued a statement announcing that “Life for All – War for No One” had made a significant achievement in expanding civil solidarity; because up to that moment, a total of 162 civil organizations and 329 individuals had joined the movement and declared their solidarity. This statistic, which was quickly reshared on social media, reflected the breadth of support and the social weight of the campaign. Also, independent media inside the country (including the Ham-Mihan newspaper) reported on a campaign that “more than 160 NGOs” had joined, based on these same figures.
The continuous updating of the list of signatories had several important functions: first, it increased public trust in the transparency of the movement; people could see the names of their acquaintances, professors, favorite artists, or their preferred organization among the supporters and be assured that this was a real and widespread wave. Second, many were encouraged to join this solidarity themselves after seeing the list expand. New names were added to the list every night, and this dynamism conveyed the feeling of a growing, living movement. In the words of one activist, “Seeing the number of signatories increase every day shows how civil society is organizing around the slogan of life against war, and this itself is the best incentive to continue.”
Continuation of Support and Expansion of the Movement
Numerous signs indicate that support for the “Life Against War” movement has continued after the end of the announced period (July 20) and that this movement is expanding even further. The first and most tangible sign was the exponential increase in participants in the short period of the campaign: from the initial 70 organizations and a few hundred people in the first days, the number of supporters reached nearly 500 (organizations or activists) within about a week. This growth rate, especially in a heavily filtered and security-conscious environment, speaks to civil society’s eagerness to continue anti-war solidarity. Another point is that the support of some international personalities and groups (such as the examples from Afghanistan and Zimbabwe) showed that the voice of this movement has been heard in the world and that new support from beyond the borders is also possible, which can energize the continuation of the movement.
In addition, the infrastructures created during the movement are of a lasting nature. The movement’s trilingual website will remain as an archive and online reference and will reflect new news and calls. The Instagram page and Telegram channel are also still active and provide a means of continuous communication with the audience. The networking formed within the specialized working groups and among the members of this solidarity is a valuable social capital that can serve peace-loving goals beyond the period of July 12-20. In other words, “Life Against War” has become a platform and a civil society that can play a dynamic role in future developments.
In terms of content, the exchanged messages and the discourse produced around this movement are a legacy that remains. The hundreds of messages and artworks collected (from Iranmanesh’s cartoons to Yazdani’s song and the messages on the digital wall) along with the statements of various organizations, have formed a collection of a discourse of peace and life that will remain in the social memory. This itself is a guarantee for the continuation of solidarity, as many of the signatories have committed not to silence the voice of life and not to remain silent in the face of warmongering. For example, a-fter the official end of the campaign, new letters were published by international scientific and academic groups in support of peace, and domestic scientific associations also continued their efforts to attract global support. Also, some participants have expressed that they are willing to be active in such campaigns in the future.
In summary, the “Life Against War” civil movement was able to become a resounding collective voice in opposition to war and violence in a short period. Its range of support spanned from villages and cities in Iran to academic and civil forums around the world and brought together an unprecedented combination of grassroots organizations and independent figures under one umbrella. The continuous updating of the list of supporters, the creation of participatory structures, the attraction of new support, and extensive media coverage all indicate that this movement was not a fleeting wave, but the beginning of a new chapter in peace activism. Life for All – War for No One, the slogan born in the heart of this movement, has now become more than a hashtag, an ideal for thousands of people, and clear signs of its continuation and growth are visible.
You can download the translated report as a docx file from the link below: Download the “Life Against War” Report (English).docx