Martina Navratilova has recently voiced her outrage over the appalling case of Roya Heshmati, an Iranian woman who received 74 lashes for not wearing a hijab. Navratilova condemned the Iranian regime as “barbaric” and “animalistic” for imposing such cruel punishments on women who defy the mandatory dress code.
Renowned for her activism on human rights issues, Navratilova joined others in calling for justice and solidarity with Heshmati and other Iranian women facing oppression under the Islamic Republic.
According to reports, Iran has been targeting peaceful human rights activists, particularly women challenging the compulsory hijab law, subjecting them to arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, and harsh punishments including flogging, amputation, and the death penalty.
Heshmati, a 33-year-old Kurdish-Iranian activist, was arrested in April 2023 for posting a photo of herself without a hijab on social media. She was charged with offenses such as “propaganda against the regime” and “harming public modesty”.
Initially sentenced to over 13 years in prison, a fine, and 148 lashes, Heshmati’s sentence was later reduced to 74 lashes.
An Iranian journalist and activist, campaigning against the compulsory hijab law, shared Heshmati’s story on social media, emphasizing the brutality of the regime’s actions and calling for international attention and support for women’s rights in Iran.
Barbaric. The men making and most of all enforcing these barbaric rules are animals. https://t.co/bZNfgojxjU
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) January 10, 2024
Navratilova, who is an 18-time Grand Slam singles winner expressed her feelings, condemning the regime’s actions and emphasizing the need for solidarity with Iranian women.
“Barbaric. The men making and most of all enforcing these barbaric rules are animals.”
Martina Navratilova slams Donald Trump following Joe Biden’s criticism
Martina Navratilova, the tennis legend and outspoken advocate for human rights, recently joined in criticizing former US President Donald Trump. After President Joe Biden referred to Trump as a “loser” during a campaign speech, Navratilova echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Trump has “always been a loser”.
Navratilova, who became a US citizen in 1981 after being born in Czechoslovakia, has been vocal about her political views and has condemned Trump’s policies on immigration, and healthcare, and his refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election.
“LMAO, many people are saying that President Biden referring to Trump as a ‘loser’ is pissing him off. Be a real shame if everyone tweeted #TrumpIsALoser so many times it started trending. Real shame.”
-A user wrote on X
Navratilova’s comments came in response to a user’s suggestion to make the ‘#TrumpIsALoser’ hashtag trend on social media platform X, following Biden’s remarks about Trump’s conduct surrounding the 2020 election and the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021.
“Yup. Always been a loser.”
-Martina Navratilova quoted and commented on the tweet
