‘Who are you?’: Masih Alinejad targets Kamala Harris over Iran strikes, calls out silence on women’s rights
Iranian activist Masih Alinejad has publicly called out former US Vice President Kamala Harris in a sharply worded social media post, questioning her stance on women’s rights and accusing her of remaining silent during mass killings before criticising US strikes on Iran.In a post directed at Harris on X, Alinejad wrote: “Who are you? No, honestly. Who are you? A Democrat who built a career talking about women’s rights, yet stayed silent when more than 30,000 people were massacred. Now suddenly you’ve found your voice?”The post quickly gained traction, drawing strong reactions online amid heated debate over the US–Israel military action against Iran.Alinejad, a long-time critic of Iran’s clerical leadership, recently posted an emotional video reacting to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.“Finally, you’re dead, finally, you’re gone, Ali Khamenei,” she said in the clip, her voice breaking. She was also seen hugging strangers in New York — gestures she later described as acts of survival rather than celebration.Alinejad has consistently urged Western governments to take a tougher line against Tehran and has criticised what she views as inconsistent support for Iranian women protesting state repression.
What Harris said on Iran strikes
Harris criticised President Donald Trump over the recent strikes while speaking in Madison, Wisconsin, on March 1 during a book tour event for her memoir “107 Days.”She called the attacks an unauthorised “war of choice” and accused Trump of dragging the US into a conflict without congressional approval.“In the last 48 hours Donald Trump has dragged America into a war that we don’t want,” Harris said. She added that she opposed a regime-change war in Iran and described the operation as a “dangerous and unnecessary gamble” with American lives.At the same time, Harris acknowledged that Iran remains a serious threat and said the country “must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.” She argued that US troops deserve leadership marked by “steadiness and discipline.”Harris also disputed Trump’s claim that Operation Midnight Hammer had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Trump said the enrichment sites were destroyed, intelligence assessments suggested the strikes may have set Iran’s nuclear programme back by months to a few years, rather than eliminating it entirely.
Who is Masih Alinejad
Born on September 11, 1976, in northern Iran, Alinejad began her career as a journalist in 2001, writing for reformist newspapers such as Hambastegi and Shargh. After the disputed 2009 Iranian presidential election and subsequent protests, she left Iran and later settled in New York.She became internationally known for launching the My Stealthy Freedom campaign in 2014, encouraging Iranian women to share photos without headscarves in protest against compulsory hijab laws. The movement later expanded into initiatives such as White Wednesdays and My Camera Is My Weapon, positioning social media as a form of civil resistance.Alinejad hosts “Tablet” on Voice of America’s Persian service and has contributed to outlets including The New York Times. Her memoir, The Wind in My Hair, became a bestseller. She has received multiple international honours, including the Geneva Summit Prize and recognition as Time’s Woman of the Year.
