Okay. I'll try to finish quickly. My speaking notes were actually emailed to you, so this is all in that two-page document if members want to see it.
As I was saying, the Woman, Life, Freedom movement resulted in a series of arrests. We all know about the brutal crackdown. The regime now uses state-of-the-art technology and devices such as surveillance cameras for facial and licence plate recognition. Here again, women are the target, women who do not wear a hijab, which is mandatory in Iran.
State repression is multi‑faceted: It is physical, mental and psychological. Protesters are often violently dispersed using sophisticated technology such as tasers. These protesters are imprisoned in the Evin Prison, where political opponents, journalists, artists and activists are systematically persecuted, as we heard.
We mustn't forget about the gas attacks against schoolgirls in March 2023, further proof that the state's violence knows no bounds. We know of about 300 attacks on more than 5,000 young girls in 25 Iranian provinces. These attacks triggered panic attacks in both parents and students. In addition, many students complained of severe symptoms, which led to a wave of hospitalizations.
I'll stop there, because I'd like to leave more time for questions and answers. It's clear that the Iranian people are currently being subjected to a regime that governs by fear, corruption and oppression. Human rights violations are systemic and institutionalized. In contrast, we see the courage of these women, men, activists, artists and ordinary citizens who continue to inspire the world today, and we salute them.
I will close with a quote from Bertolt Brecht, who said, “He who fights can lose, he who doesn't fight has already lost.” I think that quote captures the spirit of many Iranians.
Thank you for your attention. I apologize again for the technical issues. I look forward to your questions.