The Green Scroll Campaign
Encyclopedia
The Green Scroll of Freedom is the world's longest petition scroll, measuring over 2,000 meters in length. Its creation was driven by members of the Iranian diaspora, and it is covered by signatures from people all around the world, questioning the legitimacy of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the Iranian president after the disputed Iranian presidential election
in June 2009, condemning the human rights abuses committed against Iranian protesters, and standing in solidarity to demand universal human rights, justice, and freedom for the Iranian people. The primary goal of the Green Scroll campaign is to reassure Iranians inside Iran that they are not alone in their struggle.
(Canada) came up with the idea for the Green Scroll campaign in late June of 2009 while watching the Iranian government unleash abuses against people in his home country. Tehrani's original concept was to hang the finished Scroll from the CN Tower
in Toronto
, Canada
or the Eiffel Tower
in Paris
, France
, as an act of worldwide protest against Ahmadinejad's pending inauguration for a second term as Iran's president.
The idea spread rapidly amongst members of the Iranian Diaspora. In cities around the world, Iranian activists purchased rolls of green cloth from local sources, and quickly collected countless thousands of signatures from Iranians and non-Iranians alike between July 10th and 12th. Eventually, over 190 cities worldwide sent rolls of cloth to Paris, France, where they were sewn together into one continuous banner. When all the pieces were assembled, and The Green Scroll of Freedom was born, the signatures collected stretched for over 2,000 meters in length.
1. To have the world hear the message "Ahmadinejad is NOT Iran’s legitimate president"
2. To condemn the gross human rights abuses, rapes, torture, killings, and other injustices that have been unleashed against peaceful Iranians
3. To demand universal human rights, freedom, and equitable justice for the Iranian people
4. To encourage foreign governments not to recognize Ahmadinejad's “Coup d'etat” government
5. To show unity between all Iranians outside of Iran
6. To demonstrate to Iranians inside of Iran that they are supported by people all around the world, and assure them that they are not alone in their struggle
7. To generate ongoing media attention about the struggle of the Iranian people
meeting in New York City on September 23rd, 2009, the Green Scroll was shipped to New York, where on September 24th, 2009, it was marched across the Brooklyn Bridge
New York Police Department officials were afraid that if the Scroll was marched across as one continuous banner, in the event part of scroll was blown by winds onto the Brooklyn Bridge roadway, the 2,000 meter-long Scroll would pose a serious safety hazard for both cars on the road and people on the walkway. For this safety reason, the NYPD required that the Scroll be cut up into fifty (50) foot sections, and carried across the Brooklyn Bridge on cardboard poles. Most of the sections were numbered as they were cut, so that the Scroll could be re-assembled in the original order later.
, police blocked Iranian protesters from signing the Green Scroll, the Dubai-based National newspaper reported. The police told the crowd that "they were forbidden from sending official petitions from United Arab Emirates soil, as Iran and the UAE have diplomatic ties".
Iranian presidential election, 2009
Iran's tenth presidential election was held on 12 June 2009, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's official news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election...
in June 2009, condemning the human rights abuses committed against Iranian protesters, and standing in solidarity to demand universal human rights, justice, and freedom for the Iranian people. The primary goal of the Green Scroll campaign is to reassure Iranians inside Iran that they are not alone in their struggle.
Origin
Ali Tehrani, a 44-year-old Iranian residing in Waterloo, OntarioWaterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
(Canada) came up with the idea for the Green Scroll campaign in late June of 2009 while watching the Iranian government unleash abuses against people in his home country. Tehrani's original concept was to hang the finished Scroll from the CN Tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
or the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, as an act of worldwide protest against Ahmadinejad's pending inauguration for a second term as Iran's president.
The idea spread rapidly amongst members of the Iranian Diaspora. In cities around the world, Iranian activists purchased rolls of green cloth from local sources, and quickly collected countless thousands of signatures from Iranians and non-Iranians alike between July 10th and 12th. Eventually, over 190 cities worldwide sent rolls of cloth to Paris, France, where they were sewn together into one continuous banner. When all the pieces were assembled, and The Green Scroll of Freedom was born, the signatures collected stretched for over 2,000 meters in length.
Purpose
The purpose of the Green Scroll of Freedom campaign are as follows:1. To have the world hear the message "Ahmadinejad is NOT Iran’s legitimate president"
2. To condemn the gross human rights abuses, rapes, torture, killings, and other injustices that have been unleashed against peaceful Iranians
3. To demand universal human rights, freedom, and equitable justice for the Iranian people
4. To encourage foreign governments not to recognize Ahmadinejad's “Coup d'etat” government
5. To show unity between all Iranians outside of Iran
6. To demonstrate to Iranians inside of Iran that they are supported by people all around the world, and assure them that they are not alone in their struggle
7. To generate ongoing media attention about the struggle of the Iranian people
Paris
The Green Scroll of Freedom made its public debut on July 25th, 2009, in Paris, France in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, encircling a large portion of the Champ de Mars. This coincided with (but was not planned as an official part of) a global day of action on July 25th in over 100 cities worldwide by a coalition of Green Iranian activists.New York
In response to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appearance at the United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
meeting in New York City on September 23rd, 2009, the Green Scroll was shipped to New York, where on September 24th, 2009, it was marched across the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
New York Police Department officials were afraid that if the Scroll was marched across as one continuous banner, in the event part of scroll was blown by winds onto the Brooklyn Bridge roadway, the 2,000 meter-long Scroll would pose a serious safety hazard for both cars on the road and people on the walkway. For this safety reason, the NYPD required that the Scroll be cut up into fifty (50) foot sections, and carried across the Brooklyn Bridge on cardboard poles. Most of the sections were numbered as they were cut, so that the Scroll could be re-assembled in the original order later.
Washington, D.C.
On November 15th, 2009 (also World Students Day), the Green scroll was marched across the national mall, starting at the base of the Washington monument and finishing at the steps of the U.S. Capitol building.International reactions
In the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, police blocked Iranian protesters from signing the Green Scroll, the Dubai-based National newspaper reported. The police told the crowd that "they were forbidden from sending official petitions from United Arab Emirates soil, as Iran and the UAE have diplomatic ties".