Trigger Warning: This article contains sensitive details; reader discretion is advised.Angelina Jolie is speaking out again, this time about a little girl in Iran whose mother died during the protests. She posted about the child on Instagram, and you can feel the pain in her words and the photo she shared. It’s not the first time Jolie has used her platform to shine a light on what’s happening in Iran, but this story really hits home.
Angelina Jolie’s heartbreaking post on the Iran protest
On January 28, 2026, she shared a photo of a seven-year-old girl standing at her mother’s grave, crying. The girl’s mother was only 30 when she was killed during a protest in Noorabad, in Fars province, earlier that month. Jolie called the image “heartbreaking.” She wrote, “A seven-year-old girl at her mother’s grave… No child should have to carry this kind of grief.”Then she called for truth, accountability, and real protection for civilians. She asked for Lashkari’s memory to be honored and for those responsible to be held accountable.Jolie ended her post with a bigger plea: “May her mother’s memory be honored and may the truth be established, with protection for civilians, accountability for those responsible and greater freedom for all those who are seeking it.”For those who are unaware of Jolie’s history of humanitarian works, this isn’t just another celebrity weighing in. The ‘Maria’ actress has spent years working as a humanitarian and as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She’s been to refugee camps, war zones, and she’s spoken out frequently on human rights issues such as women’s freedom and education.
What’s happening in Iran: A brief background to the protests
For years, Iranian people have been protesting over government policies, women’s rights, and strict social rules. As per The Independent, in 2022, the protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl who died while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. After that incident, the protests captured international attention, and even in 2026, public protests continue as activists respond by gathering again to demand their rights.On the other hand, the government has only responded with heavy crackdowns, security forces in the streets, and a lot of violence. Plenty of people have been arrested or killed, including bystanders who had nothing to do with the protests.
