{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-and-blumenthal-urge-secretary-blinken-to-meet-with-masih-alinejad-provide-more-security-for-the-iranian-american-human-rights-activist", "Sullivan & Blumenthal Urge Secretary Blinken to Meet with Masih Alinejad, Provide More Security for the Iranian-American Human Rights Activist", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=17", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) expressed concern to Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the safety of Iranian-American human rights activist Masih Alinejad in a letter sent on Tuesday. In response to the Biden administration\u2019s suggestion that Alinejad enter witness protection, the senators called on the United States government \u201cto do much better by her.\u201d They also urged Secretary Blinken to meet with Alinejad. In recent years, the human rights activist has become a globally-known critic of the Iranian regime, highlighting its abysmal human rights record, particularly its policy of gender apartheid.\n\n\u201cAs a result of her determined opposition to the Iranian regime, there have been 31 threats on her life and two actual attempts to kill her, on American soil,\u201d Sens. Sullivan and Blumenthal wrote. \u201cWe are increasingly concerned that one day these thugs will succeed. Masih\u2019s precarious situation is unacceptable.\n\n\u201cWhile we understand law enforcement is monitoring her predicament at both the local and federal level, we can do much better by her. In many ways, Masih Alinejad represents what makes America great. As a people, we don\u2019t stay silent and idle in the face of oppression. We stand up to it. We strongly urge you to sit down with Masih to personally listen to her concerns. She deserves all the understanding the U.S. government can muster for speaking out about the suffering caused by the regime in Iran.\u201d\n\nSenator Sullivan met with Alinejad in his DC office in September.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken:\n\nWe write to express our grave concern for the safety of the very courageous and bold Iranian-American human rights activist, Masih Alinejad.\n\nAs you know, Masih\u2019s \u201coffense\u201d is speaking out against the mullahs that run Iran. Her efforts to bring global attention to their brutal gender apartheid regime in Iran, and the role compulsory head covering plays in it, predates by a decade the \u201cwomen, life, freedom\u201d movement that took off last year in the aftermath of the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.\n\nSince, however, Masih has gained even greater prominence for her boldness.\n\nUnfortunately, as a result of her determined opposition to the Iranian regime, there have been 31 threats on her life and two actual attempts to kill her, on American soil. We are increasingly concerned that one day these thugs will succeed.\n\nMasih\u2019s precarious situation is unacceptable. Equally unacceptable is any suggestion that she enter a witness protection program. This would be a significant hardship that would include going silent, changing her identity, and essentially disappearing. While we understand law enforcement is monitoring her predicament at both the local and federal level, we can do much better by her.\n\nIn many ways, Masih Alinejad represents what makes America great. As a people, we don\u2019t stay silent and idle in the face of oppression. We stand up to it. We strongly urge you to sit down with Masih to personally listen to her concerns. She deserves all the understanding the U.S. government can muster for speaking out about the suffering caused by the regime in Iran.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-and-blumenthal-urge-secretary-blinken-to-meet-with-masih-alinejad-provide-more-security-for-the-iranian-american-human-rights-activist"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7362149190157652, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}