The Iranian Resistance has lost one of its loyal friends and valued supporters. Carol Fontaine, a courageous human rights advocate and tireless defender of women’s rights, who stood alongside the women of the Iranian Resistance for many years and helped bring their voices to the world, has passed away. Her name and memory will endure in the hearts of women who continue to struggle for freedom, equality, and human dignity.
With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of Carol Fontaine. She was not only a supporter of the Iranian Resistance, but also a devoted friend and steadfast ally of the women of the Iranian Resistance, a woman who stood by them during their most difficult and darkest days and never ceased to defend justice, freedom, and human dignity.
During the years when members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Ashraf and Liberty were subjected to siege and intense pressure by the Iranian regime’s proxy government in Iraq, Carol Fontaine was among those who refused to remain silent. With remarkable courage, dedication, and perseverance, she worked to draw the attention of public opinion and international institutions to the plight of the residents of Ashraf and Liberty and consistently advocated for their rights.
She viewed the women of the Iranian Resistance as symbols of courage, resilience and hope and believed that their struggle served as an inspiration to women around the world. Speaking at an online conference on August 7, 2015, she passionately defended the rights of Iranian women, stating:
“We must be the voice of women in Iran. Women in Iran are willing to pay a high price for freedom. They are role models for women throughout the world… We hear your voices, we admire you, we will stand by you, and we will never accept what is being done to you.”
These words reflected a commitment to which she remained faithful throughout her life: standing alongside women who fight for freedom, equality, and their fundamental rights.
Carol Fontaine demonstrated that solidarity knows no borders and that defending women’s rights and human rights is a global responsibility. Her name will endure alongside those of the women and men who, in the most difficult circumstances, stood for justice and gave voice to the voiceless.
Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, Chair of the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), also expressed her deep sorrow over the passing of Carol Fontaine, describing her as a longtime friend of the Iranian Resistance and a steadfast advocate of human rights and women’s rights.
The memory of Carol Fontaine, a loyal friend of the Iranian Resistance and a courageous advocate for Iranian women, will live on as an enduring source of inspiration in the struggle of Iranian women for freedom, equality, and democracy.
Who Was Carol Fontaine?
Carol R. Fontaine (1950–2025) was a distinguished American scholar, professor of theology, feminist author, and human rights advocate who devoted her professional life to research, education, and the defense of human dignity, particularly the rights of women.
She completed her studies at Florida State University and, prior to her retirement, held the John Taylor Chair in Biblical Theology and History at Andover Newton Theological School. Fontaine was the author of six books and more than one hundred scholarly articles on religious studies, women’s issues, and human rights. She also served on the editorial boards of several leading publications, including the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and the World Book Encyclopedia.
Her commitment to human rights was also reflected in her literary work. Her poetry collection, Only When Women Sing: Poems on Human Rights, published in 2009, expressed her deep belief in freedom, justice, and the empowerment of women.
