Erfan Project

Who was Erfan?

Erfan Dashti, 22 years old,

born and living in Tehran,

was a student of accounting.

After the killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini in the Iranian Morality and Hijab Police, he – like many other protesters – took to the streets to demonstrate against this state killing.

On October 18, when he left his home intending to join street protests, he was abducted by unknown individuals. Three days later, his body was found in the forests around Tehran.

On October 23, 2022, the police handed over his body to his family.

There were clear signs of torture on Erfan’s body, but no institution accepted responsibility for his abduction and murder.

Erfan Project Goals

•Direct support for the homeless in the cold of winter

•Economic empowerment of single mothers

•Creating a circle of humanity and hope between donors, single mothers, and street sleepers

The Erfan Project – Winter Package of Hope

The association seistrake e.V. distributes aid packages every December to homeless women in the cities of Cologne and Hamburg.

This year, thanks to the initiative of Dr. Mitra Nasiri, a cooperation between seistrake e.V. and Aktion für Menschenrechte e.V.  was established to expand this humanitarian project.

Through this collaboration, not only are homeless women in Germany supported, but at the same time, single women in Iran are also supported and economically empowered – women whose husbands are imprisoned for political reasons and who now have to provide for their families on their own, or women who suffered physical injuries during political protests.

This project was made possible through the financial support of the following organizations and individuals:

Thanks to this support, the women accompanied by Aktion für Menschenrechte e.V. were able to produce 240 hand-knitted sets consisting of scarves, hats, and gloves. After packaging, these products will be sent to Germany and distributed to homeless women in Cologne and Hamburg as part of a joint campaign.

This project is a model of sustainable empowerment: instead of providing direct financial aid, women are given the opportunity to earn an income through their work and build economic independence.

We hope to expand this campaign in the coming years in order to support even more women – both in Iran and in Germany – and to build a strong network of solidarity and social responsibility.

If you are interested in participating in or supporting the Erfan campaign, please feel free to contact us.