We have recently been informed about potential phishing attempts and misleading messages circulating under the name of JoopeA, our sub-projects or emails that contain one of our domains.
Please remember: not everything you hear or read online is trustworthy. Unfortunately, some individuals may misuse names of organizations to create confusion or attempt fraud.
Before taking any action—especially if it involves financial matters—please confirm the information directly with us.
We strongly recommend verifying any request, message, or announcement that claims to come from JoopeA, particularly if it asks for payments, donations, or financial commitments.
For your safety, always confirm through our official communication channels before proceeding.
As we step into a new year, we pause to reflect on the strength, resilience, and solidarity that carried us through the past one. Every challenge faced, every voice amplified, and every act of care reminded us that meaningful change is built together.
The year ahead invites renewed commitment to dignity, equality, and digital freedom. It calls for creativity, courage, and continued collaboration across borders and communities. With the support of our partners, volunteers, and allies, we move forward with clarity of purpose and confidence in collective action.
May this new year bring space for growth, moments of connection, and steady progress toward a world where human rights are not aspirational, but lived realities.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue shaping a future rooted in respect, inclusion, and shared responsibility.
The famous Iraanse Boot (Iran Boat) has returned to Amsterdam Canal Pride last Sat, regardless of the sorrow of the last year.
“We had to finish what we have started last year.” said Raham Rafiee the organizer of the Iran Boat.
More than fifty Iranian homosexual, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people together with Human Rights activists, politicians and artists has worn white clothes and joined on the blue boat of Iran to show their true selves.
Photo by: Parisa Akbarzadeh – (CC) JoopeA
There is no wonder why the IranPride boat is the biggest group of Iranians that participated in Pride Parade so far while being queer is punishable by law in Iran and the social acceptance is very low among Iranians and Persian-speaking communities. But the heroes of Iran made it come true.
The Netherlands embraced the Iranian LGBTIQ with huge applause during the parade, smiles, hugs, warm wishes, and kindness. But, being chosen as the best boat in Amsterdam Pride 2018 gives us hope in our fight for LGBTIQ Rights in Iran. It is an honor that the land of freedom awarded the Publieksprijs 2018 to IranPride.
Iran Boat is chosen as the best Amsterdam Pride 2018 boat by the public
We love you and we never forget your support for the cause.
Iran Boat has pulled over by the Dutch skipper with no logical explanation during Amsterdam Canal Pride 20171. The boat has no technical issues nor it was over crowded2. The skipper has been gone missing since. Strange ha?
Not that it wasn’t painful nor that any of those who were on the boat can forget the pain. But the future belongs to the people and their rights. We have passed a tragedy to spread our message last year and we continue our work for better future for all. We are hopeful & consistence to “Make our dream come true“. We are proud to parter with Pride Business Club to show that we are not ashamed to be part of Queer community whom were born in a Persian-speaking country or family.
We are attending Amsterdam Pride Parade 2018 proudly because “Our presence is our resistance”.
Looking forward to sail on #IraanseBoot3 in Amsterdam Pride Parade 2018 among other 79 awesome Pride boats on August 4th, 2018.
Please click here to join the movement by your donations in case you believe existence of such groups in Pride Parades is necessary.
1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwH0DAu2L1s
2 – https://www.facebook.com/Raham.JoopeA/posts/500455683621302
3 – Dutch word for “Iran Boat”
This campaign has run during year 2018. It is not running anymore. Therefore, all links in this post are redundant.
HIV is not a death sentence quite a sometime now. However, HIV positive people are still facing discrimination all around the world in all aspects of their lives.
This is where the #MillionPositiveFaces campaign comes in to show the solidarity of all of us with HIV+ people. The campaign is an initiative of Hiv Vereniging in cooperation with ViiV Healthcare and het Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis.
Use this link to participate in the campaign: https://www.millionpositivefaces.nl/joopea/doemee
We at JoopeA believe in positive and hopeful future and fight side by side with every human being who fights against discrimination. This is why we as JoopeA have joined the campaign. Some of our team’s pictures are here:
On Sunday, January 28th, Amsterdam was hosting the annual True Colors event. the COC Nederland organized this annual event this year for the sixth time with participants from more than two thousand Queer Rights Activists from more than three hundred different organizations.
In the past years, known members of the COC or reputed politicians started the ceremony. But this year True Colors started with delegates from six organizations. Those organizations were selected as the headliners of Queer Rights in The Netherlands. The selection was based on their influence in The Netherlands and their mission.
We are very glad that JoopeA was among those six. The other selected organizations were: “Pos en Proud” in support of HIV positive LGBTIQs, “Roze 50+” supporters of queers who are older than 50, “Gerda Kreeft” supporters of deaf queers, “Expreszo” a publisher with more than thirty years of experience which has been running by teenage and young queers and “Trans United” which supports transgender people in The Netherlands.
JoopeA Foundation held IranPride in The Netherlands for the first time in 2017. This event was the biggest gathering of Iranians with different ethnicities, political opinions, genders and sexual orientations in support of Human Rights of LGBTIQ people. Additionally, JoopeA’s members who have a long history as human rights defenders are part of the founders and organizers of IranPride day in 2010. Iran Pride day is the last Friday of July and is being celebrated since 2010.
COC chose JoopeA as one of the most progressive groups regarding Queer Rights in The Netherlands and one of the headliners, because of the importance and difficulty of JoopeA’s activities which increases acceptance and tolerance for LGBTIQ people in societies such as Iran.
Here are some pictures from the ceremony:
JoopeA Foundation among other organizations in True Colors 2018
JoopeA has been selected as one of the headliners in LGBTIQ Rights organizations.
Memorial of LGBTIQ activists whom passed away in 2017
JoopeA team at True Colors 2018. From left: Raham Rafiee, Mahdad, Iman Firouzifard, Elham Malekpoor
Monday, 27th November 2017: JoopeA Foundation held IranPride 2017 Closing ceremony to close this chapter of IranPride and open the space for their participation for Pride Parade in 2018.
Here are remarks of this event in brief:
Member of EU Parliament fully supports IranPride
MEP and member of the delegation for the relationship with Iran, Mrs. Marietje Schaake has shown her full support for IranPride and LGBTI Rights for Iran in a video message.
“All Iranian suffer from repression, LGBTs are specific target; they’ve been imprisoned, tortured and executed. At the same time, social acceptance of LGBTs remains lower at times.”
Mrs. Schaake said.
“Equality is the principle reason why the Iranian LGBT movement wants to participate in the next Pride parade in Amsterdam. And I’m fully support this decision.”
She added.
LGBTI Policy Officer of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs speech
Mr. Mark Reichwein:
“When LGBTI people are not treated well, there is something wrong in entire society. Unfortunately around the world over seventy countries still criminalise homosexuality and in seven of them, there is death penalty for homosexuals.”
“This celebration of diversity matters and especially for those people, those participants around the world where they less fortunate when it comes to acceptance in their own society.”
Mr. Reichwein explained about the need for Pride Parade.
The ceremony in details
On Monday 27th November 2017, JoopeA Foundation (Stichting JoopeA) held IranPride 2017 Closing ceremony together with the representative of Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, COC Nederland, COC Amsterdam, Roze in Blouw politie, Human Rights activists, journalists, sponsors and supporters of the Iran Boat in Amsterdam Canal Pride 2017.
This ceremony started with the speech of Mr. Mark Reichwein, LGBTI Policy Officer of Dutch Foreign Ministry and followed by the speech of Elham Malekpoor Arashlu, poet and the core management team of JoopeA. Therefore, Raham Rafiee, founder of JoopeA gave a summary of the history of IranPride day and the background of JoopeA. After Raham, Faarjam, musician and composer performed his music. Iman Firouzifard, the core member of JoopeA News spoke about his story of Human Rights activities and also the projects of the foundation. The video message of MEP Mrs. Marietje Schaake has been shown and followed by closing speech of Raham and thank you message to all groups, individuals and organisations who helped JoopeA and IranPride.
At the end, Amsterdam Pride Organization and COC Amsterdam received symbolic presents.
Iranians took such a brave step forward in fight for LGBTIQ Rights and participated in Amsterdam Canal Pride Parade on Iran Boat for the very first time.
Iran Boat has been planning and managed by JoopeA Foundation since February this year and were supposed to be the pearl of the Amsterdam Pride Parade this year based on Amsterdam Pride Foundation. However, they were not be able to finish the track because of problem making of the Dutch skipper. While the message of the Iran Boat which are “being proud of who we are” and “standing for our rights” has been spread widely, this tumbling has brought too much pain and sorrow.
Amsterdam Pride Foundation has honored Iran team in Pride Week closing party and awarded Iran Boat a wild card for next year’s canal pride. A wild card let an initiative to float among other 80 boats without going through selection process and registrations.
JoopeA News (JNews) is moved to Jensiat.info as of October 2018. However, JNews the Netherlands (JNews NL) is pauzed and is not updated since August 2018. We are looking forward to re-open it again as soon as possible.
If you live in the Netherlands, if you are a Persian speaker or if you only come to Amsterdam to enjoy Amsterdam Canal Pride parade 2017, we are here for you and we are here to offer you the useful and wonderful information about fantastic events in that time.
JNews has started a new section to publish about events in the Netherlands on Sexual Rights for Persian-speaking people.
Please don’t hesitate to share your opinion with us.
Btw, JNews publishes several articles today on subject of IDAHOT. Don’t miss it if you can read Persian.
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