University of Victoria students joined over 200 schools around the globe standing in solidarity with Iranian protests through the Campus Rally for Iran.
Anti-government protests for freedom and womenB次元官网网址檚 rights have occupied news out of Iran following the murder of a young girl named Mahsa Amini by the countryB次元官网网址檚 morality police.
Greater Victoria has played a part in this movement, holding protests, rallies and demonstrations across the region, many of which have been organized by students with close connections to Iran.
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In the latest attempt to bring awareness to the conflict, students at UVic participated in a worldwide rally organized by Iranian Scholars for Liberty on Nov. 30.
Global protests have seen Iranian women, particularly students and women who work, remove their hijabs, cut their hair and reject religious extremism.
More than 50 people gathered in front of McPherson Library to show solidarity with these protests.
B次元官网网址淲e have Iranian scholars all over the world,B次元官网网址 said UVic organizer Sepideh Azadbakht. B次元官网网址淲e actually use our academic background to immigrate. A lot of us have immigrated just because of the government. The ones that have stayed in Iran have been suppressed. There are a lot of scholars in prison, so a lot of us have escaped.B次元官网网址
The main goals for the Iranian Scholars for Liberty include developing connections among Iranian academics and amplifying the voice of Iranians, as well as bringing awareness to the Iranian movement, Azadbakht said.
After the revolution broke out in Iran, Azadbakht said scholars across the world with Iranian backgrounds wanted to figure out how they could help the movement.
B次元官网网址淲e want our voices to be heard,B次元官网网址 she said.
Primarily, the group works to increase protection for students in Iran who wish to study subjects that are not government-approved and advocates for the release of prisoners who are incarcerated for being scholars.
UVic was among 200 other universities and colleges to participate in this global demonstration.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important because people are dying in Iran,B次元官网网址 said Setareh Alpour Kashi, who helped organize the rally. B次元官网网址淲e are doing as much as we can to spread their voice. We are trying to do what we can.B次元官网网址
Azadbakht said those who want to help locally can follow the on social media but it is important to put pressure on those with more power, like the United Nations.
B次元官网网址淓mail United Nations to put more pressure on the Iranian regime, email politicians to ask them to act against the Islamic Republic,B次元官网网址 Azadbakht said. B次元官网网址淛ust be the voice of Iran, because they are being really suppressed and mass-murdered.B次元官网网址
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