Students Organize Vigil in Solidarity with Iranian Protesters

As the struggle for human rights in Iran continues, MENA students coordinated a call for remembrance and administrative response

On Monday, Oct. 24, the Iranian and MENA community at Santa Clara organized a “Vigil for Justice” in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa “Jina” Amini in Iran. 

After being arrested by the morality police in Iran, Amini died in police custody on Sept. 16. She was detained for violating a hijab law, which mandates a dress code of long, loose-fitting robes and head coverings. It has been challenged by many Iranian women since enacted in 1981. 

In response to her death, women across Iran began protesting the country’s laws regarding wearing hijabs in public. In an attempt to quell the protests, Iranian authorities have employed substantial force against protestors. Human rights groups have reported that at least 253 protesters have been killed since the start of the demonstrations.

In an all-campus email inviting community members to the Vigil for Justice, the Iranian community wrote a statement recognizing the current demonstrations across the world.

“We recognize the ways that the continued violence occurring in the streets throughout Iran has an impact on Iranian American faculty, students, and staff here on our campus and we wish to express our support and care for all those impacted,” they said in the email.

This statement was reiterated at the vigil, along with personal reflections from the organizers. The speakers emphasized the need to end state-sanctioned violence in Iran and the extent to which these protests are affecting all Iranian people. Attendees held signs with phrases such as “liberation from state-sanctioned violence,” “Baraye Mahsa Amini” and “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

MENA co-chair Jennah El-Ashmawi mentioned the fact that there has been no administrative response in light of what is happening in Iran or in response to the vigil.

For major events, such as the Dobbs decision and the war in Ukraine, the university issued statements to show support for students. The MENA co-chairs expressed disappointment in how Santa Clara has handled the Iran protests.

“A common theme we are seeing in the MENA community is that the university does not show up for us,” said El-Ashmawi. “This goes hand in hand with the MENA checkbox; if the university knew how many MENA students were on this campus then they would see this as more of an urgent need.”

Members of the Iranian and MENA community explained that the student and faculty attendance was disappointing. Ariana Tabrizi, an Iranian student, encouraged students who want to be more involved to just show up.

“It was honestly disappointing to see how few students, faculty, and especially admin actually did attend,” said Tabrizi. “If our school is built on social justice, caring for the whole person and caring for the community, that is not demonstrated.”

The vigil ended with a moment of silence in remembrance of Amini and all those who have died in the Iranian human rights movement. Attendees left after a final chant of the Kurdish phrase “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

MENA co-chair Elaha Hamidy urged Santa Clara students and faculty to become more involved in this issue.

“It is really important that people take the initiative to educate themselves first since it shouldn't be on Iranian students and faculty to educate people on a human rights issue,” said Hamidy. “In order to better support the community, Santa Clara students and faculty should learn about what is going on and how they can help on their own.”

This article has been updated with more accurate data.