![\"article](\"https:\/\/dailycal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/coloredited_somachu_iran-1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SOMA CHU | STAFF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n EDITORIAL BOARD<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n NOVEMBER 07, 2022 (DailyCal.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content warning: discussions of violence, death and police brutality<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent weeks, the world has watched as the Iranian government attempts to violently quiet protests in the wake of Mahsa, or Zhina, Amini\u2019s death in police custody. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Amini, a 22-year-old university student, was arrested in Tehran while wearing her hijab out of accordance with Iran\u2019s mandatory hijab law. After being taken into custody, her family was told she had a heart attack and a brain seizure and had been rushed to the hospital. Days later, she died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast to the statements released by the government which claimed Amini had preexisting health conditions that led to her death, witnesses reported seeing Amini being violently beaten by the police. Later, autopsies showed that she likely died of a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage due to head trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A series of protests erupted which only led to more violence from the government and police brutality. More than 200 people have been killed by security forces while protesting as of press time. Protesters risking their lives to make their voices heard call for civil rights protections, the revocation of religious requirements and prosecution against the police involved in Amani\u2019s death, among other things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the world, people have risen up to show support for the Iranian protesters, and Californians are no different. UC Berkeley released a statement<\/a> on the protests Sept. 23 with resources \u2014 but students, especially those who are not Iranian or directly connected to the protests, must be careful not to conflate reading and reposting such statements with tangible and direct support of the Iranian community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Iranian Students\u2019 Cultural Organization, or ISCO, the best way that students can help is by continuing social media activism, signing petitions \u2014 especially the petition<\/a> to remove Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women \u2014 and sending letters to local and national representatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Specifically, ISCO noted that continuing to upvote people in Iran and their videos or social media posts can help continue momentum in Iranian efforts. They suggested following the Instagram accounts @middleeastmatters<\/a>, @iraniandiasporacollective<\/a> and @from___iran<\/a> and keeping up with their content, also while using the \u201cMahsaAmini\u201d hashtag when posting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The group also suggested people visit the website \u201cFreeiranfreeworld<\/a>,\u201d which can help individuals draft letters to the White House and other nationwide representatives, urging the officials to \u201csocially support the Iranian people and stop legitimizing the regime as a government to be negotiated with,\u201d according to ISCO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe greatest help to keep posting and sharing and talking,\u201d ISCO representatives said in an email. \u201cThere\u2019s also weekly protests and demonstration within and around most major cities in the world, having non-iranians there is always an amazing show of strength!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is never any excuse to remain uninformed about violence happening around the world, however unpleasant it may be to hear. Listen to your Iranian peers, stay informed and do what you can to stop the oppression of protesting in Iran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact Editorial Board at editorialboard@dailycal.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n LAST UPDATED<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOVEMBER 07, 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SOMA CHU | STAFF EDITORIAL BOARD NOVEMBER 07, 2022 (DailyCal.org) Content warning: discussions of violence, death and police brutality In recent weeks, the world has watched as the Iranian government attempts to violently quiet protests in the wake of Mahsa, or Zhina, Amini\u2019s death in police custody. Amini, a 22-year-old… Continue reading