One of the biggest movements in the history of the Islamic Regime in Iran is the sudden upheaval and country-wide protest over the unlawful killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was reported to have worn her hijab “incorrectly”. People were told she suffered a heart attack but others say she was beaten severely and died shortly after.
Iran is noted for having one of the strictest dress codes in the world, with headscarves being compulsory for women regardless of their beliefs. For women to take off their headscarves in support of the protests and women’s rights in the country is a huge act of defiance against the Iranian government.
In Canada where there is a good amount of Iranian students attending TRU, the amount of things students can do to support the crisis at home is very limited. Many students acknowledge they are safe here, but their present location makes them feel helpless about the ongoing situation.
A few organized events have taken place during the semester, such as an organized peaceful student protest in support of the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran earlier in the semester and a recently done student panel about the situation in Iran.
Presentation by Students – The Role of Ancient Iranian Women
The event held by TRU Iranian Students, took place on December 5, 2022, in the Clock Tower where five students presented a brief history of Iran and its surrounding regions and some prominent women in its history.
They emphasized Cyrus the Great who had the largest empire the world had ever seen in its history, and the Cyrus Cylinder. The Cyrus Cylinder as told by the students is documented as the world’s first Charter of Human rights, which also served as part of the baseline for the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
One student had a section that talked about the role of women back before the Islamic Revolution.
Women had far more freedom than the women currently living in the Islamic republic now. They could serve in politics, work, come and go as they pleased, and could even own land.
The presenters also noted a special holiday for women in Ancient Iranian times called Espandgan, in which men would honour women and their wives and give them gifts to show their appreciation. It was not noted whether or not this tradition is still in practice today.
Presentation by Students – Modern-Day Iranian Women
One of the students presented a video showing how women lived before the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and after.
The most prominent differences were women not wearing headscarves, almost as if they were embracing western attire and way of living. Women were also shown in stadiums or spending time with friends.
Once the video transitioned to the post-Islamic Revolution, women were shown to be wearing headscarves constantly. There seems to be no individualism anywhere.
The video overall painted a very bleak overview of the current state of the Islamic republic and their people as what most Iranians know it today and what people in the west are most familiar with.
Women are a heavily oppressed minority in Iran despite making up nearly half the population.
Student Discussion Panel
The students each shared an individual feeling about the current ongoing situation. The most common theme shared was that every student felt incredibly helpless because they cannot do much while in Canada. It was clear they were very emotional and tired from watching their country fall apart.
A short discussion was held after the presentation was over about what students, TRU and other universities across the country can do to help Iranian men and women protesting for better rights.
One woman in the audience, an Indigenous woman, noted the similarities between Canada and Iran regarding women, specifically Indigenous women.
Indigenous women and girls are more likely to be raped, killed or beaten a known fact in Canada which also means they are one of the most oppressed groups in the country. Women in Iran are also one of the most oppressed groups in that country as they have heavily restricted rights, and also are more likely to be raped and killed.
Another woman in the audience noted that in Canada, we enjoy the luxury of equal rights and freedoms granted to every Canadian regardless of one’s gender. However, the government could easily strip Canadian rights away overnight.
A man in the audience noted how people in western countries are particularly sympathetic to world tragedies and ongoing issues but the governments pay little to no attention.
An Iranian Student’s Point of View
An anonymous student from Iran had said he is not allowed to go back to his country because of the laws put in place.
“I wake up crying because I see nightmares that I am back in Iran”, the student explains. “There is [constant] bad news every day”.
They express how isolated they feel because no one knows what they are going through or how they are coping. However, they are grateful for being in a safe country.
Supporting Iranian Students
Students who want to support Iranian protests and the students should educate themselves on the matter, as well as listen to the feelings of these students. In many cases, these feelings are fresh and students are still hurting. Everyone must be treated with respect as it is another human being we talk to.
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