U.S. Demonstrations
Public demonstrations demanding justice for Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman unjustly beaten and killed by religious police in Tehran, have spread to multiple universities and cities across the United States and Europe.
Louisiana State University, in tandem with over 15 other universities today, hosted a noon rally, where its Iranian community gathered in droves and loudly and passionately demanded justice.
Iranian Americans of all ages gathered in front of the L.S.U. Student Union, holding signs, distributing flyers to students, employees and locals, which informed of Mahsa Amini’s murder, as well as the subsequent human rights violations, such as massive media shutdowns in Iran.
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Protestors holding powerfully meaningful signs calling for justice in the freedom-depleted nation
Local protesters chanted, in unison, their ambitions of reform in Iran. “Be the voice of Iran,” “Iranian lives matter,” “They are killing our family and our friends,” “Our internet is shut off,” were all powerful chants that echoed loudly through the campus. Many students stopped to learn more, and to voice their sincere wishes.
As of 23 September 2022, Mahsa Amini protests in Iran continue, though the government has reverted to its 2019 strategy of malicious internet shutdowns to suppress the voice of its people. However, this evening, Elon Musk’s Starlink, a remote satellite constellation capable of providing internet to remote regions, was given clearance to be activated in Iran, following U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s orders to restore free media and speech to the Iranian people.
Link: https://twitter.com/madscottyy/status/1573370127802073089?s=46&t=95TuctA-eD6IkWM0PxWIjQ
“Be the voice of Iran” a local Iranian American proclaimed
President’s Response
After Mahsa Amini’s murder, President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in New York for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
A female American reporter asked Raisi why his country’s internet was blocked in the wake of Amini’s death and widespread protests during his speech to the United Nations assembly, after he was accused of neglecting protests at home during his General Assembly Speech. The reporter also cited a statewide text message issued to the Iranian people warning that anybody taking part in public rallies may face legal repercussions.
In spite of Iran’s low human rights ranking (#5 out of 177 nations, according to the Fraser Institute), and arbitrary murdering of protesters, Raisi casted himself as a savior for the protection of human rights.
Raisi claims he has ordered an investigation into the killing. He then followed by mentioning that more than 81 women had been slain in the United Kingdom and the United States during the protests. Raisi went on to ask the journalist why western media had not reported these issues, stating “These things can happen anywhere.”
Later, he said the media was being hypocritical for ignoring these incidents and promised that Iran would not tolerate the “trampling” of anyone’s rights.
Murders of protestors, restrictions against free media, arbitrary arrests, censorship, and numerous other human rights violations continue in Iran. Ambulances have been seen used for undercover transport of police and transport units after mass arrests. Evin Prison in northern Tehran, where many ambulances were seen in front of , is reported to have a wing called “Evin University” due to the mass number of college students arrested and left there.”
