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Statement on One Year of Zan, Zendegi, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom)
September 16, 2023
IMESC Statement: One Year of “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi”
One year ago today, Mahsa Jina Amini’s young life was taken as a result of state violence meted out by Iran’s so-called “Morality Police.” She had been detained for allegedly improper observation of Iran’s mandatory hejab. Her death sparked an unprecedented uprising demanding democracy and dignity for all Iranians. Demonstrations across Iran and around the world, many of them led by women, called for an end to the theocratic system and the creation of a government that would represent and protect all Iranians equally, irrespective of gender, social status, or religious faith. That movement, known as “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” or “Woman, Life, Freedom,” continues to ignite and inspire struggles for democracy in Iran and across the globe.
The Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center at Sacramento State honors Mahsa Jina Amini on this day, the anniversary of her death. The Center strongly supports the incredible movement that burgeoned in her name. We add our voice to the chorus of organizations condemning the undemocratic and repressive moves by the Iranian government aimed at suppressing the voices of the people, including women, workers, students, journalists, teachers, artists, academics, and others, fighting for a democratic future for Iran and Iranians.
--Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center
Selection of statements from academic and human rights organizations across the United States, provided for further reading and reference:
Association for Iranian Studies, Committee for Academic Freedom (AIS-CAF) – Statement on Expulsion and Suspension of Iranian University Faculty in Advance of the One-Year Anniversary of Woman, Life, Freedom Uprisings
Amnesty International – Statement on Combatting Impunity for Brutal Crackdown, One Year After Start of Uprising
Middle East Studies Association of North America – Board Statement in Support of Protests in Iran
Middle East Studies Association of North America, Committee on Academic Freedom (MESA-CAF) – Letter Protesting Punitive Measures Against Iranian Women Students
Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies – Statement in Support of Protests at Sharif Institute of Technology in Tehran
Association for Iranian Studies – Condemnation of the Sentence and Imprisonment of Professor Saeed Madani
Campus Collaborations
IMESC is proud to work in collaboration with campus partners on the following projects.
"The Seen Iranian Woman": Fashion View into Iranian Politics, CSUS Library Gallery Exhibit led by FACS faculty Jaleh Naasz, October/November 2023
"World Culture Festival": A celebration of cultures around the world in the University Union Ballroom, September 21
IMESC Leadership
Director:
Sahar Razavi
Intern:
Joshua Boben
Advisory Committee:
Kiu Hekmat
Mimi Hekmat
Maryam Rahimian
Majid Rahimian
Hanieh Molana
Sadaf Ashtari
Campus-Related Resolutions in support of "Woman, Life, Freedom" Movement
ASI Resolution in solidarity with the Iranian Community
Date: 10/12/2022
Author: Pacheco, Boulos, Ayoubgoulan
Subject: Resolution in Solidarity with Iranian Community Legislation No.: 2022/23-10-37
Passed on 10/12/2022
Whereas, Associated Students Inc. at California State University, Sacramento (ASCSUS) is the sole representative voice of more than 31,000 students at Sacramento State; and
Whereas, it is the duty and focus of ASCSUS to represent and support our students, and advocate for policies that would benefit the student body; and
Whereas, California State University, Sacramento supports Iranian students through its partnerships with the Iranian and Middle Eastern Center on campus; and
Whereas, The Sacramento region is home to over 15,000 Iranian people1; and
Whereas, The United States is the most popular destination for Iranian immigrants and California is home to approximately 54% of them2; and
Whereas, over 75 protesters have been killed by the Iranian government3; and be it
Resolved, ASCSUS stands in solidarity with our Iranian students, faculty, staff, and community during this horrific time; and be it
Resolved, we mourn the lives lost during the Iranian protests in result of the death of Mahsa Amini; and be it
Resolved, we condemn the Iranian government for their lack of protection and oppression of Iranian citizens; and be it Resolved, ASCSUS calls on the Sacramento State community to be supportive and informed of the progressive horrors in the Iranian nation state; and be it finally
1 https://www.peoplegroups.info/site/MetroHighlight/id/40900/name/Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville
2 https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/iranian-immigrants-united-states-2021
3 https://www.iranintl.com/en/202209276024
Resolved, that this resolution be distributed to Sacramento State President, Robert S. Nelsen; Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Carlos Nevarez; Vice President of Student Affairs, Ed Mills; Mia Settles-Tidwell, Ed.D, Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, University Diversity Officer; Faculty Senate Chair, Adam Rechs; Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center Director, Sahar Razavi; California State Student Association President, Krishan Malhotra; all remaining 22 Associated Students Presidents; and California State University Interim Chancellor, Jolene Koester.
ACADEMIC SENATE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
AS-3582-22/FA/JEDI (Rev) November 3-4, 2022
SOLIDARITY WITH IRANIAN UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES PROTESTING VIOLENT REPRESSION IN RESPONSE TO THE “WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM” MOVEMENT
RESOLVED:
That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) call for the immediate declaration of solidarity with the people in Iran who are engaged in citizen manifestations; and be it further
That the ASCSU recognize that, following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Iranians arrived in the United States with over 40% settling in California, specifically in the Los Angeles County. By 2021 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran reported that 1,500,000 Iranians born in Iran lived in the U.S, known as the Iranian Diaspora. This group constitutes the largest number of Iranians outside of Iran, many of whom are members of the CSU as faculty, staff, and students; and be it further
That the ASCSU urge the CSU Chancellor’s Office and CSU Campus Senates to support campuses in their support of diverse programs focusing on Middle Eastern Studies which are important sites of community-building and education for all CSU students, faculty, and staff; and be it further
That the ASCSU encourage the CSU Chancellor’s Office and CSU Campus Senates to develop formal processes to assist students and scholars in Iran who seek refuge in the U.S. because of the violent responses to their dissent in public spaces; and be it further
That the ASCSU exhort the CSU Chancellor’s office leadership and all CSU campuses make public appeals to our representatives and our governments to address the human rights crisis that has incarcerated over 14,000 people - sentencing many to death with more than 400 people already killed as of January 2023 - and stand in solidarity with Iranian and Iranian American (a.k.a. the Iranian Diaspora) students, faculty, staff, and their community; and be it further
That the ASCSU distribute this resolution to the CSU Board of Trustees; CSU Chancellor; CSU campus Presidents; CSU campus Senate Chairs; CSU campus Senate Executive Committees; CSU Provosts/Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs; CSU campus Middle Eastern programs and faculty; California Faculty Association (CFA); California State Student Association (CSSA); CSU Emeritus and Retired Faculty & Staff Association (CSU-ERFSA); Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges; University of
Academic Senate CSU AS-3582-22/FA (Rev)
California, Academic Senate; California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors; University of California Board of Regents; Honorable Governor Newsom - Governor of California; California Assembly Higher Education Committee; California Senators Alex Padilla and Diane Feinstein; Chief of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the United States at the Pakistani Embassy; and the U.S. Department of State.
RATIONALE: The human rights crisis that erupted in Iran has a deep connection to our campuses and our communities. Human Rights Watch researcher, Tara Seehri Far, reported on September 16th1 “News outlets reported that a 22-year-old Iranian woman from Sanandaj in western Iran, named Mahsa (Zhina) Amini was arrested by Tehran’s ‘morality police.’ Following her arrest, she is said to have been transported to a hospital in a coma dying the same day”. Multiple news outlets report that the Iranian authorities describe the arrest of Ms. Amini as resulting from “improper” hijab attire.
The ASCSU takes this action out of concern and compassion for our colleagues, students, and neighbors2. California and the California State University are home to hundreds of thousands of Iranians who are part of the Iranian diaspora. Many have family connections to Iran and other Middle Eastern nations which harbor asylum-seekers and refugees who suffer the lasting effects of the multiple periods of hostility against dissenters .... California has the largest population of Iranian and Iranian American students outside of Iran.
As of the beginning of November protestors in Iran are being charged with dissent actions that will lead to the death penalty, over 14,000 have been arrested, and put to death with 400 already killed. Moreover, many protestors are being shot on site including children.
Various campuses have passed resolutions supporting Woman, Life, Freedom, including San José State University: https://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/SS-F22-1.pdf, San Francisco State University, https://cids.sfsu.edu/news/academic-senate-resolution- solidarity-women-and-university-communities-iran, Sonoma State University, https://senate.sonoma.edu/resolutions/resolution-regarding- university-response-protest, and CSU Dominguez Hills, Exec 22-10: Sense
1 https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/16/woman-dies-custody-irans-morality-police
2 Article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (by Karin Fischer, in Latitudes Newsletter) about the open letter
published 10/19/22: (second article in the newsletter) — please share with others: https://cids.sfsu.edu/news/academics-urge-solidarity-iranian-protesters
Academic Senate CSU AS-3582-22/FA (Rev)
of the Senate Resolution CSUDH Support and Solidarity with Iranian Women and University Communities Manifested in “Woman, Life, Freedom”.
It is imperative that the CSU continue to stay informed on the rapidly changing condition of people in Iran. Resources for updated information are being circulated by Iranian Diaspora faculty members.3 This resolution is a collaborative effort brought out of concern and a need for action by the CSU as in other comparable historical period such as the Holocaust, the deportation of immigrants and refugees, and other global struggles.
3 SF State TEACH-IN (10/7/22): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIONnkaLCmM Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies at San Francisco State University
Resource list: about the context of protests in Iran that the Center worked on with folks at the Association for Asian American Studies: https://cids.sfsu.edu/news/woman-life-freedom-resources-protests-iran "An Open Letter to Presidents, Chancellors and Provosts of U.S. and Canadian Institutions” penned by Professors Camron Amin, Sholeh Quinn and Persis Karim which is now posted on the Center's website and includes the link to the letter that others can sign - please share the link to the letter with colleagues far and wide! https://cids.sfsu.edu/news/us- and-canadian-scholars-issue-open-letter-calling-university-administrators-take-action