Local Iranians and other Santa Barbara residents demonstrated their solidarity with the global movement for women’s freedom in Iran during a downtown rally Sunday afternoon at State and Canon Perdido streets.
Aazam Feiz, a Persian language and literature lecturer at UC Santa Barbara, led the event, with UCSB’s Middle East Ensemble and World Dance for Humanity providing the cultural connection. Those in attendance were invited to join World Dance in ethnic-style dances, and later continued their demonstration with a march on State Street.
“We are here today to be the voice of people in Iran,” Feiz told about 200 demonstrators, who ranged in age from the elderly to young children.
“Widespread protests for women’s rights and human rights have erupted across Iran, instigated by the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a 22-year Iranian woman who died while in custody of the Iranian Morality Police for wearing her hijab loosely,” she said.
As anti-government demonstrations in Iran have spread in the aftermath of Amini’s killing, government security forces have quashed the rallies with lethal force.
“Hundreds of people, including children, have been killed so far,” Feiz said.
Security forces beat, shot and detained students at Sharif University of Technology, Iran’s top university, while students at other colleges continue protests against the government, she said.
“Brave women of Iran, with Iranian men beside them, are currently fighting for freedom, human rights and women’s rights,” Feiz said.
“It was a demonstration,” she added. “Now it is a revolution.”
— Marcia Heller is a Noozhawk copy editor. Contact her at mheller@noozhawk.com.