Shortly after hearing of her death, Iranian people, particularly women, erupted in protests over not just her death, but the religious laws that target women in particular.

The Iranian Students Association organized the event as a way to show solidarity with the protestors in Iran and bring attention to the situation. Chemical engineering doctoral student Yasheen Jadidi said he hopes they can be the voice for the people of Iran.

“They struggle to talk about what's going on because the government blacked out the internet,” Jadidi said. “A lot of the people here have family, obviously, friends and people we know there that are struggling. And even if you are able to make contact with them, some of them are so scared that somebody might even be listening on that call or something like that.”

Chemistry doctoral student Samin Aayanifard said it is frustrating when she doesn’t see news of Iran making headlines in all news outlets and when misinformation is spread. She said many people are unaware of what is going on or consider it just a Middle Eastern issue. 

“Specifically at MSU, because we didn't receive any university-wide statement, we really wanted to push the university to stand with the people of Iran and to send out emails that educate people about what is happening,” Aayanifard said.

Disapproval of the lack of response from the MSU administration was a common theme throughout the event. Jadidi said that not many statements have been released from President Stanley or the rest of the administration, especially compared to other issues such as COVID or Ukraine, which had quick responses from administration.

Mechanical Engineering doctoral student Saman Naghavi said that the Iranian Student Association had to email the administration several times about the events in Iran to gain support for student and faculty.

While speaking to the crowd, Aayanifard called out President Stanley specifically for his lack of response to their requests for support. She did, however, express gratitude for Provost Teresa Woodruff for attending the event.

Woodruff did not respond for comment about her attendance at the event by the time of publication.

Another large theme was the importance of educating people, especially MSU students, on what is happening in Iran.

“Really, we're here just to kind of address the audience that maybe is not as educated about what's going on and tell them that there was a woman named Mahsa Amini, she was basically murdered by the police in Iran because she was showing a little bit of her hair from underneath her headscarf,” Jadidi said. “Iranian people are outraged, and we just want to spread awareness about this event and that people are fighting for their freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of democracy, all these things.”

Aayanifard said that she hopes students will spread the message on social media and educate the people around them.

“If they see people are saying it's an economic crisis or it's an issue that we shouldn't care about, educate (them),” Aayanifard said. “Educate them and tell them it's a human rights issue, it's a women's rights issue.”

Naghavi said that seeing what is going on in Iran is overwhelming, but that he just hopes other people across the world can become aware and show their support. 

“I would like to be there (in Iran),” Naghavi said. “It's difficult for me because I'm a thousand miles away from my family and friends, but they have to struggle for their basic rights.”

However, Aayanifard said that after witnessing the amount of people that have risen up, she is hopeful that that change will come to Iran.

“I feel so proud and powerful,” Aayanifard said. “And I feel that all the shame and all the sadness of Iranian women is now turned into anger. Beautiful anger and rage that has led this revolution.”