Sparked by the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini, the civil unrest engulfing Iran has entered its second month. Amini died while in police custody after having been arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict hijab law, and in the ensuing protests, demonstrators have called for greater freedom for women and an end to theocratic rule.
The demonstrations have garnered support across the Middle East, the U.S., Europe and Asia.
“What distinguishes the present struggle for civil liberties and democracy in Iran is the nature of its driving force,” said M. Rahim Shayegan, UCLA’s Amuzegar Professor of Iranian and the director of the UCLA Pourdavoud Center for the Study of the Iranian World. “It is led by young, educated women of all ethnic and social backgrounds, united in their desire to live in dignity and happiness within an equitable and free society.”
In the weeks ahead, UCLA faculty and administrators are planning several events that will offer opportunities for members of the campus community to examine the events in Iran and discuss a range of issues that have emerged.
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