University students and faculty respond in solidarity to protests in Iran
On September 13, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by police in the Iranian province of Kurdistan over a law requiring women in Iran to adhere to strict religious dress codes, alleging Amini had worn her hijab too loosely. Amini died in police custody three days later, sparking large-scale protests, beginning at Amini’s funeral before spreading across the rest of wider Iran. Protesters have called for changes to the enforcement of religious dress codes in the country, with some protesters going further to call for their abolition entirely as well as the end of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s reign in Iran.
Marches in support of the movement have also appeared in several other countries around the world, including France, Germany, Sweden, the United States, and Canada. UofT students have stood in solidarity with protesters in Iran, with over 400 UofT students gathering outside Sidney Smith Hall on October 6. Similar events have previously occurred on campus, including rallies on September 22 and 23, as well as a community vigil outside the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office on October 3.
UofT President Meric Gertler condemned the violation of human rights in Iran leading to and after the death of Mahsa Amini in a statement on October 5, describing the Iranian government’s actions as “egregious” and “anathema to [UofT].” In his statement, President Gertler promised to provide bursaries through the Scholars at Risk Award Program to UofT students in Iran seeking asylum in Canada.
Student groups have called for UofT to increase the level of support provided to Iranian students, as well as greater media coverage of the situation in Iran and greater support for Iranians at risk from the Canadian government. In an announcement on October 19, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Canada would host a meeting between 15 female foreign ministers to discuss human rights abuses in Iran. Minister Joly also announced additional sanctions on four Iranian organisations and six individuals, including Iranian Deputy Interior MInister Majid Mirahmadi.
More student rallies are being organised in order to pressure both UofT and Canadian authorities to commit to more significant action in order to support protesters in Iran. Director of UofT’s Women and Gender Studies Institute, Shahrzad Mojab, has called on members of the UofT community, including students and faculty, to protest on December 7. The date marks the 69th anniversary of an incident in Iran, when Iranian police fired on protesting students at Tehran University during the visit of then-Vice President of the United States, Richard Nixon. The shooting resulted in three student deaths and is seen as a catalyst for women and human rights movements in Iran.
In his statement, President Gertler reminded students to connect with services at the university if they require any support due to the situation in Iran. Undergraduate students are asked to contact their Faculty or College Registrar, while graduate students can reach out to their department of the School of Graduate Studies. UofT’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office and Multi-Faith Centre are also available to provide support, as well as the Iranian Women’s Organization of Ontario.
