Protests reach Orange County following death of Mahsa Amini

Nikki Kalhori, co-president of Chapman’s Iranian Student Cultural Organization, pauses during a local demonstration in support of Iranian women. Photo by Caroline Applegate

Iranian people and supporters around the world have been protesting after the recent death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from Iran’s Kurdistan province who the Iranian morality police took into custody after she wore a hijab incorrectly, according to Iranian law.

Members of Chapman’s Iranian Student Cultural Organization have hosted several protests and demonstrations have come together to show support for Mahsa Amini, Iranian women and other Iranian people around the world. Photo courtesy of Nikki Kalhori

After the Islamic Revolution, Iran enacted a law in 1981 requiring all women to wear hijabs in public.

An Iranian coroner’s report on Amini determined that the cause of her death was pre-existing medical conditions. Iran’s police department said she died from a heart attack, but Amini’s family contested this fact. 

A viral photo and video on social media showed Amini unconscious in a hospital bed with multiple injuries that several Iranian doctors said are signs of a concussion from trauma to the head.

Soon after Amini’s death, Iranians started protesting against the government’s oppression of women both on social media and throughout the streets of Iran. In response, the Iranian government banned access to various social media platforms and security forces have clashed against the protestors to try to suppress the protests.

People around the world have also organized protests since Amini’s death, including some in Orange County. Over 1,000 people congregated at Mason Park in Irvine Oct. 1 to participate in the “Global Day of Action for Iran” protest. Here, participants blocked the intersection of Culver Drive and University Drive, held signs and chanted support for activists in Iran.

Senior psychology major Nikki Kalhori, co-president of Chapman’s Iranian Student Cultural Organization, told The Panther that the protests have brought a mix of emotions.

“It’s honestly been so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time,” Kalhori said. “To see that so many women are willing to come together, so many people are willing to come together to show support for Mahsa Amini, all the Iranian women and all the Iranian people who are actually not in Iran.”

Kalhori organized the Iranian Student Cultural Organization’s protest in the Orange Circle that took place Oct. 15 to stand in solidarity with Amini and other women in Iran. More than 50 people attended the protest.

People have continued to protest the killing of Mahsa Amini in Iran and around the world, including Orange County. Photo courtesy of Nikki Kalhori 

“Our goal, like all the other protests, is to raise awareness in the community and have an opportunity for the Iranian community and non-Iranian people to come together and show support for each other and follow through on our shared mission,” Kalhori said.

Kalhori also expressed that she only wanted people to participate if they truly believed in supporting women’s rights in Iran.

“I don’t want people there to feel like they had to come because whatever reason,” Kalhori said. “I want those people to be there because they want to be there, because they want to support me, they want to support my (Iranian) sisters, they want to support my family (and) they want to support any of the Iranian people that they know they want to support.”

The Iranian Student Cultural Organization also organized a demonstration in Attallah Piazza on Oct. 17. President of the club, senior biology major Kayla Ghodsi and her co-president planned the protest with the help of two other club members — junior psychology and Spanish double major Nina Zand and junior psychology major Yasmine Agahi.

“There are not enough people aware of these tragic events that began when Mahsa Amini was killed due to not properly wearing her headscarf,” Ghodsi told The Panther. “Now there are hundreds of innocent people dead and millions fighting for sociopolitical change. We want to use our voice in order to amplify their message and help spread awareness.”

Zand said that the organization received positive reactions and succeeded in informing Chapman students about the unrest in Iran.

“It was heartwarming to see that many people were interested in learning more about the current situation in Iran,” Zand said. “Sadly, many people did not know about the recent events. However, by the end of our conversations, many people were able to understand why this issue has been so frustrating for not only Iranians, but for other women and people who fight for their rights around the world.”

Protests are still happening in Iran despite a death toll of 201 people killed by security forces as of Oct. 12.