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SALT LAKE CITY — Chants of "say her name" and "Mahsa Amini" echoed across the University of Utah campus as a crowd of students held portraits of the 22-year-old woman who died in Iranian police custody.
The protest is one of many sweeping across the world in support of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely and later died in police custody. Amini was arrested by Iran's morality police on Sept. 13 while visiting Tehran for violating the country's law on headscarves, which are mandatory for all women despite nationality or religion, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
"Mahsa Amini was a daughter, a sister, a friend; to her community, she was known as Jhina. To us, she's a hero who inspired this women-led movement. She's a symbol of courage, empowerment, hope and possibility. She represents women, their oppressed bodies, our suppressed voices and the lost lives of many people in the hands of this Islamic regime," said Ava Anjom, an organizer of Tuesday's protest.
Iranian security forces said that Amini was taken to a detention center to receive training regarding the headscarf law, where she later collapsed from a heart attack. Amini died in a Tehran hospital on Sept. 16 and her family disputes Iranian authorities' accounts saying she had no history of heart trouble.
The U.N. human rights office called for an investigation into her death.
"Mahsa Amini's tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated by an independent competent authority, that ensures, in particular, that her family has access to justice and truth," said Al-Nashif, acting U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
There have been numerous videos of violent treatment of women, including slapping women across the face, beating them with batons, and throwing them into police vans reported to and verified by the U.N. body, according to a press release by the U.N. Human Rights office.
Iranians have flooded the street in support of Amini since her death, resulting in a brutal crackdown by the government. The Iranian government has deployed riot police and many protesters are feared to be dead, injured or arrested in the week of protests. The country has also imposed a near-total internet blackout amid protests and has blocked access to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in an attempt to quell protest efforts.
"The Islamic Republic has demonstrated time and time again that to them a good woman is a dead woman, but the people of Iran are saying no more," Anjom told the crowd.
The death of the 22-year-old has evoked international outrage and inspired protests around the world. Many protesters have been injured or arrested by police with as many as 26 dying, according to state media.
Tuesday's protest by the University of Utah's Persian Student Association was one of solidarity and mourning. The students of the organization spoke of grief and fear for family and friends still in Iran.
One organizer spoke about the loss of his cousin, who was shot while attending a protest in Iran.
"His only crime was marching for women's rights and shouting for all Iranians to hear. His only crime was the vision of the liberator's society," he said. "The regime has not allowed his family to mourn his death. I don't think that things will ever go back to how they were for most of his family and I don't think his sons will ever realize how it feels to grow up having their dad around."
While organizers painted a picture of the terror and grief of their home country, they also called for Western society to elevate the cause.
"I want to remind you that we stood by Ukraine, we stood by the BLM movement. We supported women's right to choose to wear a hijab in the West and their liberty to practice their faith. We supported women's right to choose to be safe and have autonomy over their bodies. We did because those were the right things to do," said Farah Akrami. "Now we asked you to do the same for us. Whether you are a human rights activist, a feminist, an LGBTQ advocate, or believe in freedom of speech, or the right to practice religion and values without fear of persecution — this is your movement."
Mahsa Amini has become the face and name of a movement sweeping Iran, a movement that is more than a headscarf.
"As a Muslim, especially as a hijabi, I have been standing up for the right for women to be able to wear the hijab my entire life. When it came to the women in France who were forced to take their hijab off, I stood up and I said something. When it came to the Uighur Muslims who were forced to take their hijab off, I stood up and I said something. I'm gonna bring that same energy when it comes to the women in Iran," said attendee Areesha Nazir.
While remembering Amini and the movement she has come to represent, it is important to remember her in her entirety.
"Mahsa's identity as a Kurdish woman is oftentimes forgotten ... we need to remember Mahsa for who she was as a woman but also as her identity as a Kurdish woman. The oppressive regime of Iran is going against not only those who want to have a right to choose but also the right to have their own ethnicity," added Zaynab Salih. "I want Mahsa to be remembered also by her Kurdish name, Gina."
