Academic Senate: Resolution in Solidarity with women and University Communities in Iran

San Francisco State University, Academic Senate

RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN and UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES IN IRAN

In recognition of the death of MAHSA JINA AMINI, the 22-yeard-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who was brutally beaten on September 13, 2022, in Tehran, Iran, and later died at the hands of Iran’s morality police, we wish to express our sadness as well as our solidarity with the courageous Iranian women raising their voices for human rights and freedom as expressed in their rallying cry “WOMAN-LIFE-FREEDOM.” We further wish to express our solidarity with university students, both women and men, as they participate in peaceful protests even while being met with a violent crackdown by state police with as many as 133 people now being killed in protests throughout Iran.

WHEREAS: the international movement for women’s bodily autonomy and freedom is a global struggle and Iranian women have risen up despite efforts to silence their voices; and

WHEREAS: San Francisco State University (SF State) is university community that values social justice, equality and respects the rights of women; and

WHEREAS: Students throughout Iran’s universities and high schools are participating in the movement to challenge inequalities, discriminatory laws, and risking their lives to do so; and

WHEREAS: Iranian students, activists, and professors are being arrested, beaten, and imprisoned at an alarming rate for participating in these protests and are unable to share their videos and news due to an internet blackout by their own government; and

WHEREAS: The SF State campus reveres our diverse and inclusive mission that welcomes students from all over the world to study here, including those from Iran as well as from the Iranian diaspora; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the SF State Academic Senate stands in solidarity with women, girls and the men who are participating in these acts of resistance against discrimination and violence, and strongly condemns the violent response to students protesting at universities across Iran (beginning with Sharif University on October 3rd, 2022); and be it further

RESOLVED: That the SF State community stands in solidarity with the global movement for women’s rights and with the people in Iran, and especially with the women and girls who raise their voices with courage in demand of human rights, justice, and freedom; and be it further

RESOLVED: That SF State honors the students throughout Iran’s universities and schools, as well as the scholars, journalists, and nations who are involved in the movement for the human rights of all citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the SF State Academic Senate stands with the local Iranian Diaspora communities in support of their well-being; and be it further

RESOLVED. That SF State extend emergency admission to scholars at risk in Iran, and make accommodations for students studying here currently who face unimaginable pain and worry for their friends and family in Iran; and be it further

RESOLVED: That we at SF State support domestic and overseas Iranian students and women, and the movement for “WOMAN-LIFE-FREEDOM,” and be it further

RESOLVED: That this resolution be distributed to the President and Vice Presidents, the Academic Affairs Council; the employees and students of San Francisco State University; the Senates of the California State University campuses; the Academic Senate of the CSU; the Office of the Chancellor; the Board of Trustees; and the U.S. Senators and the U. S. Members of Congress representing the S F State service region.