Saeed Siahtiri, an Iranian doctoral student studying mechanical engineering at the University, used to call his family living in Iran a few times a week. Now, he is only able to call once a week for around one to five minutes, just to ensure his family is safe.
Since January 8, Iran has been facing nationwide Internet blackouts and protests over the nation’s currency, the rial, plunging in value.
The Iranian government has acknowledged over 3,000 citizens have been killed during the protests, though the actual number is estimated to be over 36,000, according to Iran International
“Life is not normal like it was,” Siahtiri said.
Though Internet access has returned for some, it is still strictly controlled, leaving many citizens still in the dark, or only able to access the Internet for a few minutes each day. Siahtiri said that he, as well as other Iranian students, worry about their family, since they are unable to receive daily updates.
He said during the initial blackout, they “didn’t even know if [their families] were alive or not, in the hospital injured or safe at home,” he said.
Hadi Rouhi, an Iranian doctoral student studying chemical engineering, said that some of his friends have experienced depression since losing the ability to contact their families.
“Imagine you can not just not talk to your family for a month. This regime is doing that,” he said. “Not only are the people inside the country suffering, but people outside the country, like my friends at the University, are also suffering.”
Iranian students in the United States are often on single-entry visas, meaning that they cannot re-enter the United States on the same visa. For many Iranian students, this means that during their time in school in the U.S., they cannot return home to visit their families.
Rouhi said that for most Iranian students, the only way they can keep in touch with their families is via phone call. He called the Internet blackout a “hardship that we are suffering right now.”
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene to support protestors. Though he has not acted militarily, he said he has been following Tehran’s response to the protestors and has sent an “armada” of warships toward the Middle East “just in case.” Trump also said he would impose tariffs on countries doing business with Iran, and his administration has imposed sanctions on Iranian entities and people connected to the crackdown.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East is set to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Istanbul on Friday.
Students from the Iranian Students Association tabled in the Student Center on Tuesday in an effort to provide information to students on the situation in Iran. The group had handouts with pictures of people who had been killed.
The majority of protesters that have been killed are under 30 years old, according to Iranian state media reports.
“The young generation, they’re going to the street when they want a change,” Rouhi said.
Another handout said that Iranian students are asking for the world to recognize the killings and target the regime’s military centers instead of civilians. It read that many Iranian students cannot speak out publicly without risking their families, requesting that those who are able use their own platforms and communities to speak out.
“Supporting the Iranian people is not charity or idealism,” the handout read. “It is strategic self-interest for the world.”
The ISA will continue to table in the Student Center on Friday, and hope to reach more students to bring awareness to the ongoing crisis in Iran.
“If you have any voice, be our voice,” Siahtiri said.
Hence then, the article about be our voice iranian students seek support amid protests was published today ( ) and is available on The Crimson White ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Be our voice’: Iranian students seek support amid protests )
Also on site :
- Cozy Tuesday, tracking a dangerous heatwave this week
- Blackpink’s Jisoo to Receive Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at Canneseries
- Disgusting! Mamdani Hosts Columbia Hamas Superfan Mahmoud Khalil for Ramadan Meal at Gracie Mansion