Iranian American Women Foundation is holding a candlelight vigil in honor of Mahsa Amini and the women of Iran at West Hollywood Park, Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 5:30pm.
The vigil, which will be held both in-person and virtually, honors Mahsa Amini (Persian: مهسا امینی), also known as Jina Amini or Zhina Amini (Persian: ژینا امینی; Kurdish: ژینا ئەمینی), the 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in police custody, as well as the countless Iranian women risking their lives in the movement for women’s rights and freedom. West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Sepi Shyne will be in attendance, along with Councilwoman Sharona Nazarian, and other community leaders.
Amini’s death has resulted in a series of large-scale protests across the country which garnered international attention, including a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, putting a focus on violence against women in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Several leaders, organizations, and celebrities around the world condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the protesters. The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on the morality police and Iranian leaders in various security organizations.
At a regular West Hollywood city council meeting on Monday, September 19, 2022, Mayor Pro-Tem Shyne adjourned the meeting in memory of Amini. She has also taken to her social media platforms to to condemn her death and bring awareness to the women who are risking their lives and protesting while they are being shot at with birdshot and metal pellets, being tear gassed, and subjected to water cannons.
