[ As an Iranian ] to universities >> IN progress > Demand for something

We, Iranian Students of University of [], are writing to request your recognition for the recent events in Iran. On September 16th, 2022, a 22-year-old woman by the name of Mahsa Zhina Amini was tragically killed by the “morality police” in Iran. As a result, protests have erupted in Iran and around the globe in support of women’s rights, human rights, and freedom. In the last few weeks, the Islamic Republic has shut down the internet in the country, which has left us in the dark about our friends and family back home while people are getting killed in the streets. 

On Sunday, October 2nd, students and faculty peacefully protesting at the Sharif University of Technology were besieged and attacked on their campus. Dozens of students have been arrested so far, with many more injured or killed. There are reports of similar crackdowns in other universities across Iran. Every year, US institutions offer admission to hundreds of students from Iranian universities, including Sharif University. The students being targeted in Iran today are the same students that could one day come to American institutions, like [university name]. 

At this moment our Iranian community is engulfed in fear and sadness by the injustices that our family and friends are facing back home. We are feeling as though our educational institutions have abandoned us through this continued silence. Thus, it is crucial for our community that [university name] takes a public stance in recognizing these acts of violence. Just as the [university] took the time to recognize other international and domestic human rights affairs in the past, it is now the time to act and give the same attention to the Iranian student population.

A public statement will make the Iranian students, faculty, and alumni of [university],  many of whom are Sharif University alumni, feel supported and heard, and enable the greater university communities to understand the gravity of the situation in Iran. The very students being targeted in Iran today are prospective students of our campus and deserve to be heard for the difficulties they are experiencing at this moment. 

As the [organization’s name], we would be more than happy to assist you with further information and reliable resources about what is happening in Iran in case you need more details before sending out the public statement.

Additionally, we are kindly requesting [university name] to provide: (i) an application fee waiver as the current economic situation and degraded internet access make paying the fees very difficult for students applying to University institutions, (ii) a deadline extension for the submission of applications and test scores as students in Iran currently may not have the opportunity to take online-based tests.