As billions from around the world rang in the new year with renewed joy, laughter, and celebration, people across Iran were met with a starkly different reality. Beginning on December 28, 2025, Iranians throughout the country poured into the streets to voice their bold opposition to the current Islamic Republic and the severe economic crisis plaguing the nation.
Widely considered the largest uprising in Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the demonstrations surged into January, garnering international attention. The violence raged by Iran’s theocratic government on its own people reached a pinnacle in the two-day period between January 8 and January 10. During this 48-hour massacre, the death toll rose to thousands as Iranian security forces employed “shoot to kill” tactics. In total, it is estimated that tens of thousands of protesters, including children and bystanders, have been killed by the regime’s brutal crackdown on dissenting voices.
In order to grasp the significance of the recent protests as a microcosm of Iranian’s decades-long struggle for personal freedom, it is crucial to listen to Iranian perspectives. At UMBC, there is a significant Iranian population represented in student organizations such as the Persian Student Association (PSA) and the Iranian Graduate Student Association (IGSA), both of which serve as vibrant communities for Iranian students at the university.
Shaya Zamani, a senior biological sciences major, Iranian-American, and president of the PSA, is one of the leading voices on campus advocating for peace and human rights in Iran. Both of her parents emigrated from Iran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution in search of greater safety and opportunity.
Zamani is keenly aware of the opportunities and responsibilities she carries as a member of the Iranian diaspora in the United States. “As a woman and student here in America, seeing how conditions have evolved in Iran makes me really emotional,” she said. “Women in Iran are educated and accomplished, but many face increasing legal and social restrictions that make pursuing education, careers, and personal freedoms more challenging. Knowing that larger corrupt political structures could limit your opportunities is heartbreaking. One of my motivations is not even that I am working for myself or my family; it is that I am representing Iranian women. I am doing it for them. It is an honor. When I finally get to say that I have graduated, or achieved something, it is as a collective.”
Zamani, like many other second-generation Iranians around the world, has not been able to visit Iran due to concerns about safety and political uncertainty. She noted the contrast in civic freedoms between the two countries. “Here in America, we can protest and express our opinions openly. In Iran, public dissent — even when peaceful — can carry serious risks. Speaking out against government policies can put individuals in danger.”
As the leader of UMBC’s PSA, Zamani has played a central role in informing the campus community about the protests. She explained that internet restrictions within Iran have made it difficult to access reliable, real-time information. To help combat misinformation, Zamani participates in a group chat with students from universities across the country to coordinate posts, brainstorm events, and fact-check updates before sharing them publicly.
Misinformation, however, is not the only challenge faced by members of the Iranian diaspora. When asked what narratives about Iran or Iranians she wishes were better understood, Zamani drew a clear distinction between Iran’s current political leadership and religion. “We do not want to create more hate. We are not calling for the downfall of any religion; we are calling for human rights and dignity for the Iranian people.”
Zamani also addressed common misconceptions about Iranian attitudes. She emphasized that many Iranians do not have hatred toward other nations, but seek an end to violence, corruption, repression, and loss of life within their own country. Both the PSA and the IGSA share that goal of raising awareness while fostering understanding within the broader campus community.
On February 9, the IGSA held a memorial event on campus to honor the lives lost in the protests and to raise awareness about what is happening in Iran. The gathering included a series of speeches focused on what occurred on January 8 and 9, why the Islamic Republic poses a threat to global stability, and what demands need to be met in order to see meaningful change.
Parham Oveissi, the president of the IGSA, stated, “At the heart of the event was our desire to make clear that what we are witnessing is not an isolated incident, but part of a long history of repression, violence, and silencing of basic human rights in Iran. We gathered to remember the victims, to amplify the voices of those who can no longer speak, and to remind the broader community that the people of Iran are not alone.”
During the memorial, Oveissi shared a powerful introductory speech which deeply resonated with many in the audience. He declared, “What we have witnessed in the past 40 days is not an isolated tragedy. It is the continuation and escalation of a long history of violence…The Iranian diaspora has refused to stay silent — because silence is exactly what this regime depends on. The people of Iran are not fighting only for themselves. They are fighting against a system built on violence, terror, and repression — a system that fuels instability far beyond Iran’s borders. A free Iran means a safer region and a world less threatened by organized violence and extremism.”
As both Zamani and Oveissi echoed in their sentiments, continuing to be informed about what is going on in Iran, understanding the history, and acting through a collective voice tells the people of Iran that they are not alone and that their pain is not invisible.
The PSA Board expresses that they will “continue to aim to amplify the voices of the Iranian people as we witness the horrors online. We mourn for loved ones lost and family and friends who have lost their lives fighting for their basic human rights and freedoms every day. Their courage stays and is what is holding us together.”
Although we may be limited in what we can do, we must never be silent. Let awareness, accountability, and action shape our response to the atrocities in Iran.
Cheyenne Payne is a junior political science and global studies major and content managing editor of The Retriever.
Contact Cheyenne at cpayne3@umbc.edu