Photo from a protest in response to the murder of Mahsa Zhina Amini by the Islamic Republic of Iran

In September 2022, a woman-led uprising emerged in Iran after the murder of a young woman, Mahsa Zhina Amini, in police custody. The Morality Police arrested Zhina for wearing her hijab "improperly." She was tortured and beaten unconscious and died a few days later in the hospital. At CERI, survivors of the Khmer Rouge have found deep resonance in the stories of this movement and understand the interconnectedness of our ongoing liberation struggles through the power of art as a tool for self-expression and international unity. 

While Zhina was not the first woman murdered by State police, her murder catalyzed nationwide protests in Iran. At first, thousands of young people filled the streets protesting compulsory hijab; increasingly, the uprisings grew to encompass a need for greater autonomy—the end to the current regime. This protest became known as the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. This movement lasted for seven months. During this time, over 20,000 protesters were arrested by the Iranian police and army; many protesters, especially women, were shot in the eyes and the genitals by sharpshooters, and over 500 were killed during the protest. While the demonstrations have stopped, the women of Iran continue to refuse compulsory hijab despite threats of violence and incarceration. 

The movement gained worldwide support, and people from various countries have supported them through public protests, philosophical and political writing, dialogues, Literature, art, and music. For those in the Iranian diaspora, there is great sorrow in the inability to be present in their homeland and stand with their people. Thus, Iranians in the diaspora have demonstrated their solidarity through amplifying the voices of Iranians back home and understanding this fight within the context of the ongoing liberation struggle. 

In the US, Dina Asna, the founder of Iranian Women in Networking, started a quilt project in solidarity with Iran's "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. As an activist and artist, Dina has engaged women from different countries in this healing project. Through CERI's collaboration with Dina, we have hosted empowering art workshops for refugee and immigrant community members, starting with the Cambodian refugees. Dina’s workshops use art as a powerful tool for self-expression and international unity. 

Dina and her four assistants showcased beautiful quilts and an array of canvases, all crafted at previous workshops with various communities. These creations served as powerful vessels, embodying not only tales of struggle but the story of emotions, memories, and community. For Dina, a central point was how vital it is to hold space for our different experiences while understanding the interconnectedness of our struggles. Though the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement started as a call to action in Iran, the calls for freedom resonate with all who have lived under tyranny and oppression.