On September 16, 2022, Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, was arrested in Tehran for improperly wearing her Hijab in accordance with government laws. At the police station, witnesses saw her brutally beaten by the "morality police", resulting in her death. This savage killing and assault on women's rights led to mass protests against the Islamic Republic regime, led by Iranian women seeking an end to their oppression.

These events led to the Women-Life-Freedom movement, which has inspired Iranian and non-Iranians around the world to march in solidarity with Iranian people fighting for their basic human rights.

The response of Iran's authoritarian regime to these protests has been horrific, leading to more arrests, the loss of hundreds of innocent lives, including children, and executions of those who participated in the rallies. The regime's brutal crackdown on dissent continues to be lethal and designed to maintain control over the Iranian people.

The Iranian diaspora community is collectively experiencing immense trauma and hardship because of these events. The Office of Inclusion and Diversity at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine; the UHN Research Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Committee; and the UHN Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Antiracism Office are organizing an in-person event to support the Iranian community. The event will include speeches by Iranian women and social networking among participants.

Speakers:

• Gelareh Zadeh, Professor and Dan Chair, Neurosurgery, University of Toronto; Harold and Esther Halpern Chair in Neurosurgery; Head of Neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital/Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Medical Director, Krembil Brain Institute, UHN 
• Solmaz Barghgir, Registered Psychotherapist, Podcaster لام تا کلام 
• Mojgan Hodaie, Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto; The Greg Wilkins - Barrick Chair of International Surgery/Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute, UHN 
• Solmaz Alizadeh, Market Access Manager at Innomar Strategies

Moderators:

• Mana Modares, PGY2 Radiology Resident, University of Toronto 
• Azadeh Yadollahi, Senior Scientist, KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, UHN

ACCESSIBILITY
The auditorium is located on the second floor of the Toronto Rehab Institute and can be accessed using the Elm Street entrance. A large elevator on the main floor provides access to the auditorium to those with mobility issues. If you have any questions or other accommodation needs, please contact the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, Temerty Faculty of Medicine via medicine.oid@utoronto.ca, or the UHN Research IDEA committee via edi@uhnresearch.ca.