The CSUN Performance Ensemble onstage at the vigil, next to a picture of Esha. Photo by dailynews.com. |
Esha Momeni, a graduate student in the mass communication program at
California State University, Northridge (CSUN), was arrested in Iran on Oct. 15, 2008 for researching the Iranian women's movement. She was held in solitary confinement for 25 days. During this time, a group of students in California campaigned for Esha's release and safe return to Los Angeles. Their key event was a vigil held for her at CSUN on Nov. 12, 2008.
The Please Free Esha Online Archive brings together images, videos, documents, commentary, and interviews related to the student-led human rights campaign for Esha. It contains information about all aspects of the vigil, including planning, promotion, media coverage, and participants. The archive serves as: (1) a model for other grassroots organizers, and (2) a collection of artifacts from a significant event for students and their university. Learn more
About Esha and
her academic research.
The Arrest
After two months of conducting research for her thesis and visiting family, Esha was pulled over on Modarres Highway in Tehran. The undercover police who stopped her claimed she had made an illegal pass. They took Esha to her family's home and searched it, confiscating her computer and video footage she'd filmed for her thesis about the Iranian women's movement. She was held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison, without bail, until Nov. 10, 2008. Watch
CNN's Breaking News Video about the arrest.
Before her release, Esha was charged with acting against national security. Her academic research focused on
Change For Equality, a group working to change Iranian laws that discriminate against women. Esha was conducting interviews in the homes of members involved in the One Million Signatures Campaign-an effort to collect signatures from Iranians who seek better treatment of women in their country.
When bail was granted, Esha's family paid it ($200,000) by mortgaging their home. The Iranian government would not return her passport, and, later issued an official travel ban. This means Esha is not permitted to leave Iran, return home to Los Angeles, or finish her academic studies as planned. Her legal problems are shared by others in Iran. According to a special report by UN human rights experts, the Iranian government has been cracking down on women's rights advocates engaged in non-violent activities. As of November 2008, the U.N. issued communications to Iran about human rights violations against more than 70 members of the One Million Signatures Campaign. Read the United Nations press release.
Photo of Esha with her camera provided by her friends.
|
The Vigil
News of Esha's arrest reached us and her other classmates on Oct. 22, 2008 when members of the
One Million Signatures Campaign sent a Facebook message. The news quickly spread through text messages and word of mouth. We were shocked! We were also concerned, knowing the United States doesn't have diplomatic relations with Iran. Our department chair, Kent Kirkton, and graduate adviser, Melissa Wall, held a meeting for students to discuss Esha's situation. At the meeting, a group of us decided to organize a candlelight vigil to show our support and help spread the word about her imprisonment.
Although Esha was released two days before the vigil, she still faced serious charges. We proceeded with the event as a celebration of her release and to call for her safe return to Los Angeles, so she could finish her degree.
