Iran Students Stand: Defying the Regime Despite Arrests, Torture, and Death Across Iran’s Universities
When it comes to students in Iran, the history is both sad and courageous. That country is reaching that point again and the Iranian regime knows it. Students in Iran aren’t just protesting. They’re protesting under threat of serious bodily harm for doing so.
Every December 7 — 16 Azar in Iran — students do more than remember; they bear witness. The date marks the murder of three courageous university students in 1953, shot for protesting foreign interference and authoritarian rule. For Iranian students, universities have long been a battleground for conscience, a place where standing up for freedom can come at the highest cost.
Shirin Nariman, former political prisoner in Iran, Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad and Dr. Kazem Kazerounian, as well as NCRI’s Shahin Gobadi and Ali Safavi are available for interviews to discuss this terrifying prospect.
To put this in an American context, think of Kent State in 1970, when National Guardsmen fired on unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War. Four students were killed, nine wounded, and a nation was forced to confront the cost of dissent. Now imagine if, after protesting, a college student in the U.S. could be arrested, tortured, persecuted, or even disappeared — or worse, executed — simply for speaking out. That is the reality for students in Iran today.
Despite decades of intimidation, surveillance, and indoctrination, Iranian students continue to resist. They circulate underground manifestos, share stories of classmates who have been tortured or expelled, and refuse to let the regime erase their history. Every protest, every statement of defiance, every act of courage echoes the spirit of 16 Azar: that the voice of the independent student will not be silenced.
For the NCRI, 16 Azar is not just a historical footnote — it is a warning flare. The Iranian regime fears nothing more than the awakening of its youth. Every campus crackdown, every expelled professor, every repressive measure is proof that universities remain one of the regime’s greatest vulnerabilities.
This is why Americans should care: because the courage of Iranian students is a universal story of youth standing up against oppression. Just as Kent State shocked a nation into acknowledging the price of dissent, the ongoing struggle of Iranian students demands global attention. Their struggle reminds us that freedom is never guaranteed, and that defending it often comes with great personal risk.
16 Azar is a call to action. It is a reminder that solidarity matters, that speaking out matters, and that the fight for freedom — on campuses in Tehran or in Ohio — continues to shape the future of nations.
Speakers Available:
Shirin Nariman – Former Political Prisoner in Iran
Shahin Gobadi – Member of NCRI Parliament in Exile
Other Speakers Available:
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad – Iranian American Scholar and Cybersecurity Executive
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian – Dean of College of Engineering; expert on Iran’s Nuclear program
Related Article(s)
Iran’s Student Day Explained: Why 16 Azar Still Terrifies the Regime – NCRI
Optional Q&A
- How does 16 Azar in Iran compare to Kent State in 1970?
- What would it mean if a U.S. student faced arrest, torture, or disappearance for protesting?
- Why do Iranian students continue to resist despite decades of repression?
- How do campus crackdowns in Iran reveal the regime’s deepest fears?
- What lessons can Americans draw from the courage of Iranian students?
- How does 16 Azar highlight the universal struggle for freedom on campuses?
- Why is global solidarity important for students risking everything in Iran?
- What can the world do to support Iranian youth standing up to oppression?
ABOUT SHIRIN NARIMAN…
Shirin Nariman is a former political prisoner from Iran, human rights advocate, and entrepreneur.
At just 15 years old, during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she became involved in pro-democracy activities and supported the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Less than two years later, she was arrested for her activism—becoming one of the youngest political prisoners of her time and enduring severe torture in Evin Prison. Her case drew international attention and intervention from the Red Cross.
During her imprisonment, Shirin witnessed the regime’s brutality firsthand, including the executions of children, elderly women, and pregnant prisoners. After her release, she eventually sought refuge in the United States, where she has dedicated her life to advocating for human rights, women’s rights, and a free, democratic, non-nuclear.
Shirin holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and has worked with leading wireless and financial corporations.
ABOUT DR. MOHAMMAD H. TASOOJI…
Dr. Mohammad H. Tasooji, a professor at California State University San Marcos, is an accomplished engineer, educator, and industry leader. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, an M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University, and a Doctorate in Communication Systems from USC. Dr. Tasooji has held senior management roles at leading technology firms, including Qualcomm, Ericsson, Gtran Wireless, and Nokia. He contributes to clean-energy innovation as CEO of Sienza Energy.
ABOUT SHAHIN GOBADI…
Shahin Gobadi, a U.S.-educated nuclear engineer, is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Parliament-in-Exile.
An astute observer of Iranian affairs for over three decades, Gobadi is an expert on topics including state-sponsored terrorism, proxy groups in the Middle East, the nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Western policy toward Iran, and internal affairs.
He has been interviewed by major international media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, BBC, Sky TV, GB News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, and the Associated Press. Gobadi’s writings have appeared in prominent media across the U.S. and Europe.
ABOUT DR. RAMESH SEPEHRRAD…
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad is a leading Iranian-American scholar, published author, cybersecurity executive, and human rights advocate, known for her tireless efforts to advance a non-nuclear, secular, and democratic republic. As Chair of the Advisory Board of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), she plays a pivotal role in bipartisan majority of congressional advocacy, including support for various house resolutions, which endorses the people’s aspirations for freedom and Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan.
Born in Shiraz, Ramesh’s commitment to justice is deeply personal. Her family endured brutal persecution under both the Shah’s monarchy and the current theocratic regime. Several relatives were imprisoned, tortured, or executed for their opposition to tyranny—an experience that has shaped her life’s mission to amplify the voices of oppressed.
After seeking refuge in the United States in 1985, Dr. Sepehrrad earned a B.S. in Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo, an M.A. in Political Science, and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She has also taught graduate courses on conflict, gender, and human rights at George Mason, University of Connecticut where she was inducted as the Distinguished Engineer, and University of Baltimore.
Professionally, she has held senior executive roles in cybersecurity and risk management where she has earned numerous industry awards and recognition.
Through academic rigor, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilization, Dr. Sepehrrad is a compelling voice for democratic change in—rejecting both monarchy and theocracy in favor of a republic rooted in gender equality, human rights and the rule of law.
ABOUT DR. KAZEM KAZEROUNIAN…
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and served as Dean of the College of Engineering from 2012 to 2024.
He is a member of The Free Iran Scholars Network. A passionate advocate for democracy and human rights, Dr. Kazerounian is also an expert on the Middle East, particularly regarding the nuclear issue, and human rights situation there. He has contributed widely through scholarly articles, invited talks, and media interviews on regional affairs and the democratic movement there.
Nationally, he has held leadership roles with ASEE and ASME, shaping engineering policy and education. His honors include the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award, AIMBE Fellowship, and induction into the Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering.
An ASME Fellow, his research spans kinematics, robotics, and biomechanics. He has authored over 160 scholarly works and co-founded AcademicKeys.com and AcademicJournal.com, a professional platform and an online journal for academics.
ABOUT ALI SAFAVI…
Ali Safavi is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
A sociologist by training, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. He was an active participant in the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the United States and has been deeply engaged in Iranian affairs ever since.
Safavi has lectured and written extensively on Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and Middle Eastern politics. He has appeared in interviews on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, Sky TV, Newsmax, and France 24. His articles and commentary have been published in leading outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, The Boston Herald, The Washington Times, and The Financial Times.
This material is distributed by Special Guests Publicity LLC on behalf of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) / Media Strategy Consulting LTD. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. CONTACT: For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SeasonalLiving.com
