For my sister, your sister, our sisters.
“For my sister, your sister, our sisters. For women, life, freedom.”
These words have become a rallying cry for those fighting for the rights of women in Iran.
On September 16, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was killed in Tehran under police custody after being arrested for not wearing her hijab according to government standards.
In the following days, Nika Shakarami, and Sarina Esmaeilzadeh were also killed fighting for equitable treatment.
Amini’s death and its significance in the push for equitable treatment of women in Iran were also felt by Iranian students at NC State.
Alan Yeh, a Master of Industrial Design student known for his vibrant murals on campus, was approached by the NC State Iranian Student Association (ISA) to use his talents. Together, they are making an effort to bring awareness to the significance of Amini’s death and the treatment of Iranian women everywhere.
A fellow student connected Yeh and ISA. The organization has also been working to bring together students through events on campus, such as a recent memorial to the life of Amini.
“As a designer, I believe every piece of art can speak louder than words, so I decided to reflect that,” the student said. “I am a fan of graffiti because it is a strong form of expression but I couldn’t do it, so I asked Alan for help. He was so supportive and we together could come up with an idea for that mural and he drew that masterfully.”
When it came time to paint, it was more than just Yeh who arrived at NC State’s Free Expression Tunnel to commemorate the moment – Iranian and allied students from across the university united to raise awareness as well.
“It was an honor to be asked to help paint this mural on behalf of the Iranian Students of NC State,” says Yeh. “I think as designers, it is our duty to speak up for the disadvantaged and to promote kindness in whatever ways we can. I’m happy I was able to play a small part in bringing awareness to Women’s ongoing struggle in Iran to fight for their rights.”
This post was originally published in College of Design Blog.
