Joe McFarland, Schulich School of Engineering
Dec. 7, 2022
Schulich prof thinks of her home country in calling for end to gender-based violence
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women has taken on a different meaning for Dr. Laleh Behjat.
Remembering the lives of the 14 women killed at L鈥橢cole Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989 has when she has spoken at 草莓污视频导航 memorials in the past.
However, Behjat, PhD, says it鈥檚 also important to recognize the injustices still happening around the world, with one particularly close to her heart.
The Schulich School of Engineering professor and NSERC Chair 鈥 Women in Science and Engineering (Prairies) is originally from Iran, where nationwide protests erupted following the Sept. 16, 2022, death of Mahsa Amini, and have continued for months.
The 22-year-old died in the custody of Iran鈥檚 morality police, after she was
鈥淚t鈥檚 been 80 days since Mahsa鈥檚 death ignited the fury of Iranian people and started the feminist revolution,鈥 Behjat said during the Dec. 6 memorial. 鈥淭his movement declares its essence in three words: women, life, freedom.鈥
'We really, really need you'
A few dozen people were on hand for the ceremony, including a few holding signs reading 鈥淢y heart is with killed kids鈥 and 鈥淪ay his name,鈥 referring to men killed in the protests.
Behjat acknowledged that thousands have been arrested and hundreds have been killed during the protests, including children.
鈥淲hat do we do in the face of such horrors?鈥 she asked attendees. 鈥淗ow do we fight such violence? And isn鈥檛 fighting violence an oxymoron?鈥
Behjat then spoke of the protest anthem, entitled For, which speaks of the desire of women in Iran to be free to enjoy dancing and being seen kissing someone.
鈥淚 believe the best way to act against violence is to choose kindness, caring and love,鈥 she said. 鈥淥therwise, we will be stuck in a cycle of violence.鈥
In a heartfelt moment near the end of her speech, the protesters held their signs in the air as Behjat reminded those in attendance to think of the women, children and families in her home country.
鈥淚 ask you to take action for those who are oppressed because we really, really need you,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e need you to remember those who have fallen and we need you to help us break the silence.鈥
We need your messages of love to remind us that we deserve to be free, to have dreams, to have a normal life.
Equality and inclusiveness for all
The ceremony, which was hosted by 草莓污视频导航 Students鈥 Union president Nicole Schmidt and Graduate Students鈥 Association Vice-President Student Life Masume Akbari, MSc鈥18, also featured a speech from 草莓污视频导航 Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Penny Werthner.
Werthner said it鈥檚 important for 草莓污视频导航 and others to host events like this, as educational institutions want to create opportunities for everyone.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what education is all about: equality and inclusiveness for all,鈥 said Werthner. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the reason a day like this is so important to remember all of the victims of inequalities that have happened.鈥
She said silence is not the answer, adding the hatred displayed around the world is in our own backyard as well, as witnessed by the events of L鈥橢cole Polytechnique and the ongoing revelations around missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
鈥淚 hope we gather today to say 鈥榥o more,鈥欌 Werthner said. 鈥淥nly equality and meaningful, real, tangible equality that is felt by every boy and girl will break this cycle, and that is my hope today that each and every one of us, in this room and beyond, dedicate ourselves to.鈥
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