Mural Opportunity to Support Iranian Diaspora in Toronto
Are you a building owner that would have wall to donate for a mural. Please see the below message from Shirin Karoubi of The University of Toronto. Contact her at shirin.karoubi@mail.utoronto.ca if interested.
For the last 40 days Iranian people have been demanding basic human rights and freedoms through peaceful protests. Unfortunately, Iran's peaceful protests have been met with brutal killings and torture by its current dictatorship along with a total shut off of internet to ensure that the rest of the world is unaware of what is happening in Iran.
The Iranian diaspora across the world have been working tirelessly to make sure that the voices of those in Iran are heard and that the current governments atrocities do not go unnoticed. This mural would be one example of that.
I have listed below any questions you may have surrounding this initiative and please let me know should you require any other details.
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What is going on in Iran?
On September 16th Jina Amini (Mahsa Amini) was killed by Iran’s morality police for improper wearing of the hijab. Irans government has strongly denied this despite evidence from the autopsy. Since Jina’s death and for the last 40 days, the Iranian people have been demanding basic human rights and a democratic government through peaceful protests. The government of Iran have responded with brutal crackdown of protestors which includes, torture, killing, rape, and arrests. There has been outrage across the world and weekly solidarity protests that range from 10,000 - 100,000 thousand people in attendance, including in Toronto.
Is this a political statement?
No, this would be a memorial mural. Additionally, the situation in Iran is a unique one as it is not a polarising issue, the people of Iran are looking to establish basic human rights and a democracy.
Who and how would this memorial help?
Toronto is home to the second largest Iranian population outside of Iran. This mural would solidify Toronto as a home to the Iranian Canadian citizens that had to leave their homeland due to the oppressive government as well as build a sense of community.
Would this be associated with an organisation?
No, we are a group of artists that span across North America looking to create murals in the cities that house a large number of Iranian diaspora
Are there examples of other murals?
Is the situation in Iran Islamophobic?
No, they Iranian people are demanding , among others, the right to choose what they wear including hijabs. Muslim and non-muslim Iranian people are united in the push for change.
