NORTHRIDGE - Holding pink candles displaying photos and reciting poetry, friends and supporters of Iranian-American student Esha Momeni gathered Wednesday evening at California State University, Northridge, to support her safe return to the United States.
Momeni, 28, was working on her graduate thesis film about the women’s movement in Iran when she was taken into custody there Oct. 15. Authorities initially said they stopped her for illegally passing another vehicle, but later went to her home and confiscated her computer and films.
She was then taken to Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, where she spent more than three weeks in solitary confinement until this week, when she was released on $200,000 bail.
Wednesday, Momeni’s friends and family were happy that their vigil, originally planned as a protest of her arrest, had become a celebration of her freedom. But they also know she remains in Iran, where she could still face charges.
“We are happy she is free,” said Roja Bandari, a close friend of Momeni who spoke at the vigil. “But her story is not over. We want her back home.”
Momeni is a member of Change for Equality, a campaign launched by Iranian female activists in September 2006.
Hassan Hussein, a neighbor and friend, said Iranian authorities have assured Momeni that they want to expedite her case.
Momeni, who has reportedly lost about 10 pounds, has been surprised by the international notoriety that her case has spurred, and Hussein said she “wants me to apologize for putting everyone through this.” But at CSUN, many students called Momeni a hero and a role model.
Sporting “Free Esha” T-shirts, students and professors alike denounced the detention of Momeni and many other women’s- rights activists in Iran, some who are still in prison.
“What Esha did was not illegal or unethical, even by Iranian law,” said Nayareh Tohidi, CSUN professor of women’s studies.
“She tried to be a bridge between two cultures, an ambassador for peace, and she wanted to bring dialogue between two cultures. We need policymakers to understand that to bring democracy in Iran, we need to support the internal movements for social change.”
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