RALEIGH, N.C. — Almost 100 people stood in solidarity in support of Iranian rights on Friday afternoon. The Research Triangle Park Iranian-Americans held a rally in front of the state Capitol to show support for the people in Iran working to stop violence and genocide by the Islamic Republic.


What You Need To Know

  • Almost 100 people stood in solidarity in support of Iranian rights on Friday afternoon in Raleigh

  • Organizers say Iran’s revolution is about atrocities and oppression

  • One Iranian-American who lives in N.C. believes it’s her responsibility to help support freedom in her homeland

It’s been 105 days since protests erupted in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. She was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her mandatory headscarf correctly. The 22-year-old died on Sept. 16 in morality police custody and Iran’s government insists she was not abused.

Iranian-Americans, including in North Carolina, continue to hold rallies.

Asal, who is Turk and Persian, is one North Carolina resident who attended the rally on Friday. She asked not to use her last name out of concern her family could face retaliation from the government in Iran.

She was born in Iran and came to the United States with her parents when she was in high school for a better life.

“Ever since this regime occupied Iran, 43 years ago, the first thing that they did was oppress women,” Asal said. “When I live in the United States and have this freedom that I didn't have back in my own country, it is my responsibility to say and be as loud as I can for my people.”

In her heart and mind, she carries the stories of dozens of protesters reportedly killed by the regime. She keeps their photos on her iPad.

“They are my brothers and sisters. I'm an only child so whenever I see my friends, my brothers and sisters who are my age and they are risking their lives for freedom for Iran, I can't stay silent. It affects me,” Asal said. “I have been looking at this folder every single night. It's a reminder to never give up. Never give up for what you believe in. Never give up for your country. Always stand up whenever you see injustice anywhere in the world, not just in your country.”

She and other protesters are calling on U.S. and world leaders to use their power.

“It's a terrorist regime. You don't deal with terrorists. You expel their diplomats. You close their embassies and no nuclear deal,” Asal said.

By joining rallies in North Carolina, she’s hoping to keep the flame of resistance in Iran going.

“At the end of this revolution, I hope that, I truly pray and I'm very hopeful that this regime will be out of Iran for once and for all,” Asal said.

Asal is studying international relations in college and hopes to one day return to Iran to help her homeland on the journey to democracy.

In late November, an Iranian general acknowledged that over 300 people have been killed during nationwide protests and unrest in Iran. That number is much lower than the toll reported by the U.S. based group Human Rights Activists in Iran. That group says more than 450 protesters and 60 security force personnel have been killed, while more than 18,000 people have been detained.