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Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014 · Volume 60 · Issue 3 · December 16, 2022
‘It is like war’: Protests against injustice in Iran impact families By Joss Broward
Senior Lena Masoumi and her family watch an Iranian news broadcast. “You’re suddenly under the spotlight and it’s uncomfortable. But the other part is there is finally a light being shined on something that should have had a light on it so long ago. I guess it’s a good and bad thing in one,” Masoumi said. (Photo by Joss Broward)
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ollowing the death of a 22-year-old Iranian woman named Mahsa Amini, widespread protests erupted across Iran. Human rights violations and police violence toward protestors and women have deeply affected both Iranian citizens and students at HHS, senior Lena Masoumi said. Iran’s security forces issued a statement claiming Amini, arrested for violating Iran’s hijab law, died due to underlying disease soon after her detention. However, her death has sparked suspicion, with Amini’s family stating she was beaten to death by police, according to NBC. Across Iran, protestors have demanded an end to the often arbitrarily-enforced laws placed on women restricting clothing, travel and relationships. The nationwide outrage has been met with excessive force by the Iranian government, who acknowledged that over 300 protestors have been killed and 18,000 arrested, according to NPR. “Everyone is just so mad at how voiceless they are and how irrelevant their presence feels because they have their whole life dictated for them from birth,” Masoumi said. “People are finally starting to stand up to the government about it, and now they are losing their lives over it.” Masoumi, who moved to the United States from Iran with her family in 2016, said she would have been protesting if she still lived there. “My dad and I talked about it, and
I would have been out on the streets in the first line of people,” Masoumi said. “I’d probably either be dead or in police custody.” Like Masoumi, senior Roxy Faridjoo said she is deeply affected by ongoing protests due to familial connections. “This hits really close to home,” Faridjoo said. “My grandparents are still living there, and I couldn’t talk to them for two weeks. I had no reason to think they would be in danger, but I don’t know. The fact that I have my grandparents there— it’s hard to hear about.” Faridjoo also said the uproar in Iran has affected her relationships with her family, as well as their mood. “My parents don’t really like talking about it with me,” Faridjoo said. “I have been trying to not think about it too much, and I am sure they are terrified themselves. [My grandparents] talk about it even less to me. They are all trying to hide me from it.” Masoumi has been in close contact with family living in Iran, including her aunt, Mary Mohammadi. She requested that her name be changed for this article due to fear of retaliation from the Iranian government. “It is like war,” Mohammadi said. “Every day you see more people getting killed. More teenagers and children. It is hard to watch.” A large number of those killed by Iranian police have been shot by accident. Other Iranians were shot for honking their
horns in support of the protests or peacetestors and civilians, like Masoumi’s childfully engaging, according to CBS News. hood friend and Mahsa Amini, by raising “Going outside is especially scary when awareness on social media. it is busy and there are protests going on “The only thing other people can really because I am constantly thinking, ‘What if do is actively try to make sure the world that were to happen to me?’” Mohammadi knows what is going on,” Mohammadi said. said. “That way, it’s not just kept in the On Nov. 5, 227 out of 290 Iranian dark, where the government can do as lawmakers issued a statement asking for they please because no one is watching. harsh punishments to be handed out Like Mohammadi, Masoumi said she to the thousands of thinks it is essential arrested protestors. to raise awareness “It is like war. Every day you see about the issue on Since then, multiple protestors have been more people getting killed. More social media, emphasentenced to death, teenagers and children. It is hard sizing that the life of according to The New her friend could deto watch.” York Times. Mary Mohammadi pend on action taken Masoumi said she by the international knows one of the arrestcommunity. ed protestors, a close childhood friend. Although Masoumi, Faridjoo and Mo“She was posting a lot at the start of hammadi have different connections to the protests, and she and her friends were Iran, they all emphasized their love for the graffitiing walls, writing on floors, taking country and its people. their hijabs off and braiding their hair “I just want people to know the real together,” Masoumi said. “Then she just Iran and that the people are good,” Mowent quiet and shortly after her Instagram hammadi said. “It is a beautiful country. got deleted.” It’s just that the government is so corrupt. Support from other countries is lackBut, I want people to know that we are not ing, Mohammadi said, particularly counthe killers everyone thinks we are.” tries who benefit from Iran’s struggles. While it may be challenging to envi“It’s heartbreaking,” Mohammadi said. sion a future different from the ongoing “They definitely could do a lot more to violence being experienced by those in help and potentially be the reason things Iran, Mohammadi said she can. get better.” “All these people sacrificing their lives Additionally, Mohammadi and Masoubelieve that it is for change, and I do too,” mi said those living outside of Iran can Mohammadi said. “Maybe not soon, but it help combat the injustice faced by prowill happen. It will happen.”
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Respiratory viruses on the rise Flu, RSV, COVID-19 cause increase in absences By Parth Dhaulakhandi and Nathan Gu Pandemic precautions, such as masking and social distancing, have grown more relaxed at HHS and around the Bay Area
since last year. As a result, flu and other respiratory virus cases have increased during the fall, adding to the already widespread COVID-19 cases throughout the community, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. In November of 2021, 0.57% of Santa Clara County emergency department visits resulted from influenza-like illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which
is a common virus causing cold-like symptoms. That percentage has jumped to 2.79% this year, according to Santa Clara County health experts, triggering concerns among health experts. “This is the first year where we’re not only facing COVID, but also increased influenza activity and unusually high levels of RSV,” Dr. Sarah Rudhman, assistant health officer of the Santa Clara County Public
Health Department said in a press conference. Physics teacher Daniel Nunez said he recently contracted COVID-19. Nunez said that the symptoms he experienced were similar to the ones he associated with the flu, preventing him from coming to school for six days.
See Rise in flu, page 3
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