October 7, 2022 – We, along with the rest of the world, are deeply troubled and concerned by the current events unfolding in Iran. On behalf of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), we condemn the death of Mahsa Amini and all instances of gender-based violence and violations of human rights. Ontario’s universities stand in solidarity with Iranian students, faculty, staff, alumni and citizens, at home and abroad, who are impacted by these events.
As communities of higher learning, Ontario’s universities strive to create safe and open spaces for students, faculty, staff and members of the local community to freely express their opinions. The violent attacks against student protestors at Tehran’s Sharif University are especially distressing and reaffirm Ontario universities’ unwavering commitment to free speech, human rights and playing an active role in creating a more just and equitable society.
We recognize that many members of our university communities have deep ties to Iran and are feeling the impacts of these events. The following resources are available should you, or someone you know, need support:
- For free, confidential support students can reach out to Good2Talk 24/7 by phone 1-866-925-5454 or visit https://good2talk.ca/