By Kara Thompson 

This story has been updated.

The Iranian Students’ Foundation at the University of Maryland has traditionally hosted an event in December of every year to celebrate Yalda, or the winter solstice. But given the ongoing conflicts and human rights violations in Iran, this year’s event looked a little different. 

In August, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died at the hands of the morality police. Since then, protests have erupted across the country and nationwide, fighting back against the government’s brutality. Since the protests, an estimated 18,000 have been detained, and over 300 have died — activist groups estimate the death toll to be closer to 450. 

Instead of hosting a Yalda celebration, this year ISF decided to host a vigil to honor all those whose lives had been lost in the violence against the Iranian people. 

“As the weeks went by, the protests were getting worse and the number of people that were passing away and getting murdered wasn’t getting any less; it was getting a lot more,” ISF’s president said. “Our Yalda celebration is usually super happy and we have a lot of dances and we just thought it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

This year’s vigil consisted of several songs, both performed live and recorded versions that guests could sing along with, poems, and a contemporary dance based off of choreography that has been performed in protests around the world. 

“We just chose songs that are centered around the revolution because Iranians are very artistic,” ISF’s president said. “Whenever these things come, people always make songs and there’s a lot of those songs, so we just played those.”

The performers at the vigil put a good deal of thought into how they could show their support and respect for those fighting in Iran without making light of the situation. 

Board with photos and names of some of those who have lost their lives in the ongoing protests in Iran. Photo by Kara Thompson.

“We had somebody recite some poems, which is just like traditional stuff, it’s not inherently happy stuff,” she said. “For us, it’s just important to go back to our roots and our tradition; that’s really what it’s all about.”

Another student in ISF, who prefers to remain anonymous due to safety reasons, agreed that having the vigil was important.

“The whole thing is so many people have lost lives and we know more lives are going to continue to be lost in this battle, so it’s just a thing of respect,” the student said. “It’s a dark moment in Iran’s history, but I think it’s also a hopeful one.”

Although ISF will not hold a formal Yalda event at UMD this year, Iranian students will still celebrate the solstice at home with their families.

“I think celebrating it is important because that’s what our culture is and that’s what the government is trying to take away from us,” ISF’s president said. 

The anonymous student agreed. 

“I think it’s also important to remember the beautiful parts of Iran,” the student said. “It reminds you this is what we’re fighting for: the culture, the history, the people. We are fighting to preserve this because currently what’s happening, the government is trying to take away and destroy every bit of Iranian history and culture.”

Hand-printed photos given out at the vigil. Photo by Kara Thompson.

In addition to the performances, ISF was fundraising for six children back in Iran who live in poverty and deal with varying struggles, such as addiction and medical issues, on a daily basis.

“These kids are just kids from Kermanshah, and Kermanshah is an area in a part of Iran [where] there’s a lot of poverty,” a student member said. “So those kids are more at a chance of being harmed.”

The six children were chosen through contacts ISF members have back in Iran.

“All of us have people that we know back at home, and they know people and these kids just happened to be the ones that we had the more (sic) direct access to,” the student said. “There’s a lot of kids just like them and I wish we could help every single one.”

Featured image: Table set up in the lobby of Riggs Alumni Center, with photos, candles and flowers honoring those who have died in Iran throughout the months of protests. Photo by Kara Thompson,