Confederation of Iranian Students, USA

We stand with you

2009-06-28T20:06:00.001-07:00

To all our brothers and sisters in Iran we stand with you.

We mourn each and every life that is lost.

We love you and you are all in our hearts.

Please know that the whole world is witnessing your efforts for a secular democratic Iran.

May God bless you all and our wonderful country Iran.

Confederation of Iranians Students, USA Chapter

CIS USA conference on U.S. Iran relations held at NOVA College

2009-05-22T04:03:00.001-07:00

CIS USA held a U.S. Iran relations conference at Northern Virginia Community College(NOVA) on April 28, 2009.

Dr. Shahin Fatemi, scholar and U.S. Iran expert, Amir Abbas Fakhravar the former Iranian Jailed dissident and student leaders from various U.S. colleges discussed lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries and offered innovative ideas on how to approach the problems.

Iranian Female artist executed

2009-05-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

Confederation of Iranian Students condemns the execution of Iranian female artist Delara Darabi who died on May 1, 2009 in the city of Rasht. May God bless her soul...

Amnesty International released a statement regarding her death. Here is the statement.

WASHINGTON - May 1 - This morning, Iranian authorities executed Delara Darabi in Rasht Central Prison. She is the second person to be executed this year after being convicted of a crime she was alleged to have committed while still under 18, Amnesty International revealed today.

"Amnesty International is outraged at the execution of Delara Darabi, and particularly at the news that her lawyer was not informed about the execution, despite the legal requirement that he should receive 48 hours' notice. This appears to have been a cynical move on the part of the authorities to avoid domestic and international protests which might have saved Delara Darabi's life," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program.

Delara Darabi was executed despite her having been given a two-month stay of execution by the Head of the Judiciary on April 19.

"This indicates that even decisions by the Head of the Judiciary carry no weight and are disregarded in the provinces," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Delara Darabi was convicted of murdering a relative in 2003 when she was 17. She initially confessed to the murder, believing she could save her boyfriend from the gallows, but later retracted her confession. She was being detained at Rasht Prison in northern Iran since her arrest in 2003, during which time she developed a significant talent as a painter.

Amnesty International does not consider her trial to have been fair, as the courts later refused to consider new evidence which the lawyer said would have proved she could not have committed the murder.

Amnesty International had campaigned for her life since her case came to light in 2006, urging the Iranian authorities to commute her death sentence and calling for a her re-trial in proceedings that meet international standards.

The execution of Delara Darabi brings the number of executions in Iran this year to 140. She is the second woman known to have been executed. Iran has executed at least forty two juvenile offenders since 1990, eight of them in 2008 and one on January 21, 2009, in total disregard of international law, which unequivocally bans the execution of those convicted of crimes committed when under the age of 18.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

CONTACT: Amnesty International
AIUSA media office, 202-544-0200 x302,
Laura Spann: lspann@aiusa.org

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CIS will hold a US Iran Panel at NOVA

2009-04-23T01:24:00.000-07:00

US IRAN Panel at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Join a panel of experts with Iranian and American students as they discuss the future of U.S. Iran relations at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 1:30 PM

What: Award winning writer, Amir Abbas Fakhravar and a group of student leaders from various U.S. colleges will discuss U.S. Iran relations.

Who: Confederation of Iranian Students at Nova College will be hosting the event.

When: 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Where: Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) - Alexandria Campus
Bisdorf Building, Room 196
3001 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311- 5097

Come and join the dynamic panel on U.S. Iran relations with fresh ideas as they discuss U.S. Iran relations.

Be part of this exciting event.
Light refreshments will be served.

New CIS Members at NOVA College

2009-01-23T22:07:00.000-08:00

Confederation of Iranian Students, US Chapter would like to welcome the new members, Meghdad and Bardia.

The new bilingual members currently study at NOVA college and bring a wealth of knowledge to our US chapter.

Happy Holidays and God bless the US troops

2008-12-17T00:37:00.000-08:00

On behalf of Confederation of Iranian Students in the United States, we would like to extend our gratitude to the American troops who are fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

May God bless you all and may God keep you safe.

Thank you for all the sacrifices you make.

Wishing all our friends around the world a great holiday season filled with happiness and joy.

CIS Photo Journal in London

2008-11-02T01:47:00.000-07:00

CIS USA and CIS UK members attended a panel in the House of Commons.

The panel disucssed confronting the clerical regime without launching a military strike.

CIS appeared in major news networks in London. CNN, Fox News Channel, BBC World News Television and Radio, Voice of America Persian News Network

Student dissident movement group joins Council for a Democratic Iran

2008-10-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

CDI met with Senator Tom Coburn, Republican from Oklahoma on September 11, 2008, to discuss the current political and social situation in Iran. Broadcasting to Iran was another key topic discussed in the meeting with Senator Coburn.

CIS PRESS, Washington, DC

Confederation of Iranian Students (CIS) is pleased to join forces with Council for a Democratic Iran, (CDI) for the common goals and values of promoting democracy and human rights in Iran.

Council for a Democratic Iran, (CDI) is a non profit organization dedicated to promote democracy, human rights and rule of law in Iran. CDI serves as an umbrella group for dissident movements in the US and around the world.

President and founder of CDI, Dr. Behrooz Behbudi wants to facilitate an arena for young Iranians to come together to exchange ideas and build team work.

Dr. Behbudi asked Amir Abbas Fakhravar, Iranian jailed dissident, writer, journalist, and founder of Confederation of Iranian Students to work with CDI.
"I think we both have a lot in common even though we were both living in two different countries,” said Dr. Behbudi.

Dr. Behbudi added, “Fakhravar was a young student who suffered politically and financially but had the same goals as I did. I was fighting to promote democracy in Iran from North America while he was fighting in Iran, now we have joined forces together for the same noble cause of promoting democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Iran.”

CDI was formed in February of 2008 to raise global awareness about the absence of democracy and human rights in Iran and to bridge the gap between the people of Iran and the international community.

CDI is committed to broadening the conversation so that the opinions of those living inside Iran are heard around the world. Ordinary Iranians have the same desires and dreams as people everywhere: to live in a country of peace and freedom where their voices matter. We want to invite all Iranians to join the discussion about their country’s future.

About Confederation of Iranian Students

Confederation of Iranian Students (CIS) was officially launched on November 2002 with a number of students and political activists inside and outside of Iran with the leader of Amir Abbas Fakhravar, jailed dissident, writer, and award winning journalist.

CIS has more than 4000 members inside and outside of Iran. CIS is one of the largest independent student organization that is dedicated to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Iran. CIS strives to empower the will and the confidence of young Iranians, build team work, and educate students on freedom of expression, freedom of press, and freedom of religion.

CIS also has a large presence in many countries of Europe and North America. CIS members work closely with Amnesty International to bring the latest news about the situation of political prisoners and executions in Iran.