2008 Woodie Awards
Freedom Concert rocks for Iranian justice
Lauren Tilton
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: A & E
Ever wonder what it would be like to not have that freedom? To have to do exactly what your government or other leaders tell you to?
For Iranians this is not a hypothetical situation. It is a reality.
On Monday at 8 p.m. in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, the Freedom Concert is scheduled to raise awareness about the people of Iran's daily fight for that precious ideal: freedom.
For just $3, students will be treated to inspiring speakers, rocking music, and what is hoped to be a good time.
Senior Jason Guberman-Pfeffer, who is a Civil Rights Fellow for the HAMSA (Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance) Initiative of the American Islamic Congress, is organizing the Freedom Concert.
Guberman-Pfeffer hopes to raise consciousness about ways to work with Iranian dissidents, especially students, in their struggle to strengthen civil society, cultivate human rights, and build a liberal democracy in Iran.
"By bringing together students, faculty, musicians and prominent human rights activists we are sending a strong message. The daily violations of the Iranian people's most basic freedoms by the Islamic Republic in Iran, are illegal and we will not be accomplices (silent or otherwise) to them," said Guberman-Pfeffer.
Speaking at the event as a keynote speaker is Lily Mazahery, a Persian-American human rights lawyer.
Mazahery has been in charge of several women's and children's rights campaigns internationally, many in Iran. She has also managed the cases of several dissident Iranian students and founded the Washington D.C.-based Legal Rights Institute.
The other keynote speaker, Kianoosh Sanjari, is one of the most well known student activists in Iran and will be speaking for the first time at an American university.
Since first being imprisoned for his activism when he was 17, he has experienced the torture of being an Iranian prisoner first-hand. Now 25, and having received political asylum in Europe, he brings his first hand account of the human rights violations in Iran to us.
"Undoubtedly, many people in attendance will be there for the music and with Chaz Cybulski, Jeff LeBlanc, and Joe Beleznay performing they will certainly not be disappointed," said Guberman-Pfeffer.
There are eight talented musical acts that will hit the stage on April 7. Some will be making their Sacred Heart University debut, and others who are not a stranger to our campus. For more information about the bands or the concert in general, visit the Web site that was set up by HAMSA, www.iranfreedomconcert.com.
"Jason Guberman-Pfeffer has been working extremely hard at making this not only a great exhibition of music, but also speech. I think as a campus we need to be a little more cerebral; more aware of what's going on around us," said senior Jeff LeBlanc.
For Iranians this is not a hypothetical situation. It is a reality.
On Monday at 8 p.m. in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, the Freedom Concert is scheduled to raise awareness about the people of Iran's daily fight for that precious ideal: freedom.
For just $3, students will be treated to inspiring speakers, rocking music, and what is hoped to be a good time.
Senior Jason Guberman-Pfeffer, who is a Civil Rights Fellow for the HAMSA (Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance) Initiative of the American Islamic Congress, is organizing the Freedom Concert.
Guberman-Pfeffer hopes to raise consciousness about ways to work with Iranian dissidents, especially students, in their struggle to strengthen civil society, cultivate human rights, and build a liberal democracy in Iran.
"By bringing together students, faculty, musicians and prominent human rights activists we are sending a strong message. The daily violations of the Iranian people's most basic freedoms by the Islamic Republic in Iran, are illegal and we will not be accomplices (silent or otherwise) to them," said Guberman-Pfeffer.
Speaking at the event as a keynote speaker is Lily Mazahery, a Persian-American human rights lawyer.
Mazahery has been in charge of several women's and children's rights campaigns internationally, many in Iran. She has also managed the cases of several dissident Iranian students and founded the Washington D.C.-based Legal Rights Institute.
The other keynote speaker, Kianoosh Sanjari, is one of the most well known student activists in Iran and will be speaking for the first time at an American university.
Since first being imprisoned for his activism when he was 17, he has experienced the torture of being an Iranian prisoner first-hand. Now 25, and having received political asylum in Europe, he brings his first hand account of the human rights violations in Iran to us.
"Undoubtedly, many people in attendance will be there for the music and with Chaz Cybulski, Jeff LeBlanc, and Joe Beleznay performing they will certainly not be disappointed," said Guberman-Pfeffer.
There are eight talented musical acts that will hit the stage on April 7. Some will be making their Sacred Heart University debut, and others who are not a stranger to our campus. For more information about the bands or the concert in general, visit the Web site that was set up by HAMSA, www.iranfreedomconcert.com.
"Jason Guberman-Pfeffer has been working extremely hard at making this not only a great exhibition of music, but also speech. I think as a campus we need to be a little more cerebral; more aware of what's going on around us," said senior Jeff LeBlanc.
Be the first to comment on this story