In June of last year, at a time when most of us were probably enjoying the first barbecue of the season, the Islamic Republic of Iran held its long-contested presidential elections. When the dust settled, the results were shocking: the infamous and unpopular incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the disputed victor over Mir-Hossein Mousavi and other strong opponents. He supposedly won the election with 63% of the vote while the runner-up Mousavi took only 33%. 

These results were published even before all the votes had been counted, just one of many examples of irregularities during the voting process. Voters responded in kind throughout Iran with protests, arguing that election results were fraudulent. These protests, which began after the election and have been continuing sporadically since, have been some of the biggest demonstrations since the 1979 Revolution. They received violent response: the theocratic government of Iran cracked down on civilians; many protesters were beaten or even killed. The Iranian government itself has confirmed that at least 4,000 protesters were arrested, while also confirming that 36 people were killed. Independent sources go as far as saying that twice that many people were killed, and their voices are growing. Neda Soltan became a household name when a citizen captured a video showing her shot at close range in the chest by a member of the Iranian police. The video soon spread over Youtube and Twitter, and the world watched along with Iranians in shock.

Enter the BYU student. As the protests spread, activists throughout the country used the social networking site Twitter to inform the international community of the situation in Iran and the increasingly restrictive policies of the Iranian government. This government even recently shut down a newspaper and magazine that was supporting the opposition movement against the allegedly stolen election. I began following these protests and wanted to figure out some way to help the Iranian people give voice to their opposition for the apparently dishonest election results. However, I am hardly in any position to travel to Iran and join the protests myself, so I began researching online how to help. These tips can help an average citizen assist the people of Iran. I urge BYU students who care about the human rights of free speech and expression to help Iranian protesters in any of the following ways.

First, get informed. The ultimate cliché is actually a powerful tool: information matters in Iran’s “Green Revolution.” Look up articles in international newspapers and learn the facts about the protests, the Iranian elections, and the leaders of the opposition movement. This is also possible through Twitter, where you can tweet with real Iranians participating in the opposition. Re-tweet or pass along anything you want your friends to know about. Remember that the fight for free speech is as important as the fight against the elections; Iranian authorities are severely limiting the capabilities of Twitter and the internet in general as the protests go on, making it harder for the world to know what is going on inside Iran. Just as individual citizens in Utah who happen to have access to the Internet, we can have a very real role in fighting this system.

Second, help out the Iranian people over the Internet. One awesome way is to actually construct your own internet proxy that the Iranian people can use to bypass the filters imposed by the Iranian government. Proxies are a way for users of the internet to bypass internet censorship like the kind being currently instituted in Iran. A quick Google search can tell you what to do, and it lays out the steps pretty clearly on how to make a proxy. This can help the Iranian people spread the word about what is really happening inside the country. Many bloggers and activists in Iran have been jailed for speaking out against the government. A proxy could help protect many of these people to exercise free speech.

Third, spread the word among your friends. This can be as simple as having a quick conversation, or even changing your Facebook picture to any sign for the “Green” movement. In an interview with the Iranian blogger Potkin Azarmehr, he was quoted as saying “The people in Ir an have felt alone as thought the world does not care about them. It is very important to give them this psychological boost that they are no longer on their own, that the Iranian expatriates around the world are with them and the world is admiring their courage and cares for their plight and that the media is no longer indifferent and will reflect the protests.” Imagine the boost for morale this will have if thousands of people outside Iran are showing solidarity and support for the free speech and rights that the Iranian people are demanding. Let your friends and family know what is going on, and continue to let Iranians know that they are not alone in the fight for freedom and democracy.

I hope that BYU students can help get involved in the movement that is going on in Iran, as millions in the country demand the rights that we Americans hold so dear. The basic rights of free speech and expression are being denied to the Iranian people by an oppressive government while many people stand by helplessly and watch. Anyone who wants to help this movement for freedom should get informed and help out the Iranian people. Iran is currently experiencing one of the most momentous occasions in its recent history, and you can help the Iranian people change their history.

Ben is a freshman majoring in Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic.