By Khalida Sarwari
Members of the Bay Area Iranian-American community were gathering at San Jose’s City Hall this afternoon to kick off a three-day hunger strike to draw attention to the events in Iran that have transpired following the disputed reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on June 12.
Roshan Pourabdollah, a spokeswoman for the San Jose-based organization Iranian Society for Human Rights, said about 25 people are actively participating in the water-only hunger strike until noon on Saturday.
The hunger strike was organized last week and is part of a worldwide movement involving Iranian community leaders and activists.
“We’re calling a hunger strike in order to bring attention to what’s happening in Iran and to try to exert attention from the United Nations,” Pourabdollah said.
Participants hope to draw attention to alleged human rights violations, restrictions placed upon the media, and violence in the streets, Pourabdollah said.
The strike is an outreach campaign open to people of all backgrounds.
“We’re looking to gain and build international solidarity and awareness,” Pourabdollah said.
Another solidarity rally will be held on July 25 at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco.