Cal State Northridge graduate student Esha Momeni spent nearly a year either in prison or under house arrest in Iran where she went to work on her thesis project in 2008. She was finally allowed to return back home this past August.
Cal State Northridge's Women's Research and Resource Center will welcome back Momeni into the CSUN community with a special celebration on Monday, Nov. 9.
"From CSUN to Iran and Back Again" will take place in the University Student Union (USU) from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Northridge Center. The USU is located in the east side of campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.
Momeni will tell her story, discuss her research and answer questions from attendees.
"It's important for the CSUN to welcome Esha back because she had been through so much," said Shira Brown, director of the Women's Research and Resource Center and part-time faculty for Gender and Women's Studies department. "When she returned, the story was dropped, but we want it to end in a more appropriate and befitting manner.
"We also want her to tell her story and not leave it at 'Oh, she came back,'" Brown said. "We want to give the students an opportunity to really hear her since the CSUN community stood behind her, fought and rallied for her return. Esha also wants to thank the CSUN community for standing behind her and wanting to bring her home."
Momeni was arrested on Oct. 15, 2008, and was held in Evin Prison in Tehran. It is believed that she was detained for her involvement with the "One Million Signatures Change for Equality" campaign. She was released in November 2008 on $200,000 bail, but was forbidden to leave the country.
She returned to classes at CSUN this fall.
The event is co-sponsored by the Gender and Women's Studies Department and the Gender and Women's Studies Student Association and the Department of Journalism.