Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Iranian students at Michigan Technological University, including event organizer Khatere Kashmari, right, observe a moment of silence for Mahsa Amini, who collapsed in police custody and later died after allegedly violating Iran’s hijab law. Students spoke out about Amini’s death and the country’s restrictive laws.

HOUGHTON — Iranian students at Michigan Technological University held a moment of silence and gathering on campus Monday afternoon to honor a woman who died after being arrested for violating Iran’s hijab laws governing what women can wear in public.

Mahsa Amini, 22, who lived in a Kurdish province in northern Iran, was visiting Tehran when Iran’s morality police detained her for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. While in custody, Amini collapsed and fell into a coma. She died three days later.

While police claimed she had suffered a heart attack, witnesses said she had been beaten while in a police van taking her to a reeducation center.

Amini’s death has sparked protests and calls for reform throughout Iran. The resulting crackdown from the Iranian government has included shutting down the internet and the deaths of several protesters.

Khatere Kashmari, organizer of the protest, said she and other Iranian students wanted to boost the voices of the people protesting back in Iran. Some carried signs with the hashtags #mahsa_amini and #Hadis_Najafi, after a protester killed by security forces.

“I’m sure every female here has experienced being arrested by morality police, because of the harsh hijab law in Iran,” Kashmari said. “This is a human and women’s rights situation that we are here fighting for. Protesters are getting killed in the streets, and this is the least we can do.”

About 40 people attended Monday’s protest, including several Tech administrators.

Rasoul Bayani, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, said Amini had become a symbol for thousands of deaths suffered since the Iranian revolution in 1979.

“This is a remembrance for all those people,” he said. “And for me personally, it’s to show my support to my brothers and sisters who are fighting in the streets right now.”

One of Bayani’s friends was arrested several days ago during a protest in Iran. There is still no word on his whereabouts, Bayani said.

During the 24 years Kashmari lived in Iran, she had also been arrested by morality police. She recalled going to re-education class, where she was lectured on how to dress properly.

“I’m sure there are many people in Iran that are against this law, but they can’t do anything,” she said.

Kashmari said the protests and the extensive media attention will force Iran to make reforms.

“I think definitely it has a huge impact on changing so many things in Iran — not just hijab,” she said. “In many aspects, I’m sure there will be so many changes.”