Iranian-Americans in San Jose started a two-day hunger strike Thursday in response to the violence in Iran.
Calling themselves the Iranian-American Hunger Strikers of San Jose, the group is demanding that the United Nations ask the Islamic Republic of Iran to end violence and guarantee freedom of expression in the country.
"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," Roshan Pourabdollah, a spokesperson for the group said.
The group is asking the U.N. to appoint a special representative to mandate an inquiry to the recent events in Iran.
The group cites the approximately 20 Iranians that have been killed and hundreds others that have been arrested and detained in the country since the June 12 presidential election as arbitrary and excessive acts.
Approximately two dozen participants in the hunger strike will eat nothing, drinking only water
A solidarity rally will be held on July 25 at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco.
