From the couch of her Tampa home on Saturday, Damineh Oveisi held her fingertips to her temples and fought back tears as she listened to her younger sister describe being teargassed and fleeing gunfire.⁠ ⁠ Her sister, Danoosh Oveisi, was video-calling from Iran, where protests across the country have resulted in more than 30 people reported killed in the last week.⁠ ⁠ The catalyst for the unrest was the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini earlier this month. ⁠ ⁠ Amini, who was visiting Tehran with her brother, was taken into custody by the country’s morality police after she was accused of violating Iranian laws that dictate how women dress. ⁠ ⁠ Although Iranian police said Amini died of a heart attack in custody, the event resulted in thousands of civilians taking the streets in cities across Iran to protest the government.⁠ ⁠ Since the protests began, Oveisi has been talking to family back home. She has lived in Tampa since 2007, but most of her family remains in Iran where she grew up.⁠ ⁠ She said the calls have garnered feelings of urgency, but also helplessness.⁠ ⁠ Read the full story at the link in our bio. ⁠ ⁠ ✍️ : Lauren Peace / Tampa Bay Times; 📸 : Courtesy of Damineh Oveisi