A student protest at Islamic Azad University in Iran has drawn significant attention and international concern after a female student stripped down to her underwear to demonstrate against the country’s strict Islamic dress code.
Footage of the incident, first shared by the Amir Kabir Newsletter, an Iranian student outlet, went viral on social media. The video captures university security guards detaining the young woman, and reports indicate she was beaten during her arrest.
The protest underscores ongoing tensions in Iran over mandatory hijab laws, which have faced widespread resistance in recent years. Amir Mahjob, spokesperson for the university, addressed the situation on social media platform X, claiming that the student was experiencing severe mental pressure and had been diagnosed with a mental disorder at the police station. However, human rights advocates and critics have questioned these assertions, raising concerns over the treatment of the student.
According to Hamshahri Daily, one of Iran’s major national newspapers, an informed source revealed that the student could potentially be sent to a mental hospital following the investigation. This has sparked further backlash, with many seeing it as a tactic to silence dissent. Amnesty International has condemned the student’s arrest and called for her immediate and unconditional release. The human rights organization has demanded that authorities ensure her safety, protect her from torture, and grant her access to legal counsel and family support.
This incident comes in the context of ongoing unrest over Iran’s dress code enforcement, echoing the 2022 protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurdish woman who died in police custody for allegedly violating hijab rules. Those protests led to widespread nationwide demonstrations, highlighting deep societal divisions over personal freedoms and women’s rights. The recent arrest and harsh response to the student protesters has once again put the spotlight on Iran's human rights record, reigniting calls for reforms and greater respect for individual liberties.
