Iranian student arrested for stripping in front of Islamic Azad University to protest harassment

The video, first published by Iranian student social media channel Amir Kabir, has been published by numerous Persian-language outlets, including human rights group Hengaw and news site Iran Wire, as well as Amnesty International.

Apparently, the footage was taken by observers in a nearby building. Another video shows how men in civilian clothes forced her into a car and drove away in an unknown direction.

“Cry of the Soul”

The Amir Kabir newsletter alleged that she was beaten during her arrest.

“Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the university student who was brutally arrested after she took off her clothes to protest abuses of the compulsory hijab by security forces,” Amnesty International said.

The London-based human rights group, which has documented allegations of abuse of women in Iranian prisons in recent years, added: “Pending her release, authorities must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and ensure access to her family and lawyer.”

He added that “allegations of beatings and sexual assault against her during her arrest require an independent and impartial investigation.”

The conservative Iranian news agency Fars confirmed the incident in its reporting, publishing a photograph showing the student heavily blurred.

It says the student wore “inappropriate clothing” to class and “stood naked” after being warned by security guards to adhere to the dress code.

Citing “witnesses,” they said the guards spoke “calmly” to the student and denied reports that their actions were aggressive.

Near-national protests erupted in 2022 following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman arrested on suspicion of violating the dress code.

The protests, in which women broke taboos by removing headscarves and sometimes even burning them, died down in the face of a crackdown that left 551 protesters killed and thousands arrested.

“We should not leave each other alone,” Katayoun Riahi, who supported the protests, wrote in an Instagram post expressing support for the student.

Hossein Ronaghi, a prominent Iranian activist who was jailed during the protests, in a post on X praised the student’s “bravery” and described her actions as “a cry from the heart against the oppression that has taken lives.” people, especially women.”