Woman Arrested Walking in Underwear on Campus of Iran Islamic Azad University
Protests Held to Oppose 'Hijab Enforcement'
Human Rights Groups Demand "Immediate Release of Female Student"
A female university student was arrested while protesting in her underwear on the campus of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, the capital of Iran. [Photo by X Capture]
In Iran, an Islamic country where women are required to wear hijabs, a female university student was arrested after protesting in her underwear. It is reported that the student was assaulted by campus security for improperly wearing her hijab and then protested by walking around the campus wearing only her underwear.
On the 2nd (local time), a 2-minute and 39-second video showing a female student walking around in her underwear in broad daylight on the science campus of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, the capital of Iran, spread on X (formerly Twitter).
The video shows the female student sitting on the campus stair railing or walking around the campus in her underwear with her arms crossed. Then, a small car suddenly stopped beside her as she was walking along the road. The people who got out of the car grabbed the student, pushed her into the vehicle, and then drove away to an unknown location.
The netizen who posted the video explained the situation, saying, "This student did not back down despite being harassed by the morality police (Guidance Patrol, Gasht-e Ershad) for improper hijab wearing," and "She marched across the campus protesting in just her underwear." Another netizen claimed, "The morality police attacked her and tore her clothes because her hair was visible under the hijab," and "She stood in the square in her underwear as a form of protest."
University: 'The crackdown is true... but no assault occurred'
A female university student was arrested while protesting in her underwear on the campus of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, the capital of Iran. [Photo source = X capture]
The university acknowledged that the crackdown on the student took place but denied any assault by the morality police. According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Islamic Azad University stated, "After a student engaged in indecent behavior on campus, campus security took action and handed her over to judicial authorities." They added, "The investigation revealed that the student was under mental pressure," and emphasized, "Please refrain from further spreading videos that insult this student."
The Iran branch of the human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) issued a statement urging, "Iranian authorities must immediately release the university student who was violently arrested," and "Until her release, the authorities must ensure she is not subjected to torture or other abuses and guarantee her access to family and legal counsel."
In Iran, women are legally required to wear the hijab, which typically covers the head, neck, shoulders, and chest, while leaving the face exposed. Violations of the dress code are severely punished. In September 2022, Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman arrested for improper hijab wearing, died in custody, sparking nationwide anti-government protests. In July this year, Masoud Pezeshkian, who campaigned on easing hijab enforcement, took office as president, but hijab crackdowns remain a contentious issue.
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