Judiciary: "Patient is ill... handed over to family"
"Protested after being attacked over hijab issue"
University claims "Control was real but no assault"
A student at a university in Iran who protested against hijab enforcement by appearing in underwear avoided legal action. Photo by X
An Iranian female university student who walked around campus in her underwear as a protest against hijab enforcement has avoided legal action.
On the 20th (local time), according to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), the Iranian judiciary announced on the 19th that it decided not to prosecute the female student who was only wearing underwear at a university in Tehran. Judiciary spokesperson Asgar Jahangir stated at a press conference, "The student was transferred to a hospital, and it was revealed that she was suffering from an illness, so she was handed over to her family," adding, "No legal proceedings have been initiated against her."
The incident occurred on the 2nd at the Islamic Azad University Science Campus in Tehran. A student was seen sitting on a stair railing or walking around wearing only a bra and panties. This scene was captured in a 2-minute and 39-second video that spread through social networking services (SNS). It is reported that after being stopped by school staff, she was taken away by the morality police (Guidance Patrol, Gasht-e Ershad) in a car. Foreign media reported, "The morality police attacked the student and tore her clothes because she was not wearing the hijab properly, and she stood in the square wearing only underwear as a form of protest."
The university stated that while enforcement against the student did occur, there was no assault. They claimed, "A security officer took action against the student for indecent behavior on campus and handed her over to judicial authorities," and "The investigation revealed that the student had mental health issues." They also emphasized, "Please refrain from further spreading videos that insult the student." As the incident sparked controversy, stories circulated online such as "The student was assaulted by security forces during the arrest" and "She hit her head on a car door and a pillar, causing heavy bleeding." In response, the Iranian 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, authorities must not subject her to torture or other abuse and must ensure her contact with family and lawyers."
Meanwhile, the hijab is a scarf worn by women in Islamic countries to cover their heads, and Iranian law requires all women, regardless of Muslim status, to wear the hijab in public places. In September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a woman arrested for improper hijab wearing, died in custody, sparking nationwide anti-government protests.
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