Clashes During Student Protests at Amir Kabir University

A number of students at Amir Kabir University in Tehran held a gathering to protest the arrests and sentences issued for some detained students over the past three months, which escalated into clashes. Reports and videos shared on social media indicate that the gathering on Sunday, March 20, was intensified by the arrival of Basij forces. Following the clashes, the student gathering ended without being allowed to read a final statement. Ali Afshari, a former member of the Central Council of the Office for Strengthening Unity, told Bekhtash Khamsehpour from Radio Farda that 'the intensification of the police atmosphere, summons to security agencies, the involvement of the judiciary, and criticisms of the government for failing to fulfill its promises to prevent the securitization of the university environment' were the reasons for the recent gathering. Mr. Afshari added that students are specifically demanding the release of detainees and the annulment of current convictions. Mahmoud Sadqi, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, stated that about fifty students have been prosecuted in recent protests in Iran. According to Mr. Sadqi, most of these students had no involvement in the protests and were arrested outside the university or in front of their homes. In recent days, it was announced that Leila Hosseinzadeh, a student activist, has been sentenced to six years in prison and a two-year travel ban.