Facial Scanning of Students Under the Pretext of Issuing New Cards; Implementation of 'Gender Segregation' and Installation of Security Cameras

Student sources in Iran reported the implementation of 'gender segregation' and the establishment of separate entrances for 'brothers and sisters' at Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran. This has led to long queues for students entering the university on the sidewalk between 'Jalal Highway' and the university. The Telegram channel 'National Student Guild Council' announced this news and reported the continuation of 'controlling measures' by security institutions in universities, stating: 'The security of the Faculty of Art and Architecture has installed cameras and microphones for increased surveillance in theater practice areas.' In another report, the same source mentioned the 'facial scanning' of students at Isfahan University of Art under the pretext of 'issuing new student cards,' quoting students from the university who said: 'When receiving their student cards from the security building, students had their faces scanned, with the justification being the ability to identify the student in case of losing their student card.' According to this report, at the beginning of the new semester, 'gates' have been installed in front of the female students' dormitory at this university, where 'facial scans and fingerprints' of students are recorded upon entering the dormitory and receiving their rooms. The source noted that dormitory officials have added restrictions such as 'prohibition of walking in the area without mandatory hijab until 10 PM' and 'mandatory hijab in the dormitory's restroom' to other limitations. This is while this dormitory is designated for female students only. Yesterday, the Telegram channel 'Amirkabir Newsletter' reported that several male and female students were prevented from entering Sharif University of Technology and Amirkabir University. Among them, at least 12 students from Amirkabir University have been 'banned from entry' for various reasons. The Amirkabir Newsletter wrote that 'received information indicates that the university security office provides not only the students' details but also their personnel pictures and profiles to the security agents inside the university for better identification of students.' All these measures have begun in universities across the country while the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill is currently under review by the Guardian Council, which mandates educational institutions to provide information and details of students for identification to security and law enforcement agencies, so that those who do not comply with 'mandatory hijab' and violate the 'Chastity and Hijab' law can be prosecuted. Recently, the Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic also issued a new executive guideline for the dress code of medical students and assistants, emphasizing restrictions on clothing, makeup, use of perfume, and 'observing religious limits' when facing 'non-mahram.' According to this directive, titled 'Regulations on the Behavior and Dress of Students and Assistants' for the new academic year, wearing 'short or tight clothing, open-front coats, silk, lace, or open-collared clothing' and using makeup and perfume are prohibited for students and assistants. In addition to gender segregation in classrooms, it has been emphasized that they must observe 'religious limits' in 'looking at non-mahram.' Based on the 'Chastity and Hijab' resolution, the Ministry of Science has also been mandated to establish 'women-only' university campuses to enforce gender segregation among students. The government's determination to dictate students' lifestyles comes at a time when one of the demands of students during last year's protests was the elimination of gender segregation in dining halls. However, it seems that the authorities of the Islamic Republic, instead of meeting the students' demands, are trying to expand the scope of gender segregation to all areas, making the educational environment of the country more 'secure.'