Mahmoud Sadeghi: Legal Cases Formed for 50 Detained Students from December Protests

Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament, announced on Friday, March 2, that legal cases have been formed for approximately 50 students who were detained during the recent protests. In an interview with 'Etemad Online', he stated, 'Based on what was previously reported in the media, it seemed that these students had been released and had no cases against them. Unfortunately, legal cases have been formed for the detained students in the recent unrest, and some of these cases have been referred to court. Several detained students who have had legal cases opened against them contacted me, and I am following up on their case status through the relevant authorities.' He added that he has heard that legal cases have been formed for about 50 detained students. He also specified that the cases against the detained students include charges such as 'propaganda against the regime and actions against national security.' Mahmoud Sadeghi mentioned that the court for students like Ms. Leila Hosseinzadeh was held on Wednesday, and the court for several other detained students will be held in the coming weeks. Previously, officials from Tehran University had reported the detention of 41 students from this university during the December protests. In this context, 22 student organizations from Tehran University wrote a letter to the Minister of Science on Wednesday, March 1, stating that some of these students have now been summoned again to the Revolutionary Court and are facing serious charges. The statement noted that hundreds of students were detained during the December protests, with Tehran University accounting for more than forty students, most of whom were detained in connection with the events of December 30 at Tehran University. Although, through the efforts of the people, the university, and that ministry, all detained students from this university have so far been released on bail and guarantee, a significant number of them have been summoned to the prosecutor's office in recent days to be informed of their charges, which are serious. Majid Sarsangi, the cultural deputy of Tehran University, also confirmed the renewed summons of these students to court and expressed hope that their issues would be resolved as soon as possible. Following the December protests, student guild councils across Iran declared the 'mass and illegal' detentions of several university students following recent street protests as a sign of the authorities' 'fear' of independent movements. More than 1,500 students from Tehran University and Tehran University of Medical Sciences also issued a protest statement, stating that they would remain 'sensitive' to the issuance of judicial sentences and the formation of cases that could lead to 'any kind of entrapment, deprivation, and imprisonment' for the detained students. During the protests in Iran, which lasted about a week and included strong slogans against the leaders and domestic and regional policies of the Islamic Republic, more than 3,700 people were detained, and the deaths of at least 22 individuals have been confirmed.