Police Announce the Murder of Tehran University Student as 'Robbery Motive'; Increased Security Measures and Student Protests

A few days after the murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi, a 19-year-old student at Tehran University, a senior police official reported new clues and claimed that 'initial investigations indicate that this incident occurred during a robbery and there was no other motive involved.' According to the state-run Mehr news agency, Abbasali Mohammadian, the commander of Greater Tehran Police, added: 'Investigations are ongoing, and good leads have been obtained.' He claimed that 'in recent days, several suspects have been arrested, and the investigation process to identify and apprehend the main perpetrators continues.' Ali Salehi, the Tehran prosecutor, also emphasized in an interview published by Etemad Online that the head of the judiciary has ordered special follow-up on this case, and the case has been referred to a special murder investigator. This judicial official of the Islamic Republic stated: 'Several suspects have been identified and arrested in this regard, but we have not yet reached the stage of complete crime discovery and identification of all perpetrators. Technical and intelligence measures are ongoing, and the judiciary is diligently pursuing this case.' Meanwhile, the information center of the police announced in a statement that reports about the definitive arrest of the murderers have not yet been confirmed and investigations are still ongoing. The statement read: 'Detectives from Greater Tehran's criminal police have arrested several suspects in the past 72 hours, but rumors about the complete identification of the murderers are merely media speculation.' Opposition to the presence of police forces under the pretext of ensuring security Following this incident, the director of dormitories at Tehran University resigned. Hossein Simayi stated in a statement published by Etemad Online: 'After reviewing this tragic incident, the management of dormitories at Tehran University has resigned and apologized to the family of the late Khaleqi and the students.' He also emphasized that security measures in the university and dormitory areas will be increased. The actions taken include the installation of two police kiosks, increased lighting on the streets surrounding the dormitories, and the installation of surveillance cameras. According to this official, 'Tehran University is cooperating with police and the municipality to ensure the security of the dormitories, and these measures will be implemented in the coming days.' The commander of Greater Tehran Police also stated that the police will have a more extensive presence in this area and added: 'Cooperation with the university and the local police station to strengthen security is underway.' He claimed that 'this year, the rate of robbery in the university area has decreased by 34 percent, and we hope that with these actions, more security will be established.' Meanwhile, in another report from the state-run ISNA news agency, Hossein Hosseini, the acting president of Tehran University, emphasized that 'the security of the university must be ensured by the university community, and the presence of external forces can escalate tensions.' In response to the murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi, a student at this university, he stated that all officials share responsibility in this incident, and the university cannot evade its responsibilities. He expressed regret over this incident and emphasized that 'Tehran University has repeatedly communicated about insecurity around the dormitories, but these actions have not been effective.' This university official pointed out the demands of protesting students, identifying their three main requests as 'ensuring security, addressing the internal conditions of the dormitories, and clarifying the university's follow-up actions.' Hosseini also announced the installation of a police kiosk on Janat Street, the creation of a dedicated passage for students to the main street, and increased lighting in the university neighborhood. The acting president of Tehran University stressed that 'the security of the university must be ensured by the university community, and the presence of external forces can escalate tensions.' He also reported that two official complaints have been filed by the university, one for following up on the student murder case and the other against an individual who increased tensions during student protests. According to Hosseini, 'Tehran University is trying to create a safer route for student traffic before the new year to prevent such incidents from recurring.' Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science, in response to rumors regarding the detention of students after protests following the murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi, announced that 'currently no student is in detention, and speculations in this regard are incorrect.' In the ministry's statement, the academic community has been asked to 'maintain calm, follow related news only through official channels of the Ministry of Science, and not pay attention to rumors in cyberspace.' Reaction of Khaleqi's family to the investigation process Molavi Abdul Rahman Khaleqi, the Imam of the village of Darmian and Amir Mohammad's father, reacted to this incident by saying: 'My son was not politically active nor involved in specific issues. He was just a hardworking student who was working to cover his educational expenses.' He also spoke about the treatment process of his son: 'After this incident, Amir Mohammad was transferred to Shariati Hospital, but due to severe bleeding, he lost his life.' Amir Mohammad's brother also told Etemad Online: 'Amir Mohammad had just completed his first day at work on the day of the incident and was happily talking about his new job. However, on his way back to the dormitory, he was attacked by robbers.' Molavi Abdul Aziz Khaleqi, a close relative, confirmed that the robbers stole Amir Mohammad's phone, laptop, and all his documents after the attack. He said: 'Amir Mohammad had worked hard to buy these items, and perhaps he resisted the robbers for this reason.' Student protests and demands for increased security Following this incident, a group of students from Tehran University gathered in the dormitory area and demanded increased security measures. The students stated that they had previously warned about thefts and robberies in the back street of the dormitory multiple times, but officials had ignored them until this tragic incident occurred. Taher Roshandel Arbatani, the head of the management faculty at Tehran University, also reacted to this incident by saying: 'We need to have special attention to the area surrounding the university, as a place to nurture the country's top talents.' He added: 'I suggest that the street where this murder occurred be named after Amir Mohammad Khaleqi.' Roshandel also emphasized that this incident took place in a quiet dead-end street near the western gate of the university dormitory and urged university and police officials to find a solution to this problem. According to him, 'either this entrance should be closed, or in addition to ensuring lighting in the passage, a police kiosk and police presence should be established in this area.' Reviewing surveillance camera footage and recorded images shows that the robbers, riding a motorcycle, covered their license plate and faces, surprised Amir Mohammad near the dormitory, and after he resisted, stabbed him and stole his belongings. With the continuation of student protests that began after the murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi in Tehran, several student organizations supported these protests, and protesting students at Tehran University chanted 'If we don't unite, one by one we will be killed,' calling for student unity. Among them, the Free Thought Association, representing 'a group of students from Allameh University,' stated in a statement that 'this incident not only testifies to the existing insecurity in educational environments but also further reveals the irresponsibility and incompetence of university managers and relevant institutions.' The statement emphasized that 'the government is currently unable to provide any aspect of security (economic, social, psychological) for the people' and 'its only sustainable strategy is widespread and systematic repression,' while 'poverty and social inequality have spread crime in society and have not spared universities from this harm.' This student organization emphasized that 'we will not remain silent in the face of repression,' referring to 'the sit-in of students in the university dormitory area,' stating that the response of the Islamic Republic to 'this peaceful protest' has been 'securing the university environment' with the aim of 'turning the university into a scene for repression and intimidation,' while 'Tehran University today raises a right that will resonate in society.'