Protests at Several Universities in Iran; Students Demonstrate in Mourning Attire Against the 'Murder of Three Martyrs of the Freedom Path'

Reports from various universities across the country indicate that students from several institutions, including Tehran University, Amir Kabir University, Beheshti University, Tarbiat Modares University, and Zanjan University, have staged sit-ins and protests in response to a new wave of executions. On Saturday, May 30, students at Beheshti University protested against the execution of three protesters, facing an attack from security forces. According to the Student Guild Council, this protest, titled 'Protest Against the Murder of 3 Martyrs of the Freedom Path' and held in 'mourning attire,' continued despite a 'security atmosphere' and threats from cyber police to arrest students. The protest lasted about an hour despite 'physical confrontations with security' and 'severe repression.' Reports indicate that security personnel 'attacked the students and severely beat them,' while the head of security at the university (Hazrati) attempted to threaten students to disperse them. However, students chanted slogans such as 'Death to this rule' and 'Women, Life, Freedom' while marching in the university courtyard. A social media image shows a student at Amir Kabir University (Polytechnic) holding a placard that reads 'Death to the Executionist Republic' and the hashtag 'Children of Iran' in protest against the execution of three protesters in Isfahan. The Iranian Student Guild Council has reported that students at Zanjan University also wore mourning attire. Protesters at this university chanted: 'Students die, but do not accept humiliation,' 'We don't want incompetent officials,' 'Bazargan resign, resign,' 'They say there's no budget, but they build walls instead,' and 'Students, shout your rights.' At Tehran University, dozens of protesting students staged a sit-in in front of the office of the university's vice president and the head of the disciplinary committee 'in protest against the disciplinary committee's rulings and mass summonses.' On the same day, some students at Tarbiat Modares University held placards with messages such as 'Stop the executions,' 'Let us breathe,' and 'Our silence is betrayal, complicity with crime,' protesting the execution of three protesters in Isfahan. Following the execution of three more protesters in Iran, citizen protests have intensified, and reports to Voice of America and social media indicate that gatherings, sit-ins, marches, and nighttime slogans have escalated in cities across Iran. A citizen video shows a significant number of people in Tehran chanting at the City Theater metro station, 'This year is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali will be overthrown.' 'The Executionist Republic is the enemy of every Iranian' was the slogan of Iranians gathering in Sydney after the execution of the defendants in the Isfahan case. Abolfazl Ghadiani stated: 'Ali Khamenei and his repressive agents are still thirsty for blood.' Opposition to the new wave of executions in Iran has led to protests in Tehran and several cities worldwide. Exclusive: The U.S. condemned the execution of the defendants in the 'Isfahan case,' stating, 'We share the sorrow of the families of these three individuals.' An open letter from the National Union for Democracy in Iran addressed to the U.S. Congress condemned the executions in Iran. A group of UN experts stated that the Islamic Republic must stop the 'terrifying wave of executions.' A representative of the German Parliament told Voice of America: 'The Islamic Republic has shown through its executions that it is only seeking terror.'