Reactions Continue to a Student's Disrobing at the University of Science and Research

An Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner and a well-known Turkish-British author have reacted to a female student's act of disrobing in protest against mandatory hijab on Saturday. Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and political prisoner, stated that the body of the girl who disrobed in protest at the University of Science and Research in Tehran is a "symbol of rebellion and intense anger and uprising." Her Instagram page wrote on Sunday, November 4: "Women pay the price for defiance, but they do not bow to force." Mohammadi noted that the girl's action was due to pressure from security forces regarding mandatory hijab, stating that the government cannot force women protesters to retreat by labeling them as psychologically unstable, sexually ill, or deceived. The human rights activist further remarked that instead of the protesting woman, those responsible for the disgraceful phenomenon of mandatory hijab should undergo psychological testing for allowing themselves to use women's bodies as instruments of violence against them at any time and place. On Saturday, videos circulated on social media showing a girl in her underwear in the courtyard of the University of Science and Research. In one of the videos, security agents were seen violently throwing the girl into a vehicle and taking her away. Following this, the Telegram channel "Amirkabir Newsletter" reported that the girl was arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization and transferred to a "psychiatric hospital." In response to this incident, Hamed Ismailioun, a political and civil activist residing in Canada, also expressed support for the student on X, using the hashtag "Science and Research Girl," which has been trending on social media over the past two days. He wrote: "Women in Iran rebel against everything that has bound them. They rebel against everything that invites them to silence. A clear path for those who do not remain silent in the face of injustice, discrimination, and oppression." In reaction to the student's disrobing at the University of Science and Research, the university's public relations manager and a newspaper affiliated with the university claimed that the student was suffering from a mental illness. This is not the first time that officials and media affiliated with the Islamic Republic have accused opponents and protesters of "mental disorders" and forcibly transferred them to treatment centers. On the other hand, Elif Shafak, a Turkish-British author and human rights activist, shared an image of the student, writing: "The beautiful, resilient, and rebellious spirit of Iranian women." She noted on her Instagram account on Sunday: "I happened to be reading a poem by Forough Farrokhzad when I saw this image [of the protesting girl] online. The world is a very painful and broken place, especially for women." This author, who supported the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement in 2022, continued: "Today I think of the women of Iran. And also of all the women and children in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine who bear the worst consequences of war, violence, and harm. Today I think of the women of Afghanistan. In such times, a strange misogynistic language is growing in America." UN reporter: I am following the case of the university girl. The repression of women and the response of security forces against protesters of mandatory hijab has intensified since September 2022, following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in the custody of the morality police, which sparked widespread protests. May Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, also announced yesterday that she is closely monitoring the case of this girl. Earlier, Amnesty International had also called for the immediate release of this girl and urged Iranian authorities to prevent "torture and mistreatment" during her detention and to guarantee her access to family and legal counsel. The organization also emphasized the need for an independent investigation into the allegations of "beating and sexual violence during the detention" of this girl.