Student Protest at Islamic Azad University Continues for Second Consecutive Day

The protest of students from the Science and Research Unit of Islamic Azad University continued on Sunday for the second consecutive day. According to IRNA, the number of protesting students, who gathered alongside images of the victims of the bus accident, was increasing in the Student Square. This protest, which was also ongoing on Saturday, was in response to the university officials' lack of accountability regarding the bus overturn incident, and images and reports of it have been shared on social media. The issue of 'the President of Islamic Azad University passing through the protesters' was also highlighted. Meanwhile, the Borna news agency, affiliated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth of the Islamic Republic, reported that Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, the President of Islamic Azad University, 'five days after the bus overturn incident, entered the university and quickly drove over the students in his car.' According to this news agency, 'two students were injured in this incident, and the presence of emergency forces began their treatment.' However, Borna later deleted this video from its report, stating that it was 'not accurate' and apologized to its audience. Throughout the day, videos were also shared on social media with the title 'Brutal Encounter by One of the Managers of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Unit' and explained that 'Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, the President of Islamic Azad University, drove his car over the students to clear a path.' Following these reports, it was announced that Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of the country, visited the protesting students at the Science and Research Unit of Islamic Azad University on Sunday. A video also showed a group of protesters surrounding the Attorney General, demanding an explanation about 'the President of the university passing through the protesters in his car.' After these reports, Ebrahim Kalantari, the cultural and student deputy of Islamic Azad University, denied the claims that several students were run over by a vehicle of one of the university officials, stating: 'These issues are fabricated and aim to inflame the atmosphere.' He stated that 'Mr. Tehranchi walked from the parking area to the place of discussion with the students,' adding, 'Is there only one car in the university area? There are hundreds of cars here. This issue is absolutely not true and I deny it.' Reza Hamdanchi, the director of public relations at Islamic Azad University, also denied the attribution of the published video to the President of Islamic Azad University, stating: 'The published video is completely denied and does not belong to the President of Islamic Azad University and is not accurate at all.' Mohammad Karam Dirabadi, the spokesperson for Tehran Emergency Services, also stated in an interview with ILNA that 'today, no calls regarding an accident at Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Unit, were made to the Tehran Emergency Service 115.' Meanwhile, according to Tasnim news agency, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, on Sunday evening, during a memorial ceremony for the victims of the bus overturn incident at the Science and Research Unit of Islamic Azad University in one of the mosques, told reporters: 'The case of all those who were negligent in this incident will definitely be investigated,' and promised that 'all old buses of the university will be removed from the university's transportation fleet.' In the bus overturn incident carrying students at the Science and Research Unit on Wednesday, December 25, ten people were killed and 28 others were injured. Initially, Islamic Azad University officials announced that the cause of the bus overturn was the driver's heart attack, which was immediately denied by Tehran emergency officials, and the confirmation of such a claim was referred to forensic medical expertise. Subsequently, it was reported that this bus, which had been added to the university's services 20 days before the incident, had not undergone a technical inspection. Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, the head of Tehran Traffic Police, also announced on Friday that the cause of the deadly bus overturn incident was 'the bus's brakes being cut.' According to the head of traffic police, this bus had been classified as an old vehicle since 2012, and at the time of the incident, the driver had control of the vehicle for about 700 meters after realizing the brakes were not working, but the steep slope of the path caused it to collide with concrete installations. Following the reflection of this incident in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mostafa Kaveh Kabi, a representative from Tehran, even stated in a warning in the open session of the parliament: 'Just as you held a session for a representative and investigated the incident, hold a session here as well, especially since it is said that some counter-revolutionaries cut the bus's brakes.' He did not provide further explanation nor a source for his reference to 'counter-revolutionaries.' Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Hope faction in the Iranian parliament stated that this commission requests the Speaker of Parliament to address the incident at Islamic Azad University in a session on Wednesday with the presence of senior officials of the university. In the days following this incident, criticism of Ali Akbar Velayati, the head of the Islamic Azad University Board of Trustees, and other officials of this university increased to the extent that it led to the dismissal of five vice presidents and managers of the Science and Research Unit. Social media users have also criticized Ali Akbar Velayati harshly by creating hashtags 'Velayati Resign' and 'Controversial Old Man.' The protesting students are also demanding the resignation of Ali Akbar Velayati, the head of the Islamic Azad University Board of Trustees, and the dismissal of Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, the president of the university. The protest on Saturday, January 8, according to attendees, was held in response to 'the incompetence of university officials in preserving the lives of students,' and several families of the students involved in the bus overturn incident also participated in the protests. ISNA described this protest as 'spontaneous' and emphasized that the protesters were stationed at the bus parking area of the university, holding banners to protest the disorganized transportation situation and other issues at the university. However, some Telegram channels reported that this protest was organized at the invitation of the 'Student Basij' of this university unit, and the protesters chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Ali Akbar Velayati, the president of Islamic Azad University.