Students at Shariati Women's University in Tehran Protest Assault on Student for Not Wearing Mandatory Hijab

Following the "assault" of a female student for not wearing the mandatory hijab by a security officer, dozens of students at Shariati Women's University in Tehran gathered on Tuesday, May 23. According to video reports, the protesting students chanted: "Incompetent manager, we don't want you, we don't want you," "I will hit, I will hit anyone who hits my sister," and "You are a pervert, you are a whore, I am a free woman." These protests arose after a male security officer beat a female student for not wearing the mandatory hijab. Concurrently, the Islamic Republic's efforts to force women to comply with the mandatory hijab continue, while civil disobedience persists, with a significant number of women appearing in public places, including universities, without headscarves. Shaghayegh Norouzi, a women's rights activist, recently told the Persian section of Voice of America that despite the Islamic Republic using all its tools against women, it is in a "pathetic situation" regarding protesting women. Additionally, 300 students from Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran wrote a letter to Farhad Daneshjoo, the university president, protesting the state of "welfare and educational services" and demanding "tangible changes in the current situation." Their demands include addressing "internet issues," improving welfare and dormitory conditions, resolving "fluctuations in cooking and distributing quality food," enhancing "health and medical facilities and services" at the university, and addressing the issue of "grade deductions" contrary to the regulations set by the Ministry of Science. The students emphasized the need for an "immediate open forum with the university president" and stated that if their "welfare and educational demands are not met, they reserve the right to gather for labor protests." Students at Sharif University of Technology also protested on Monday against the execution of Saeed Yaghoubi, Saleh Mirhashimi, and Majid Kazemi, chanting slogans during a one-hour gathering, despite the presence of security officers and the confiscation of some students' IDs. The protesting students sang the anthem "In the Name of Woman." Civil resistance continues in Iran, with women walking in the streets without the mandatory hijab. Milan is hosting a photo exhibition on the lives of Iranian women, with Farnaz Damnabi stating that they are "powerful and brave." Media outlets supporting the mandatory hijab have criticized the "Hijab Bill," claiming it reduces the power of "officer enforcement." An analytical report states that the annual cost of enforcing the hijab is equivalent to the wages of millions of workers in Iran.