Temporary Release of 4 Tehran University Students

The Telegram channel 'Amirkabir Newsletter' reported on the evening of Friday, February 26, the 'temporary release of 4 detained students from Tehran University due to the insistence of students.' According to this report, the 4 students were 'arrested during the raid by plainclothes forces on the university dormitory.' Following the death of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi Darmian, a 19-year-old business management student at Tehran University, on Wednesday night, February 24, who reportedly died from knife wounds inflicted by robbers in Tehran, students from the boys' dormitory held a protest on Friday. They protested the university officials' negligence in ensuring student safety and their focus on repression and disciplinary actions. Videos shared on social media from the student gathering showed them chanting: 'Incompetent official, resign, resign,' 'One of us is gone, who will answer?' and 'Incompetent Zarei, responsible for this crime' (referring to Mohammad Ali Zarei Chahuki, the head of dormitory affairs at Tehran University). Subsequently, according to the Progressive Students' Association, 'the regime's repressive forces sent numerous vehicles towards the university dormitory, removing students from the dormitory and returning them to city dormitories.' This student organization stated: 'There is still no accurate data on the number of arrests and beatings of students. However, multiple reports indicate an attack by the regime's forces on the students.' Meanwhile, two state news agencies reported on the student protest without mentioning the government's response, merely stating that the gathering ended peacefully. In this context, ISNA reported that the gathering concluded calmly and without incident in the late hours of Friday night with the presence of university officials and remarks from Hassan Hosseini, the university's caretaker. This is while, according to the Telegram channel 'United Students,' one student sought refuge in the dormitory after 'severe beating and a broken nose by security forces, stating that all his belongings along with his phone password were stolen by them.' Meanwhile, according to the Amirkabir Newsletter, students from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) issued a statement expressing solidarity and support for Tehran University students and condemned the 'repression of student protests.' They noted the murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi Darmian, stating: 'This horrific crime occurred while students had repeatedly warned about the insecurities around the university dormitories, but university officials and relevant authorities remained indifferent to these reports.' According to this statement, 'This negligence has resulted in nothing but creating an unsafe environment for students and the occurrence of such a tragedy.' Amirkabir University students emphasized: 'The incompetence of the Islamic Republic officials has once again shown that the main cause of these events is their negligence and inability to ensure the safety of citizens and students,' adding: 'Now that protesting students have exercised their natural right to protest against this incompetence and irresponsibility, they have faced violent responses from university security and security forces.' They pointed out: 'Insecurity is not limited to Tehran University, and Polytechnic students have also repeatedly been targeted for theft and threats around the university, especially on Rasht Street and in the dormitory areas. However, not only has no action been taken to address these issues, but any student protest has also faced indifference or repression.' The statement warned officials that 'if this trend of repression and ignoring the rights of students, especially Tehran University students, continues, the students of Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) will not remain silent against this oppression.' Meanwhile, the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Associations of Iran announced on Friday its support for the students, stating: 'The extensive presence of security forces and plainclothes agents around the university is a violation of the basic rights of dear students.'