Violent Arrest of Protesting Student Who Went Nude

A female student who stripped naked in protest against the violent behavior of security forces at the Science and Research branch of Azad University in Tehran on Saturday, November 12, was arrested following severe beatings by plainclothes agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prior to this, the student news channel "Amirkabir Newsletter" reported the beating and abduction of a female student due to mandatory hijab enforcement by security agents at Azad University. According to the report, the actions of the security forces in tearing the clothes of this student, who was not wearing a hijab, led her to protest by stripping off all her clothes. Based on reports on social media, this student was violently arrested afterward. So far, the name and location of this female student’s detention have not been disclosed. In this context, Amir Mahjoob, the public relations manager of Azad University, wrote on the social media platform "X": "We handed her over to the police station," but did not specify the exact location of this student. He did not mention the security forces' treatment of the student, who was protesting, and added that "the motivation and reasons for this student's actions are under investigation," but in the same post claimed that "it was determined by the police station and medical teams that she was under severe psychological pressure and had psychological disorders." However, Mahjoob did not provide any evidence for this claim. He also asserted that "there was no altercation between the security forces and this student," but videos released show several male and female agents struggling with this girl, eventually pushing her forcefully into a vehicle. The Amirkabir Newsletter Telegram channel quoted an informed source confirming that "the student’s head struck the door or column of the vehicle, causing severe bleeding." Mahjoob also accused this student of what he termed "an act against modesty" using the language of the Islamic Republic. Officials of the Islamic Republic typically use such labels against women and girls who protest and oppose the mandatory hijab. Meanwhile, Amnesty International called on the Iranian authorities on social media "to immediately and unconditionally release this university student." The organization demanded that "until this student is freed, authorities must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and guarantee access to her family and lawyer." Amnesty International emphasized that "allegations of assault and sexual violence against her during detention require independent and impartial investigations" and called for accountability from Iranian officials. While government media and officials of the Islamic Republic attempt to attribute the student’s nude protest to her "mental disorder," a number of citizens and political and human rights activists have described this student’s action as "rebellion" and "defiance" against the government. Human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi called this female student’s "symbolic and protest movement" a "rebellion against government oppression." He predicted that "the courage of this girl, who was attacked because of her hijab, and others like her, are flames that will burn the roots of oppression." Political activist Mahdieh Golroo wrote: "The student of Science and Research has no name; her name is being a woman in Iran, her name is Nika, Sarina, and Hadith. Her name is woman, life, freedom." Maryam Kian-Arthi, a lawyer, described this "rebellion of this female student of humanities" as "indicative of the unreasonable and excessive pressure on students for mandatory hijab." She announced her readiness to provide free legal defense for this student. Katayoun Riahi, an actress opposing the mandatory hijab, also wrote in an Instagram post: "We will not leave each other alone." Human rights activist Reza Akavaniyan wrote: "Until the unconditional and safe release of the Science and Research student, let us be her voice. The ones who should be punished are the Islamic Republic and its agents, including the security officer of the Science and Research branch of Azad University who attacked this student and tore her clothes." Simultaneously, government news agencies began publishing articles against this arrested protesting student. Among them, the Student News Agency, close to the Basij force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, likened the student’s protest action to a "terrorist operation" without providing any explanation regarding the "tearing of the student’s clothes" by university security agents. The Fars News Agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, also accused this student of attending class "in inappropriate clothing" and without referring to the details regarding the "tearing of the student’s clothes" by security agents, attributed her nudity to a "warning" from university security. Iranian officials have termed mandatory hijab and government prohibitions in the realm of individual and social freedoms, especially for women in Iran, as "norms" and punish non-compliance under the pretext of "norm-breaking." The Islamic Republic's policy of enforcing mandatory hijab in Iran has faced widespread criticism from human rights organizations. In this context, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has previously stated that mandatory hijab in Iran is a violation of human rights.