Reactions to Security Officer's Attack on Student; Possibility of Repeating Mahsa Amini's 'Crime'

The attack by a security officer at Allameh Tabatabai University on a student and the beating of the student has sparked reactions from social media users. According to a video released on social media on Tuesday, July 5, following protests by several students against a security officer's behavior during a 'physical search' of students at an exam session, the officer insulted a protesting student and beat him on the stairs, creating panic among those present. The university stated that the 'non-compliance' of the student led to an 'unpleasant incident.' Social media users have reacted to this event. For instance, Milad Alavi, a journalist, described this action as mocking 'law and legality' and tweeted that if there had been 'legal action' instead of 'praise' for a certain police commander who said he would 'break the necks of lawbreakers,' the university security would not have beaten the student 'under the pretext of hijab.' A user named Ali Sadeghi emphasized that the security officer beat the student 'on the stairs' and stressed that 'the crime of Mahsa Amini could happen again.' He stated that 'Allameh University is the place of study for the most elite children of Iran' and called for the identification of the attacking officer. However, Saeed Nourmohammadi, spokesperson for the 'Voice of Iranians' party, while emphasizing the 'inhumane treatment of the student' and calling it 'indefensible,' said: 'Let’s not forget that this university security employee is also an ordinary citizen like all of us and is under considerable psychological and work pressures. We should not go beyond the bounds of fairness and justice in criticizing this behavior.' Minou Momeni, a journalist, responded to him by stating that 'most of the nation is under economic and psychological pressure,' emphasizing that this means 'anyone under pressure' should 'allow themselves to behave in such a savage manner?' This journalist added that 'these people know that no one holds them accountable and they have a safe margin,' and 'that is why they behave more brazenly every day.' Rezita Irandoost, a Voice of America journalist, also examined another part of the reactions from social media users in this report. The university announced that the 'unpleasant incident' was due to the 'non-compliance' of the student. In a statement, Allameh Tabatabai University reacted to the attack by the security officer on students, stating that 'the security personnel warned them.' According to the Young Journalists Club, the statement said: 'On Tuesday, July 5, several students from the Faculty of Management and Accounting intended to enter the exam venue before the exam started, and the security personnel, as per their duty, warned them.' The university management emphasized that 'the non-compliance of one male student led to an unpleasant incident,' and the university has 'immediate and necessary investigations underway.' The statement added: 'If any negligence has occurred by an individual, necessary action will be taken according to regulations.' In recent days, violent behavior towards students at the University of Art has also sparked widespread reactions, including supportive statements from students at other universities. Nana Valajam, a theater director and actress, emphasized support for students who are 'at the forefront of the struggle for freedom.'