Iranian Student Arrested After Protest Against Dress Code

Special Correspondent#

Indian media mentions Anandabazar,In opposition to Iran’s strict dress code, a young woman took to the streets wearing only her underwear. Authorities promptly detained her, and her current whereabouts remain unknown. According to AFP, she has been arrested. The young woman is a student at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University, but her identity has yet to be revealed. On Saturday, a video (unverified by Anandabazar Online) circulated on social media showing her walking in her underwear across the university campus. Later, she sat down in a public area outside the campus.
According to sources,the recent protest by an Iranian student who walked in her underwear at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University followed an incident where Basij paramilitary members allegedly harassed her, attempting to remove her hijab. This protest was filmed, showing her walking and sitting outside the university, and has led to her arrest with Amnesty International calling for her immediate release. Her situation remains unclear, sparking further international scrutiny over Iran’s strict dress codes and enforcement methods.

Anandabazar also mentions, She continued her “silent protest” alone on university grounds, where other women were seen wearing hijabs and fully covered clothing. Shortly after, university security detained her, and no information has surfaced since. Later reports confirmed her arrest, but it is unclear where she is being held or in what condition. The situation has sparked global concern, bringing to mind the case of Mahsa Amini in Iran.

In September 2022, young Iranian Mahsa Amini was arrested for not wearing a hijab in public. Within 24 hours, she died in police custody, leading to worldwide protests. Just two years after her mysterious death, the current incident has once again raised voices worldwide for women’s freedom in Iran.

Iran enforces strict dress codes for women, who are required to wear a hijab and loose clothing in public. This decree, upheld by current religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following Ayatollah Khomeini, includes severe penalties for violations.

After the Mahsa incident, Iranian women took to the streets in defiance, cutting their hair and discarding their hijabs in protest. The Iranian administration harshly suppressed these protests, with many protesters facing the death penalty for violating religious edicts. Since then, hijab laws have become stricter, with increased penalties extending to prison sentences of five to ten years, alongside fines up to seven lakh rupees (in Indian currency).

The reason behind this recent protest is still unclear. According to some foreign media, members of the Basij paramilitary force inside the university harassed the student, reportedly attempting to remove her hijab and clothing. In response, she began her protest by walking through campus in her underwear.

The Iranian administration has yet to respond to these harassment allegations. Some Iranian media claim that the young woman attended class without following the dress code, prompting security guards to caution her. It was then that she removed her clothing in protest.

The incident has already prompted reactions from various international human rights organizations. Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the university student.##