Photo: depositphotos.
The incident in Tehran
On 2 November 2024, an incident took place in Tehran that attracted the attention of the international community: a student of the Islamic Azad University was arrested after she removed her clothes in protest against being forced to wear the hijab. According to the international human rights organisation Amnesty International, the arrest came amid growing protests among women in Iran who oppose strict laws on observance of the Muslim dress code.
Protest in underwear
The video, which was circulated on social media, shows the girl sitting in her underwear in the university courtyard, arguing with a man who tries to give her clothes. The student refuses, showing determination in her protest. The video ends when an unidentified man starts making phone calls, presumably to call for reinforcements.
Call for dismissal and investigation
Amnesty International called on the Iranian authorities to immediately release the detainee and ensure that she is protected from torture and ill-treatment, and that she is granted access to her family and a lawyer. The organisation also noted that the allegations of beatings and sexual assault during arrest require an independent investigation and that those responsible must be brought to justice.
Second video and eyewitness testimonies
Additionally, DW reported on a second video showing plainclothes men pushing the student into a car and taking her to an unknown destination. According to the local student publication Amir Kabir Newsletter, the incident occurred after representatives of the Basij paramilitary group accused the girl of wearing the hijab “incorrectly” and tore her clothes.
Human rights violations
According to media reports, during her detention, the girl was beaten, in particular, her head was hit against the car door, which led to bleeding. At the moment, the student’s name has not been disclosed, but her case has become a vivid example of the ongoing struggle of women for their rights in Iran.
Continuing the fight for women’s rights
This incident has once again become an object of international discussion, highlighting serious human rights violations in a country where protesting against the authoritarian regime and restrictions on freedom is becoming increasingly dangerous.
