Authorities in Iran arrested a female student on Saturday (Nov 2) after she staged a solo protest against harassment by stripping to her underwear outside her university, the news agency AFP reported early Sunday citing media reports.
The student, whose identity has not been revealed, was harassed inside the Islamic Azad University in Tehran by members of the Basij paramilitary force who ripped her headscarf and clothes, reports said.
The protest footage and the student’s arrest
Following the reported harassment, the student took off her clothes in protest and sat outside the university dressed in just her underwear before defiantly walking in the street to the astonishment of passers-by, videos on social media showed.
The reports said that the video (of the student’s protest) appeared to have been shot by onlookers in a neighbouring building. Another video showed her being bundled into a car by men in plain clothes and driven off to an undisclosed location.
The reports also alleged that the student was beaten during the arrest.
Unconditionally release the student: Amnesty International
On Saturday, Amnesty International reacted to the reports and urged Iranian authorities to unconditionally release the student.
“Iran’s authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the university student who was violently arrested after she removed her clothes in protest against abusive enforcement of compulsory veiling by security officials,” Amnesty International said in a post on X.
“Pending her release, authorities must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and ensure access to family and lawyer,” it added.
The rights group also said that the allegation of the student being beaten during the arrest required an independent and impartial investigation.
(With inputs from agencies)
