A recent incident at Islamic Azad University in Tehran has sparked controversy after a female student stripped down to her underwear, with many on social media interpreting it as a bold protest against Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
However, a government spokesperson has downplayed the incident, describing the student as a “troubled individual” who’s receiving treatment, rather than a security threat.
This isn’t the first time Iranian students have expressed dissent against the government. The death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 sparked widespread protests across Iran, with students playing a significant role in demanding change ¹. Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, fell into a coma after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s hijab law.
The ongoing protests have seen numerous acts of defiance, including women removing their hijabs and cutting their hair in public. University students have been at the forefront, with many participating in demonstrations and clashes with security forces ¹. The government has responded with force, resulting in several deaths and arrests.
Despite the government’s stance, the student’s actions have resonated with many Iranians and international observers, highlighting the growing discontent with Iran’s strict laws and human rights record.
“Instead of viewing this issue under a security lens, we are rather looking at it with a social lens and seek to solve the problems of this student as a troubled individual,” government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday in the first official reaction to the event.
She said that the young woman, named as Ahoo Daryaei on social media, had been transferred from a police station to a treatment center, but did not say what treatment she would receive.
The woman was detained by security guards at the university. A university spokesperson, Amir Mahjob, said on X on Saturday “at the police station, … it was found that she was under severe mental pressure and had a mental disorder.”
