Iranian student's defiant act sparks global outcry

The situation of women in the Middle East is significantly different from European or American standards. They are forced to wear clothing mandated by the government, and their position often depends on husbands or fathers, whom they must obey. Issues of domestic violence or violence in relationships are all too common. Regardless of its scale, mothers, daughters, and wives must fulfil the will of men and meekly endure ordeals. Occasionally, a woman reaches breaking point and decides to resist the government, but her determination is swiftly quelled with violence.

On 2nd November 2024, in Tehran, a student from the Islamic Azad University staged a protest. Videos published online show a young woman walking on the pavement dressed only in panties and a bra. Her action was reportedly a response to a previous attack at the university. She was accused by government service officers at the university of "inappropriate attire," with claims that her scarf was torn and her clothes damaged.

Internet users worldwide speculate that the protest was an attempt to challenge Iranian government rules requiring women to wear loose clothing and cover their hair with a scarf. Shortly after she sat on a low wall, walked, and sang, a car approached, and several men got out. The woman was brutally pushed into the vehicle, which drove away. The men were later identified as members of the Basij militia, known as one of the most brutal factions of the regime-serving militia.

Activists from Amnesty International have taken up the case of the Iranian student. In a post on the X platform, the organisation stated: "The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the university student who was brutally arrested on 2nd November after she removed her clothes in protest against abuses related to the compulsory wearing of the hijab by security personnel at Islamic Azad University in Tehran. Until her release, the authorities must ensure her protection from torture and other forms of ill-treatment and allow her contact with her family and a lawyer. Allegations of assault and sexual violence against her during the arrest must be the subject of an independent and impartial investigation. Those responsible must be held accountable."

Mai Sato, the special UN envoy for Iran, also commented on the matter. She wrote on the X platform that she "will closely monitor this incident, including the authorities' response."

Representatives of Islamic Azad University claim that the woman was taken to a psychiatric hospital. However, activists have expressed doubts about her future wellbeing.