Iranian Student Strips in Bold Protest Against Assault by Hijab Enforcers

In a courageous act of defiance, an Iranian student publicly removes her clothing in protest after allegedly being assaulted by hijab enforcers. The incident has sparked renewed debates on personal freedoms and rights in Iran.

A female Iranian student was arrested on Saturday for removing her clothing in protest after allegedly being assaulted by security forces at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University due to improper hijab.

A video featuring the student seated in the courtyard of the university’s Science and Research Branch has become a sensation on Iranian social media.

A university official later confirmed her arrest. Amir Mahjoub, Director General of Public Relations at Islamic Azad University, stated on X that “after a student committed an indecent act at the Science and Research Branch of the university, campus security intervened and transferred the individual to law enforcement authorities.” He added that “the motives and underlying reasons for the student’s actions are currently being investigated.”

On that same day, the Amir Kabir Newsletter, a student organization on Telegram, shared details of the incident. They reported that the student was compelled to disrobe after being harassed for not wearing a headscarf and having her clothing torn by security forces.

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During the student’s arrest, she endured a brutal physical assault where her head hit either a car door or a pillar, resulting in significant bleeding. The report observed that blood from the student was reportedly found on the car’s tires.

Since the Woman, Life, Freedom movement began in Iran following Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody over hijab violations in September 2022, hardliners have ramped up efforts to impose strict dress codes for women. Despite broad public resistance, government actions to uphold mandatory hijab laws have intensified. This has led to businesses being shut down and vehicles impounded due to hijab-related offenses.

Project Noor, initiated on April 13 to uphold hijab regulations, has resulted in a significant rise in the deployment of police forces, Basij paramilitary units, and plainclothes officers across public areas. Furthermore, educational institutions like Alzahra University in Tehran have implemented facial recognition technology at their entry gates to restrict access for students who do not adhere to stringent hijab laws.

During his campaign, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the proposed hijab legislation by calling it the “Darkness Plan” and promised to terminate morality police patrols along with ceasing violence against women who do not adhere to hijab regulations.

In October, despite controversy, Iran’s Guardian Council approved the Hijab and Chastity bill, which is currently under parliamentary review.