An Iranian student who stripped naked in protest against harassment by Revolutionary Guard militiamen was arrested in Tehran, activist groups reported on social media. The young woman, whose identity has not been revealed, a student at the prestigious Azad University in Tehran, was harassed by members of the Basij militia, according to these activists.
In protest, she stripped naked in front of the university and walked the streets in her underwear, according to a video. First posted by the Iranian student site Amir Kabir, the video was published by numerous Persian sites including the legal site Dadban, the human rights group Hengaw and the news site Iran Wire.
The video appears to have been taken by residents of a nearby building. Other images show the young woman thrown into a car by men in plain clothes. According to the Amir Kabir website, she was beaten during the arrest. “The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release” the young woman, declared Amnesty Iran, branch of Amnesty International, on X. “The allegations of beatings and sexual violence against her during her arrest must be investigated. “an independent and impartial investigation,” adds the organization.
More than 550 deaths since 2022
The Iranian Fars agency reported the incident and published a blurred photo of the student. According to the agency, the young woman wore “inappropriate” clothing to class and “stripped off” after being warned by security guards. Islamic law in Iran imposes a very strict dress code on women, who are required to wear headscarves and loose clothing that conceals their shapes. According to Fars, citing “witnesses,” the agents spoke “calmly” to the young woman and did not act aggressively.
Iranian women are at the origin of an unprecedented revolt movement in the country after the death of the young Kurd Mahsa Amini in September 2022, arrested for not having respected the dress code. The “Women’s Life and Freedom” movement has been massively repressed by the Iranian authorities, with at least 551 deaths and thousands of people arrested, according to NGOs.
On social networks, many Internet users show their support for the young woman. “Images that leave you speechless! (…) What courage…”, writes in particular the Iranian Farid Vahid, Co-director of the North Africa and Middle East Observatory of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation.
