Iranian Student Arrested After Removing Clothes in Protest Against Dress Code

An Iranian student was detained after she stripped to her underwear outside Tehran’s Islamic Azad University, an act described by rights groups as a protest against the country’s strict Islamic dress code.

A widely circulated video, shared by Amnesty International, shows the woman seated outside the university with her hair uncovered, gesturing towards onlooking students, many of whom were wearing headscarves. She then walked around the premises, attracting attention.

A second video depicted the student walking down a road in her state of undress before a group of men intercepted her, forced her into a car, and drove away. According to Amnesty, the woman was “violently arrested” for protesting the “abusive enforcement” of Iran’s mandatory dress code.

The Amir Kabir student social media channel reported that the woman had previously faced harassment by members of the Basij, a paramilitary group, who allegedly ripped off her headscarf and tore her clothing. Meanwhile, state-run Fars news agency stated that the student disrobed after security personnel approached her calmly to address the dress code violation.

In response, Azad University’s public relations director, Amir Mahjob, claimed the incident stemmed from the student experiencing severe mental health issues. He revealed that the woman was a mother-of-two and separated from her husband, expressing concern over potential damage to her family’s reputation due to “online rumors.”

Amnesty International has called for the student’s immediate release and for her to be granted access to legal counsel and her family. The organization also demanded independent investigations into allegations of mistreatment, including beatings and sexual violence during her arrest, emphasizing that those found responsible must be held accountable.

Iran’s strict laws mandate the wearing of the hijab in public, with women facing severe punishments for violations.

The issue has been contentious, with nationwide protests erupting in 2022 after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died in the custody of the morality police following her arrest for an alleged headscarf infraction.