Iranian student's bold protest against hijab sparks global outcry

The situation of women in the Middle East differs significantly from European or American standards. They are forced to wear government-mandated clothing, and their position is largely dependent on husbands or fathers, to whom they must be obedient. Issues of domestic violence or family violence are not surprising to anyone. Regardless of its scale, mothers, daughters, and wives are expected to fulfill the will of men and endure suffering with humility. Occasionally, a woman will have had enough and begin to fight against the government, but her determination is often quickly broken through violence.

On November 2, 2024, in Tehran, a protest occurred involving a student of Islamic Azad University. In videos posted online, a girl can be seen walking on the sidewalk dressed only in panties and a bra. The woman's action was meant as a response to a previous attack at the university. She was reportedly accused by government service officers working at the university of "improper attire." Her shawl was allegedly torn, and her clothes destroyed.

Internet users worldwide speculate that the protest was an attempt to challenge the Iranian government's rules, which mandate that women wear loose clothing and cover their hair with a shawl. After a short time, during which the protester sat on a wall, walked, and sang, a car approached her, and several men got out. The woman was brutally pushed into the vehicle, which drove away from the scene. The men were later identified as members of the Basij militia, one of the most brutal sects serving the regime.

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

Mai Sato, United Nations special envoy for Iran, also commented on the matter. The politician wrote on platform X 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 further fate.