A young Iranian woman was filmed walking on her university campus in Tehran without her hijab and in her underwear, an act that quickly became a symbol of protest against the regime’s strict dress codes. Following the incident, she was arrested, and sources suggest she faced violence from university security. A hashtag supporting her gained rapid traction online, drawing global attention and solidarity. Her husband, shown in a video pleading for her release, raised concerns about her wellbeing and the impact on their family.
Her act, captured on video and shared online, quickly became a symbol of defiance within just 24 hours. A young Iranian woman was filmed walking unclothed, her hair uncovered, across the campus of her university in Tehran. Subsequently, she was arrested for this action, which could lead to imprisonment under Iran’s ultra-conservative regime that mandates the wearing of a hijab. Here’s what we know about this act, which has already been recognized as a political statement, and its repercussions.
A Viral Video From Telegram
This scene seems unimaginable in Iran, where numerous young women have lost their lives due to improperly worn hijabs. One of the most notable cases is that of Mahsa Amini, who was beaten to death by the morality police in September 2022. In the video taken from a classroom at Azad University and shared on platforms like X and Instagram, this student walks in her underwear without wearing her scarf. She is seen being forcefully taken away by Iranian police, as can be distinguished in a longer version of the footage. Many credible sources, including Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, have reported her arrest.
The video was released on November 2 by ‘Newsletter Amir Kabir,’ a Telegram channel run by Iranian students. According to this group, the student was assaulted by university security for not wearing her hijab, which led to her clothing being torn off. It is reported that she then walked around the campus in protest before being thrown into a vehicle by four campus security personnel. This source also claims that the young woman suffered a head injury when she hit the car door, though this has not been confirmed. Additionally, neither her health status nor her exact whereabouts are known at this time.
A representative from Azad University, who claims to have seen her at the police station, stated that ‘her physical condition seems to be relatively stable.’ In a series of messages on X, Amir Mahjoub confirmed that ‘after the indecent act by one of the students at the University of Research Sciences, campus security intervened and handed her over to the police. The motivations and reasons for this student’s actions are currently under investigation.’ The university also reported that after a medical examination, it was found that the young woman ‘was undergoing significant mental pressure and suffered from mental disorders.’ This narrative is often employed by the regime, which labels women who refuse to wear the hijab as having ‘mental disorders’ and subjects them to psychological treatment.
Was Her Husband Coerced in His Statement?
The student’s gesture, whose identity is circulating on Iranian accounts but remains unverified, has become a symbol for all Iranian women oppressed by the morality police. A Persian hashtag, ‘Research Science Girl,’ has gone viral, amassing nearly 90,000 tweets within 24 hours, according to Visibrain tool.
Messages of support are pouring in from various languages. In open conflict with Tehran’s regime, the Israeli army expressed its solidarity, calling this movement ‘one of the most powerful revolutions in history.’ Meanwhile, various visuals of the student are being shared, including artwork and montages that compare her to historical figures such as the young woman from Tiananmen Square in China.
In this context, Azad University released a video featuring a man presented as the young woman’s husband: his face blurred, he appeals for the footage not to be shared further. It remains unclear whether he was coerced into making this statement. ‘She is a mother of two, and they cannot live without her’, he pleads before breaking down in tears.