Iran woman strips at university to protest against hijab; arrested
PTC News Desk: A young woman stripped down to her undergarments at an Iranian university on Saturday in protest of the country's strict Islamic dress code.
The video, first shared by the Iranian student outlet Amir Kabir Newsletter, shows security guards detaining a woman at Islamic Azad University. It has since been shared by Persian-language news outlets such as the Hengaw rights group, IranWire, and Amnesty International.
A video surfacing on social media shows the young woman walking outside the university campus in her underwear. According to Reuters, university spokesperson Amir Mahjob told X that "it was found that she was under severe mental pressure and had a mental disorder."
The woman's current whereabouts are unclear, but "an informed source" told Hamshahri Daily that she may be taken to a mental facility after an investigation. According to the Amir Kabir newsletter, the woman was beaten during her arrest.
Amnesty International condemned the arrest, stating, “Iran’s authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the university student. Pending her release, authorities must protect her from torture and ensure access to her family and lawyer."
Elica Le Bon, an activist and musician, shared the video on X, writing, “In Iran, a woman who was accosted by the ‘morality police’ for not wearing hijab removes her clothing & roams the streets in defiance. She has since been arrested by IRGC forces and forcibly disappeared. This is the brave face of true resistance.”
The video went viral on the Internet, receiving over two million views. A user said, “Brave woman. I hate to think of what’s happened to her now that she’s disappeared" while another user commented, “So much respect for this woman, for her unbelievable courage.”
- With inputs from agencies
