Students at Tehran universities have taken to the streets to protest and clash with supporters of Iran’s Supreme Leader amid ongoing nationwide unrest. 


Iran Protest: Students Clash With Khamenei Supporters at Tehran University

Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday (Nov. 19)&nbsp;that the Iranian woman who went viral for stripping down to her underwear at a Tehran university in an apparent anti-hijab protest&nbsp;has been freed and will not face charges.&nbsp;

The woman, identified as Ahoo Daryaei by BBC Persian, had earlier this month, in a dramatic act of defiance, stripped down to her underwear. The incident was captured on a video that went viral online.&nbsp;

<h2>A protest of note</h2>

According to a student movement organisation, Daryaei's on-campus protest unfolded after she reportedly clashed with security agents over not wearing a headscarf. In a moment of defiance, she removed her clothing. Shortly after, she was forcibly detained, with Iranian officials claiming she was "sick" and transferred her to a psychiatric ward.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-woman-arrested-for-stripping-to-underwear-subjected-to-torture-chemical-substance-774673">Iranian woman arrested for stripping to underwear subjected to ‘torture, chemical substance’</a>

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir confirmed her release, stating, "Considering that she was sent to the hospital, and it was found that she was ill, she was handed over to her family... and no judicial case has been filed against her."

This move, presented as an act of compassion, has been labelled by activists as a strategy to delegitimise dissent by framing protesters as mentally ill.

Daryaei’s case is the latest example of what critics call the Iranian regime’s tactic of using mental health claims to undermine women’s rights activism. "This is how the Islamic Republic tries to discredit women, by questioning their mental health," said Azam Jangravi, an activist who fled Iran after her own anti-hijab protest in 2018.&nbsp;

Jangravi said her family has been facing pressure from Iranian authorities to declare her mentally ill: "My family didn’t do it, but many families under pressure do, thinking it’s the best way to protect their loved ones."

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<h2>Iran to open a 'treatment clinic' for women who defy hijab laws?</h2>

If reports are to be believed, the Iranian government has plans to open a treatment clinic for women who defy&nbsp;the country's mandatory hijab laws. Such a type of centre has been named "hijab removal treatment clinic."

According to a report by The Guardian on Thursday (Nov. 14), the opening of this clinic was announced by Mehri Talebi Darestani, the head of the Women and Family Department of the Tehran Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

Darestani said that the clinic would offer scientific and psychological treatment for hijab removal. She said that the clinic would be focused on promoting "dignity, modesty, chastity, and hijab," and pointed out that attendance would be optional.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday (Nov. 19) that the Iranian woman who went viral for stripping down to her underwear at a Tehran university in an apparent anti-hijab protest has been freed and will not face charges.

Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday (Nov. 19) that the Iranian woman who went viral for stripping down to her underwear at a Tehran university in an apparent anti-hijab protest has been freed and will not face charges. The woman, identified as Ahoo Daryaei by BBC Persian, had earlier this month, in a dramatic act of defiance, stripped down to her underwear. The incident was captured on a video that went viral online. A protest of note According to a student movement organisation, Daryaei's on-campus protest unfolded after she reportedly clashed with security agents over not wearing a headscarf. In a moment of defiance, she removed her clothing. Shortly after, she was forcibly detained, with Iranian officials claiming she was "sick" and transferred her to a psychiatric ward. Also read | Iranian woman arrested for stripping to underwear subjected to ‘torture, chemical substance’ Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir confirmed her release, stating, "Considering that she was sent to the hospital, and it was found that she was ill, she was handed over to her family... and no judicial case has been filed against her." This move, presented as an act of compassion, has been labelled by activists as a strategy to delegitimise dissent by framing protesters as mentally ill. Daryaei’s case is the latest example of what critics call the Iranian regime’s tactic of using mental health claims to undermine women’s rights activism. "This is how the Islamic Republic tries to discredit women, by questioning their mental health," said Azam Jangravi, an activist who fled Iran after her own anti-hijab protest in 2018. Jangravi said her family has been facing pressure from Iranian authorities to declare her mentally ill: "My family didn’t do it, but many families under pressure do, thinking it’s the best way to protect their loved ones." Also read | Iran plans to open treatment clinic for women who defy hijab laws Iran to open a 'treatment clinic' for women who defy hijab laws? If reports are to be believed, the Iranian government has plans to open a treatment clinic for women who defy the country's mandatory hijab laws. Such a type of centre has been named "hijab removal treatment clinic." According to a report by The Guardian on Thursday (Nov. 14), the opening of this clinic was announced by Mehri Talebi Darestani, the head of the Women and Family Department of the Tehran Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Darestani said that the clinic would offer scientific and psychological treatment for hijab removal. She said that the clinic would be focused on promoting "dignity, modesty, chastity, and hijab," and pointed out that attendance would be optional. (With inputs from agencies)

Iranian woman who stripped in anti-hijab protest released without charges

A young Iranian woman who was detained for stripping down to underwear to mark a protest may have been tortured, given electric shocks and beaten by authorities, human rights organisations have warned. The woman, whose identity remains unknown to date, was earlier transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Now Amnesty International (AI) has claimed it has evidence that Iranian officials subjected the woman to torture and even chemical substances.

Earlier, the authorities labelled her ‘mentally unstable’ and transferred her to a psychiatric institution. Amnesty said the woman was faced with an “alarming situation.”

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The woman became an internet sensation in Iran overnight after a video showing her roaming around in Tehran University campus in her underwear went viral. She was reportedly protesting harassment by campus security guards over an alleged violation of the strict dress code imposed on women in the Shi’ite nation.

Earlier, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) called her arrest by Iranian authorities a “kidnapping” and highlighted the trend in the country to transfer political opponents and protesters to mental health centres to muzzle their voices.

Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of CHRI, was quoted as saying by the Guardian, “Iranian authorities systematically use involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation as a tool to suppress dissent, branding protesters as mentally unstable to undermine their credibility.”

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“Transferring individuals who participate in peaceful protests to psychiatric hospitals represents not only an act of arbitrary detention but also constitutes a form of kidnapping. This practice is a blatantly unlawful move to discredit activists by labelling them mentally unstable,” he added.

Notably, Iranian authorities in 2022 had transferred Saman Yasin, a well-known Kurdish rapper, to a mental health facility following her detention over protests. He was released on medical furlough last month after spending nearly two years in prison.

“Saman was tied to the bed in the psychiatric centre in a cruciform position for a long time. They administered high-dose sedatives and despite his unconscious state, the restraints on his hands and feet were not removed,” The Guardian quoted a source close to the&nbsp;Kurdish rapper&nbsp;as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

A young Iranian woman who was detained for stripping down to underwear to mark a protest may have been tortured, given electric shocks and beaten by authorities, human rights organisations have warned.

A young Iranian woman who was detained for stripping down to underwear to mark a protest may have been tortured, given electric shocks and beaten by authorities, human rights organisations have warned. The woman, whose identity remains unknown to date, was earlier transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Now Amnesty International (AI) has claimed it has evidence that Iranian officials subjected the woman to torture and even chemical substances. Earlier, the authorities labelled her ‘mentally unstable’ and transferred her to a psychiatric institution. Amnesty said the woman was faced with an “alarming situation.” Also read: West Asia crisis: Israel bracing for massive Iranian attack ‘that will surpass all expectations’ The woman became an internet sensation in Iran overnight after a video showing her roaming around in Tehran University campus in her underwear went viral. She was reportedly protesting harassment by campus security guards over an alleged violation of the strict dress code imposed on women in the Shi’ite nation. Earlier, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) called her arrest by Iranian authorities a “kidnapping” and highlighted the trend in the country to transfer political opponents and protesters to mental health centres to muzzle their voices. Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of CHRI, was quoted as saying by the Guardian, “Iranian authorities systematically use involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation as a tool to suppress dissent, branding protesters as mentally unstable to undermine their credibility.” Also read: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says Trump`s win ‘doesn’t matter’ “Transferring individuals who participate in peaceful protests to psychiatric hospitals represents not only an act of arbitrary detention but also constitutes a form of kidnapping. This practice is a blatantly unlawful move to discredit activists by labelling them mentally unstable,” he added. Notably, Iranian authorities in 2022 had transferred Saman Yasin, a well-known Kurdish rapper, to a mental health facility following her detention over protests. He was released on medical furlough last month after spending nearly two years in prison. “Saman was tied to the bed in the psychiatric centre in a cruciform position for a long time. They administered high-dose sedatives and despite his unconscious state, the restraints on his hands and feet were not removed,” The Guardian quoted a source close to the Kurdish rapper as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Iranian woman arrested for stripping to underwear subjected to ‘torture, chemical substance’

Tens of thousands of government supporters rallied across Iran on Friday, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and accusing arch-enemy the United States of instigating the biggest anti-government protests for nearly a decade, state TV reported.

Tehran`s Friday prayer leader called on authorities to deal &quot;firmly&quot; with those responsible for igniting over a week of demonstrations, in which 22 people have died and more than 1,000 have been arrested, according to Iranian officials.&nbsp;

&quot;But those ordinary Iranians who were deceived by these American-backed rioters should be dealt with based on Islamic clemency,&quot; cleric Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran university, TV reported.

Khatami also called on the government to &quot;pay more attention to people`s economic problems.&quot;

Protests erupted on December 28 in the holy Shi`ite city of Mashhad after the government announced plans to raise fuel prices and cut monthly cash handouts to lower-income Iranians.

Unrest spread to more than 80 cities and rural towns as thousands of young and working class Iranians voiced anger at graft, unemployment and a deepening gap between rich and poor.&nbsp;

Some 42,000 people took part in the unrest across the country, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was quoted as saying by state TV.&nbsp;

To try to allay tensions, the government suspended its planned fuel price hikes and cash handout cuts. Ali Rabiei, Iran`s minister of cooperatives, labour and social welfare, said the government had

plans to create over 900,000 jobs by March 2019, the state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

Iranian officials said the protests were the result of foreign instigation and mocked US&nbsp;President Donald Trump`s support of protesters against what he called a &ldquo;brutal and corrupt&rdquo; establishment.&nbsp;

The authorities have produced no evidence of any US&nbsp;role in the demonstrations, which have lacked a unifying leader.

Guards quelled unrest

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Iran`s statements that external influences fomented the unrest were not groundless and that Washington used any possible method to destabilise governments it disliked.

He added that US&nbsp;calls for an extraordinary meeting of the UN&nbsp;Security Council to discuss the turmoil in Iran interfered with the country`s sovereignty, news agency Interfax said. The Council met on Friday to discuss Iran.

Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo told the UN&nbsp;Security Council meeting that the United States had abused its power as a permanent member of the Council by calling for a meeting on the turmoil in Iran.

He added that Iran had &ldquo;hard evidence&rdquo; that recent protests in Iran were &ldquo;very clearly directed from abroad&rdquo;.

But US&nbsp;Ambassador to UN&nbsp;Nikki Haley said the United States stood &quot;unapologetically with those in Iran who seek freedom for themselves, prosperity for their families, and dignity for their nation&quot;.

&quot;We will not be quiet. No dishonest attempt to call protesters `puppets of foreign powers` will change that. The Iranian people know the truth. And we know the truth,&quot; she told the UN&nbsp;meeting on Iran.&nbsp;

Iran`s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on his Twitter account that the meeting was &quot;another foreign policy blunder of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump`s administration&quot;.

Residents contacted by Reuters in various cities said the protests had shown sign of abating since Thursday after the establishment intensified a crackdown on the protesters by dispatching Revolutionary Guards forces to several provinces.

Iran`s elite Guards and its affiliated Basij militia suppressed the country`s 2009 unrest over alleged election fraud, in which dozens of pro-reform Iranians were killed.&nbsp;

United front

On Friday rallies, protesters chanted &quot;Death to America&quot; and &quot;Death to Israel&quot;, carrying pictures of Iran`s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and waved Iranian flags.

Television footage of rallies in several cities showed people chanting &quot;We support Imam Khamenei ... We will not leave him alone in his fight against enemies&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Demonstrators demand the punishment of those behind foreign-linked riots which insulted religion and our authorities,&quot; state television reported, referring to unrest in which social media footage showed protesters tearing down pictures of Khamenei.

Hardliner Khatami said the government should take more notice of Iranians` economic problems.&nbsp;

&quot;There are workers who say they have not received their salaries for months ... These problems should be resolved,&quot; Khatami said, according to state TV.

Fearing that further unrest could undermine the Islamic republic altogether, Iran`s faction-ridden political elite has displayed a united front.

But Khamenei and his hardline allies have criticised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for failing to revive the economy after most sanctions on Iran were lifted in 2016 under a deal reached between Tehran and major powers aimed at curbing the country`s nuclear programme.&nbsp;

Rouhani secured the deal in 2015, raising hopes of better economic times among many Iranians, but discontent has since risen over the lack of broad improvement in living standards.

Ahmed Khatami also called on the government to 'pay more attention to people`s economic problems'

Tens of thousands of government supporters rallied across Iran on Friday, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and accusing arch-enemy the United States of instigating the biggest anti-government protests for nearly a decade, state TV reported. Tehran`s Friday prayer leader called on authorities to deal "firmly" with those responsible for igniting over a week of demonstrations, in which 22 people have died and more than 1,000 have been arrested, according to Iranian officials. "But those ordinary Iranians who were deceived by these American-backed rioters should be dealt with based on Islamic clemency," cleric Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran university, TV reported. Khatami also called on the government to "pay more attention to people`s economic problems." Protests erupted on December 28 in the holy Shi`ite city of Mashhad after the government announced plans to raise fuel prices and cut monthly cash handouts to lower-income Iranians. Unrest spread to more than 80 cities and rural towns as thousands of young and working class Iranians voiced anger at graft, unemployment and a deepening gap between rich and poor. Some 42,000 people took part in the unrest across the country, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was quoted as saying by state TV. To try to allay tensions, the government suspended its planned fuel price hikes and cash handout cuts. Ali Rabiei, Iran`s minister of cooperatives, labour and social welfare, said the government had plans to create over 900,000 jobs by March 2019, the state news agency IRNA reported on Friday. Iranian officials said the protests were the result of foreign instigation and mocked US President Donald Trump`s support of protesters against what he called a “brutal and corrupt” establishment. The authorities have produced no evidence of any US role in the demonstrations, which have lacked a unifying leader. Guards quelled unrest Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Iran`s statements that external influences fomented the unrest were not groundless and that Washington used any possible method to destabilise governments it disliked. He added that US calls for an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the turmoil in Iran interfered with the country`s sovereignty, news agency Interfax said. The Council met on Friday to discuss Iran. Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo told the UN Security Council meeting that the United States had abused its power as a permanent member of the Council by calling for a meeting on the turmoil in Iran. He added that Iran had “hard evidence” that recent protests in Iran were “very clearly directed from abroad”. But US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley said the United States stood "unapologetically with those in Iran who seek freedom for themselves, prosperity for their families, and dignity for their nation". "We will not be quiet. No dishonest attempt to call protesters `puppets of foreign powers` will change that. The Iranian people know the truth. And we know the truth," she told the UN meeting on Iran. Iran`s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on his Twitter account that the meeting was "another foreign policy blunder of US President Donald Trump`s administration". Residents contacted by Reuters in various cities said the protests had shown sign of abating since Thursday after the establishment intensified a crackdown on the protesters by dispatching Revolutionary Guards forces to several provinces. Iran`s elite Guards and its affiliated Basij militia suppressed the country`s 2009 unrest over alleged election fraud, in which dozens of pro-reform Iranians were killed. United front On Friday rallies, protesters chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel", carrying pictures of Iran`s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and waved Iranian flags. Television footage of rallies in several cities showed people chanting "We support Imam Khamenei ... We will not leave him alone in his fight against enemies". "Demonstrators demand the punishment of those behind foreign-linked riots which insulted religion and our authorities," state television reported, referring to unrest in which social media footage showed protesters tearing down pictures of Khamenei. Hardliner Khatami said the government should take more notice of Iranians` economic problems. "There are workers who say they have not received their salaries for months ... These problems should be resolved," Khatami said, according to state TV. Fearing that further unrest could undermine the Islamic republic altogether, Iran`s faction-ridden political elite has displayed a united front. But Khamenei and his hardline allies have criticised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for failing to revive the economy after most sanctions on Iran were lifted in 2016 under a deal reached between Tehran and major powers aimed at curbing the country`s nuclear programme. Rouhani secured the deal in 2015, raising hopes of better economic times among many Iranians, but discontent has since risen over the lack of broad improvement in living standards.

Iran stages pro-government rallies, cleric urges punishment for protest leaders