PARIS: Iranian students protested on Tuesday at multiple universities, defying a bloody crackdown as tensions mount on the eve of planned ceremonies marking 40 days since Mahsa Amini’s death.
“A student may die but will not accept humiliation,” they chanted at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, in an online video verified by AFP.
Young women and schoolgirls have been at the forefront of protests sparked by Amini’s death last month, after her arrest for an alleged breach of the country’s strict dress code for women.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, died three days after being taken into custody by the notorious morality police on Sept. 13 while visiting Tehran with her younger brother.
Activists said the security services had warned Amini’s family against holding a ceremony and not to ask people to visit her grave Wednesday in Kurdistan province, otherwise “they should worry for their son’s life.”
Wednesday marks 40 days since Amini’s death and the end of the traditional mourning period in Iran. Online videos showed students protesting Tuesday at Beheshti University and the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology, both in Tehran, as well as Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, in Khuzestan province.
The fresh demonstrations came after security forces were accused by activists of beating schoolgirls at the Shahid Sadr girls vocational school in Tehran on Monday.
“Students of the Sadr high school in Tehran have been attacked, strip-searched and beaten up,” said the 1500tasvir social media channel.
At least one student, 16-year-old Sana Soleimani, had been hospitalized, said 1500tasvir, which chronicles rights violations by Iran’s security forces.
“Parents later protested in front of the school. Security forces attacked the neighborhood and shot at people’s houses,” it added.
Iran’s Education Ministry said a dispute erupted between schoolgirls and their parents and school staff after the principal demanded they comply with rules over the use of mobile phones.
AFP
