Iranian authorities have arrested a young woman who was seen wandering around a university in Tehran in her underwear, and while little is known about her whereabouts or condition, Amnesty International is calling for her “immediate and unconditional” release.
The unidentified woman was photographed removing her clothes before sitting down and walking in nothing but a bra, underwear and flat shoes outside the prestigious Islamic Azad University, in an apparent protest against the country’s strict dress code.
In the video, other students and onlookers, wearing the government-sanctioned hijab and modest clothing, watch.
Student media outlet Amir Kabir reported that the woman may have been protesting after she was assaulted on the school campus that day by an army volunteer for not wearing a headscarf.
Under Iran’s mandatory dress code, women must wear a headscarf and loose clothing in public.
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After she went out into the street in her underwear, the second video shows her being put into a car by men in uniform. Amir Kabir reported that he was beaten when he was arrested and the information about where the woman was taken was not available.
“Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release a university student who was violently arrested after taking off her clothes in protest against the mandatory covering of skin by security officials,” Amnesty Iran wrote on social media about the harsh detention.
“Since his release is pending, the authorities must protect him from torture and other atrocities and ensure access to his family and a lawyer.”
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the woman was taken to a police station, but many are still concerned about her safety.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Iran, Mai Sato, said in his post on X Saturday that he “will be closely monitoring the incident, including the responding authorities.”
The spokesperson of the university, Seyed Amir Mahjob, said that the student was taken to a psychiatric hospital after being detained and the investigation is still ongoing regarding his reasons.
In a text on Saturday on X, Mahjob rejected suggestions that the student was against the dress code and questioned his attitude.
Wearing the hijab (or headscarf) in public is compulsory for women under Iran’s strict interpretation of Islamic law enforced by the country’s so-called morality police.
Women in Iran can face severe punishment, even for minor infractions.
In 2022, a woman who was arrested by the police for wearing her scarf inappropriately died in police custody. Mahsa Amini’s death sparked protests around the world and hundreds were killed when Iranian authorities cracked down on protests in the country.
To this day, many Iranian women continue to protest by removing their veils in public, despite the dangers involved.
Last month, the US, Canada and Australia imposed sanctions on a group of Iranian officials for their role in suppressing protests and arresting people over Amini’s death.
In March, a United Nations fact-finding mission ruled that Iran was responsible for the “physical violence” that led to Amini’s death. It also found that the Islamic Republic used “unnecessary and disproportionate use of lethal force” to quell protests that erupted after Amini’s death and that Iranian security forces sexually abused prisoners.
