Security forces in Tehran have arrested a young woman for stripping to her underwear and marching through the Islamic Azad University (IAU) campus.
The incident occurred Nov. 2 on the campus of IAU's Science and Research Branch in Tehran and immediately went viral all over social media, with the woman being referred to as "the Science and Research girl" before she was identified as 30-year-old Ahoo Daryaei, a French literature doctoral student.
IAU Director General of Public Relations Amir Mahjoub later confirmed Daryaei's arrest
"Following an indecent act by a student at the Science and Research Branch of the university, campus security intervened and handed the individual over to law enforcement authorities," Mahjoub wrote on X. "The motives and underlying reasons for the student's actions are currently under investigation."
Daryaei was reportedly harassed by university security personnel for improperly wearing her hijab. These security personnel reportedly tore her clothes and harmed her to the point of bloodily injuring her.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said in a follow-up statement that the Iranian government is treating the incident involving Daryaei not as a security issue but a personal, mental health issue.
"Instead of viewing this issue under a security lens, we are rather looking at it with a social lens and seek to solve the problems of this student as a troubled individual," said Mohajerani. She confirmed that Daryaei was initially detained at a police station, but has since been transferred to a health facility, but did not say what treatment the woman would receive.
"It is yet too soon to speak of this student's return to university. According to a video published by her husband, she needs treatment and that needs to be completed before taking the next steps," said Mohajerani.
Currently, Daryaei is not facing criminal charges.
Women in Iran constantly being harassed by morality police
More and more women in Iran are being harassed by the nation's morality police, especially since September 2022 following widespread protests due to the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini, who was killed while in the custody of morality police for allegedly violating hijab regulations.
The international community has voiced its support for Daryaei, with Amnesty International immediately calling for her release and criticizing Iran's "abusive enforcement of compulsory veiling."
In a longer statement, Amnesty's Iran division called for Daryaei's unconditional release and, pending her release, Tehran "must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and ensure access to family" and legal representatives. "Allegations of beatings and sexual violence against her during arrest need independent and impartial investigations. Those responsible must be held to account."
Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist, author and women's rights activist, commented on X: "In Iran, a student harassed by her university’s morality police over her 'improper' hijab didn’t back down. She turned her body into a protest, stripping to her underwear and marching through campus – defying a regime that constantly controls women’s bodies."
"Her act is a powerful reminder of Iranian women’s fight for freedom," she continued. "Yes we use our bodies like weapons to fight back against a regime that kills women for showing their hair. This happened at Tehran's Science and Research University."
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Mai Sato, who shared the viral video of the incident on social media, warned Tehran that the UN will be "monitoring this incident closely, including the authorities' response." (Related: Leaked documents reveal secret U.S.-led coalition plotting regime change in Iran.)
Watch this video showing how many women in Iran are refusing to wear their hijabs out in public.
This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.
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