Iran’s judiciary announced on Tuesday that no charges have been filed against a student who stripped to her underwear at a university in Tehran.
Speaking at a press conference, judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir explained, “She was sent to the hospital, where it was determined she was unwell. She was handed over to her family, and no judicial case has been opened.” Jahangir did not disclose her identity.
Incident Details
In November, a video circulated online showing a female student at Islamic Azad University in Tehran sitting and briefly walking before removing her clothes. This act sparked significant backlash in Iran, where the law mandates that women cover their neck and head and dress modestly, a rule introduced after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran’s Science Minister, Hossein Simaei, called the incident “immoral and unusual” but confirmed the student had not been expelled. The university clarified that she had been turned over to the police and was found to be “under severe stress and dealing with a mental health condition.”
Amnesty International and Government Response
Amnesty International, a human rights organization, claimed that the woman was “violently arrested” after protesting against compulsory veiling laws.
However, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani denied any connection between the incident and Iran’s dress code policies. She stated, “This level of nudity is unacceptable anywhere,” while rejecting allegations of violent arrest.
Background Context
This event comes after months of nationwide protests in Iran, following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the mandatory dress code for women. The protests that followed led to the deaths of hundreds of people, including security personnel, and thousands of arrests.
