On September 20, 2022, campus security officers, reportedly alongside plainclothes members of the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary group, attempted to restrict students from participating in a nonviolent demonstration at the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST).

Starting on September 17, protests spread across Iran, including at various universities, following the death-in-custody of Jina Amini (also known as Mahsa Amini) after so-called “morality police” detained her. Police and security forces have responded to the protests with violence and arrests.

On September 20, IUST students held a protest where they marched through campus. Campus security and alleged Basij members confronted the students and attempted to prevent them from continue their march off-campus by shoving students back. Videos of the incidents appear to show intense jostling between security and students at the front of the protest.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about campus security officers and alleged members of a paramilitary group attempting to restrict students’ peaceful expressive activity. While campus security has a responsibility to maintain safety and order, they must also refrain from restricting or retaliating against peaceful expressive activity. Such incidents undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://ir.voanews.com/a/iran-students-protest-tehran-mahsa-amini/6754992.html
https://ir.voanews.com/a/iran-protest-mahsa-amini/6754918.html
https://www.balatarin.com/permlink/2022/9/20/5866516
https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Fa/status/1572160099447369729
https://twitter.com/RadioFarda_/status/1572147095762604033
https://twitter.com/RadioFarda_/status/1572161833393393664
https://twitter.com/pouriazeraati/status/1572162664645775360