On October 2, 2022, security forces reportedly arrested several students during a protest at the University of Tehran (UT).

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.

At the October 2 protest, which was reportedly nonviolent, security forces arrested several students. After the UT president spoke with security forces at the detention facility, at least seven students were returned to UT and released.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrest of students in apparent retaliation for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly – conduct which is protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory. In addition to harm to the immediate victims, such arbitrary arrests undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.irna.ir/news/84902132/هفت-دانشجوی-بازداشتی-دانشگاه-تهران-آزاد-شدند
https://www.iscanews.ir/news/1155268/هیچ-نیروی-امنیتی-وارد-دانشگاه-تهران-نشده-است-آزادی-دانشجویان
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20221013090216453
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1401/با-پیگیری-های-مسئولان-دانشگاه-تهران-7-دانشجو-آزاد-شدند