On October 30, 2022, plainclothes security forces reportedly clashed with students participating in a protest at Northern Tehran branch of Azad University.

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 30 protest, security forces armed with rifles and sticks reportedly attacked students, leading them to retaliate.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violence during a campus student demonstration. State authorities have an obligation to refrain from restricting or retaliating against the peaceful exercise of such rights. Likewise, students have a responsibility to carry out expressive activities peacefully and responsibility. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, violence during demonstrations undermines 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.iranintl.com/en/202210305824
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/10/30/Security-forces-tear-gas-students-defying-Iran-protest-ultimatum
https://www.voanews.com/a/clashes-reported-as-protesters-gather-at-iranian-universities-/6811725.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63456606
https://twitter.com/Shayan86/status/1586768739315306498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1586768739315306498%7Ctwgr%5E576d217a61f8b070cccd372a6c9b7c33b42f2a36%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-middle-east-63456606