Around February 15, 2025, Iranian security forces used force against University of Tehran students demonstrating on campus.
The protests began on February 14 after a student was stabbed and killed in an attempted robbery. They continued for at least three days. The students initially protested poor security conditions at the university. However, after security forces, who maintained a heavy presence on campus during the protests, reportedly arrested some protestors, the protests escalated, with students chanting against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. During the protests, there were reports that security forces periodically assaulted demonstrators, leading to clashes and some injuries to students, and filmed them.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force by security forces in response to a student protest – conduct that is protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Instruments and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party. While state authorities have a right to maintain public order and safety, they should refrain from the use of force and ensure that their response is proportionate to the situation and does not result in harm to students or other protesters. Likewise, students should refrain from violence in their expressive activities and to respect institutional autonomy. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, the use of force, especially when intended to restrict student expression, undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.newarab.com/news/protests-tehran-university-after-students-murder-activists
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/15/protests-at-tehran-university-after-murder-of-student/
https://www.bbc.com/persian/articles/ckgyl41ym1jo
https://apnews.com/article/iran-protest-killing-university-student-a8957f734499d651f78c086cfe83cd56
https://iran-hrm.com/2025/02/17/student-protests-in-iran-over-the-killing-of-a-fellow-student/
https://iranwire.com/en/news/139113-tehran-students-protest-after-peers-fatal-stabbing/