On December 30, 2025, members of the Basij militia—a volunteer paramilitary force part of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—used force, including tear gas, against students nonviolently protesting at Amirkabir University, injuring one.

Students had gathered for a nonviolent rally in support of the nationwide anti-government movement, which began in late December 2025 in response to an economic crisis marked by rapidly rising prices, currency devaluation, and a widespread struggle to afford basic necessities. During the campus crackdown, one student sustained severe injuries and was transferred to a hospital.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force against students during a student protest and the detention of students for nonviolently exercising their right to freedom of expression – conduct that is protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202512309281
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202512305639
https://x.com/IRObservatory/status/2006077959288021380
https://t.me/EEAUT/9810