On February 22, 2026, Iranian paramilitary forces clashed with student protesters at Sharif University of Technology during a commemoration for those killed during nationwide protests in January.
The demonstrations followed a nationwide uprising from December 2025 to January 2026 that was sparked by an economic crisis characterized by rapidly rising prices, currency devaluation, and a widespread struggle to afford basic necessities. As the movement gained momentum, grievances grew to include dissatisfaction with government practices, lack of accountability, and the absence of legal avenues for dissent. During the uprising, universities were closed as students took to the streets in protest. The Iranian government responded with extreme force, killing at least 3,000 people in the crackdown. Once universities reopened, students held anti-government demonstrations on campus, boycotted classes, and rallied in honor of those killed by security forces. Security forces maintained a heavy presence on campus.
Video footage showed physical clashes breaking out between protesters at Sharif University and the Basij militia, a volunteer paramilitary force operating under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. 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. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also 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.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/feb/23/classrooms-empty-graveyards-full-iran-students-why-protesting-again
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/world/middleeast/iran-student-protests.html
https://news.sky.com/video/irans-university-students-clash-with-security-forces-during-first-day-of-academic-term-13510593