On February 24, 2026, members of the Basij militia—a volunteer paramilitary force within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—fired teargas and pepper spray at students protesting at Khajeh Nasir University.
The demonstrations followed a nationwide uprising from December 2025 to January 2026, 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.
Basij forces at Khajeh Nasir University allegedly fired tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesting students. The Amirkabir student newsletter reported further clashes, sharing photographs of a student with a head injury as a result of the confrontation.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force against protesting students 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.intellinews.com/student-protests-spread-across-tehran-universities-for-fourth-consecutive-day-in-iran-427824/
https://www.abc.com.py/internacionales/2026/02/24/las-protestas-estudiantiles-en-iran-se-extienden-a-once-universidades-en-su-cuarto-dia/
https://t.me/s/khabarNameh_KNTU
https://t.me/EEAUT/10567