DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Saturday, the vice-president of Iran initiated an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a university student following a protest at Tehran University, as reported by state media.
The official news outlet IRNA stated that First Vice-president Mohammad Reza Aref called for security officials to promptly investigate the incident.
This decision was made after students rallied at a dormitory within Tehran University, demanding improved safety measures. The atmosphere escalated to a brief period of unrest, with police responding by deploying personnel at the dormitory’s entrance, as captured in social media videos. However, independent verification of this footage remains unattainable.
Demonstrators, expressing their frustration with chants of “Shame on you,” insisted on better safety protocols for the dormitory and the surrounding area, citing concerns over sporadic robbery incidents.
The tragedy unfolded when 19-year-old business administration student Amir Mohammad Khaleghi was assaulted by two unidentified robbers who stole his backpack outside the dormitory. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital shortly thereafter.
Calm was restored to the dorm late Friday after officials pledged to address the situation with a “special” directive.
Although the protest was not politically inspired, such gatherings can potentially incite broader unrest, particularly as many Iranians face the hardships of rampant inflation exacerbated by U.S. economic sanctions, coupled with chronic mismanagement issues.
Historically, Iranian universities have been hotbeds of activism and protest over the years.
In a recent instance, in 2022, the universities became focal points for demonstrations following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She tragically died while in police custody after being arrested by the morality police for allegedly not adhering to proper headscarf protocols.
Protests that erupted in response to Amini’s death began with the rallying cry of “Women, Life, Freedom,” but quickly evolved into a broader expression of dissent against the existing theocratic regime. These nationwide protests, which significantly shook the establishment, persisted for several months until they were met with a severe crackdown in early 2023, resulting in over 500 fatalities and more than 22,000 arrests.
Moreover, the history of student protests dates back to 1999, when demonstrations erupted in Tehran over the closure of a reformist newspaper, which faced a brutal response from security forces, leading to multiple deaths, numerous injuries, and many arrests.
