Unclear Status of Detained Students in Iran
Iran’s Student Guild Council announced that it still lacks information about the number and status of detained students, holding the Ministry of Science directly responsible for potential dangers to these students.
Iran’s Student Guild Council announced on its Telegram channel on Tuesday, December 3rd, that “more than two weeks have passed since the start of November protests and the detention of a large number of students, yet there is still no official and reliable statistics on the total number of detainees from universities across the country.”
According to the statement, “reports received from detention centers, coupled with lack of information about case proceedings, detention location, and the health status of students whose names have been confirmed and published on the detention list” doubles concerns about the condition of students, especially those “whose information is not available.”
The Student Guild Council reported that many detained students “are deprived of the right to make phone calls” and given this lack of information about their condition and detainees’ lack of access to lawyers and legal guidance, “there is a possibility of false confessions” against themselves.
The guild subsequently held the “Ministry of Science responsible for its direct responsibility in the dangers facing these students” and announced that the ministry is “obligated to pursue the unconditional release” of these students.
According to Iran’s Student Guild Council, Soha Mortazaei, Kamiar Zouqi, Saeed Ahmadzadeh, Saeed Mohammadi, Mohammad Babaei, Hamid Bina, Hamidreza Safari, and Abolfazl Nejadfatah from Tehran University, along with Yashar Daralsafa from the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, are among the recently detained students. However, no other statistics on detained students are available.
Previously, on Tuesday, November 19th, student guild councils reported that 40 to 50 students were detained during gasoline price hike protests at universities. Plainclothes forces with several ambulances carried out the arrests of these students.
Last June, Human Rights Watch issued a statement declaring that Iranian authorities have intensified the suppression of protesting students by issuing prison sentences and creating restrictions on peaceful activities.
The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned violent crackdowns and widespread suppression of protesters and regime opponents under various pretexts, as well as repeated and ongoing violations of Iranian citizens’ rights by the ruling regime.
Source: Voice of America
