Clashes During Amirkabir University Student Protests

A number of students at Tehran’s Amirkabir University held a gathering in protest against arrests and sentences issued for some students detained over the past three months, which escalated into clashes.

Reports and videos published on social media show that the gathering on Sunday, March 11, became tense following the arrival of Basij forces.

Following the clashes, the student gathering ended without permission being granted to read a closing statement.

Ali Afshari, a former member of the central council of the Office for Strengthening Unity, told Baktash Khamesepour of Radio Farda that “escalation of police atmosphere, summonses to security institutions, involvement of the judiciary, and criticism of the government for failing to keep its promises to prevent securitization of the university atmosphere” were reasons for the recent gathering.

Mr. Afshari added that students specifically demand the release of detainees and the annulment of current convictions.

Mahmoud Sadeghi, Tehran’s representative in parliament, said approximately fifty students have faced legal prosecution during recent protests in Iran. According to Mr. Sadeghi, most of these students had no involvement in the protests and were arrested outside the university or in front of their homes.

In recent days, based on preliminary rulings, it was announced that Layla Hassanzadeh, a student activist, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment and two years banned from leaving the country.

Source: Radio Farda