Iranian authorities arrested a female student on Saturday after she staged a solo protest by stripping to her underwear outside Tehran’s Islamic Azad University. The student, identified by some media outlets as Ahoo Daryaei, was protesting against harassment by members of the Basij paramilitary force, who had reportedly ripped her headscarf and clothing. However, authorities have yet to officially confirm her identity.

The footage of her protest, which was first posted by an Iranian student social media channel on Saturday. The footage appeared to have been shot by onlookers in a neighbouring building. Another video showed her being bundled into a car by men in plain clothes and driven off to an undisclosed location.

Following her arrest, widespread protests erupted among the student community in Iran, with multiple social media posts expressing support for Daryaei and condemning the oppressive regime. 

The Amir Kabir newsletter alleged she was beaten during the arrest. It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports but Iran's conservative Fars news agency confirmed the incident in a report, publishing a picture with the student heavily blurred out.

It said the student had worn "inappropriate clothes" in class and "stripped" after being warned by security guards to comply with the dress code. Azad University's public relations director, Amir Mahjob, later stated in a post on X that the student, who is separated from her husband and a mother of two, "had a mental disorder." Additionally, the local newspaper Farhikhtegan reported that she had been admitted to a mental health facility.

Iran fears Mahsa Amini-like protest

Daryaei’s protest comes in the wake of significant unrest in Iran that began in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code. Her death ignited near-nationwide protests, leading to women defiantly removing and even burning their headscarves in public.

These protests were met with a violent crackdown, resulting in over 551 deaths and thousands of arrests. The current atmosphere remains tense, as many fear that incidents like Daryaei's could reignite widespread dissent against the regime.

Global call for Iran to release Daryaei

Amnesty International has condemned Daryaei's arrest, demanding her immediate and unconditional release. The organization emphasized the need for independent investigations into allegations of abuse during her arrest and called for protection against torture and ill-treatment.

Social media has been flooded with expressions of solidarity, with prominent figures, including actress Katayoun Riahi, urging the public not to let individuals like Daryaei stand alone in their fight against oppression. Activist Hossein Ronaghi praised Daryaei's bravery, framing her protest as a heartfelt cry against the injustices faced by women in Iran.

Hossein Ronaghi, a prominent Iranian activist who was jailed during the protests, in a post on X hailed the "bravery" of the student and described her action as a "cry from the bottom of the heart against the oppression that has taken the life out of people, especially women."