VIDEO: Iranian College Student Arrested After Underwear Protest Against Hijab Enforcement

A female college student in Iran was arrested over the weekend after she staged a bold protest on campus, stripping down to her underwear to voice her opposition to alleged assault by security forces over hijab enforcement.

Footage that has since gone viral shows the young woman wearing only a bra and panties in the courtyard of Azad University in Tehran. Other videos captured moments later depict her being forcibly shoved into a car by men, as she was driven away from the scene.

The unidentified student reportedly took this drastic step after security personnel confronted her for not wearing a headscarf, as mandated by Iranian law for women in public spaces. According to reports from Iran International, the confrontation escalated when security forces allegedly tore her clothing while detaining her.

In one clip, the protester was seen sitting on a wall, seemingly unfazed, while a man approached her to make a phone call before walking away, as onlookers watched in disbelief. A university representative stated that campus security intervened, describing the incident as “an indecent act by a student” and subsequently handed her over to law enforcement.

Reports from an online student group allege that the woman was assaulted during her arrest, resulting in significant injuries, including bleeding from her head after being struck, possibly against a car door or pillar. According to these accounts, blood stains were reportedly found on the tires of the vehicle that transported her away.

Following her arrest, she was taken to a police station and later admitted to a mental health facility. The student’s protest and subsequent arrest have resonated with many, making her a symbol of resistance against the Iranian government’s harsh enforcement of hijab laws.

Mai Sato, the UN special monitor on human rights, expressed her concerns regarding the incident, stating, “I will be monitoring this incident closely, including the authorities’ response,” and sharing a video of the event on social media.

Iranian law requires all women, regardless of their religious beliefs, to wear headscarves in public. Since the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022—after her arrest for hijab violations—enforcement of these laws has intensified, leading to widespread protests and a violent crackdown by security forces that resulted in over 550 deaths and thousands of arrests.

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