Iranian Woman Arrested After Stripping In Protest Against Dress Code, Amnesty Calls For Immediate Release

The incident took place after the woman had a confrontation with members of the Basij, an Iranian volunteer paramilitary group, who ripped her headscarf and tore at her clothes inside the University.

A female student stripped to her underwear outside a university in Iran.

Source : X

A young Iranian woman, who stripped to her underwear at the prestigious Islamic Azad University, has been arrested for her protest against the country’s strict Islamic dress code.

A video posted on social media showed security guards at the Islamic Azad University detaining the woman, who is yet to be identified.

The incident took place after the woman had a confrontation with members of the Basij, an Iranian volunteer paramilitary group, who ripped her headscarf and tore at her clothes inside the Tehran University.

University spokesperson Amir Mahjob said on X that “at the police station,…it was found that she was under severe mental pressure and had a mental disorder".

Iran’s authorities must immediately & unconditionally release the university student who was violently arrested on 2 Nov after she removed her clothes in protest against abusive enforcement of compulsory veiling by security officials at Tehran's Islamic Azad University. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/lI1JXYsgtm

— Amnesty Iran (@AmnestyIran) November 2, 2024

Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally” release the student. The organisation said that the woman was arrested after stripping her underwear in a public protest against harassment relating to the country’s strict dress code.

Several videos have emerged showing the woman removing her clothes and walking on the street in her underwear. Another video purportedly shows her woman being bundled into a car by men in plainclothes.

Iran's Fars news agency citing eyewitnesses stated that the student took off her clothes after two security personnel "calmly talked" to her and warned her about flouting the dress code. Under Iran’s dress code, women must wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothes in the public. 

Meanwhile, Amnesty International Iran called for an “independent and impartial” investigation into the allegations.

“Iran’s authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the university student who was violently arrested after she removed her clothes in protest against abusive enforcement of compulsory veiling by security officials,” the human rights organisation said in a post on X.

"Pending her release, authorities must protect her from torture & other ill-treatment & ensure access to family & lawyer. Allegations of beatings & sexual violence against her during arrest need independent & impartial investigations. Those responsible must held to account," it added.

The incident comes over two years after Iran was rocked by protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for an alleged breach of the dress code.