Iranian Student Strips Down to Underwear in Protest of Strict Hijab Laws, Allegedly Faces Violent Arrest

A female student was arrested in Iran on Sunday after a provocative protest in which she stripped down to her underwear on the campus of Tehran’s Azad University.

The incident reportedly arose from her previous encounter with security forces, who confronted her for not wearing a hijab, a requirement for all women in public under Iranian law.

People supporting the Iranian community participated in the Freedom Rally for Iran demonstration against the Iranian regime on February 22, 2023, in Rome, Italy.

In a now-viral video, the young woman is seen in a bra and panties in the university courtyard, while another clip shows men forcibly shoving her into a car and driving away. According to Iran International, the unidentified student was protesting after security personnel ripped her clothing during the confrontation over her headscarf.

The footage captures her sitting calmly on a wall, seemingly unbothered by the bemused students around her, before she walks away. A university spokesperson later confirmed that campus security intervened and handed the woman over to law enforcement, labelling her actions as “an indecent act by a student.”

Mahsa Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest.

An online student group has alleged that the woman was assaulted during her arrest by plainclothes security forces, leaving her heavily bleeding after her head struck a hard surface, possibly a pillar or the car door. Reports indicate that “blood stains from the student were reportedly seen on the car’s tyres,” as noted by the online group.

The student was shoved into a car and whisked away. X/@nurhakkengizek

Following her arrest, she was taken to a police station and later admitted to a mental health facility, with officials stating she had experienced “severe psychological distress” before the incident.

The protester has quickly become a symbol for those opposing the Iranian government’s oppressive treatment of individuals who challenge its strict laws. The international response has followed, with key UN officials expressing concern over her arrest. Mai Sato, the UN special rapporteur on human rights, stated on X (formerly Twitter), “I will be monitoring this incident closely, including the authorities’ response,” alongside the protest video.

Iran’s laws mandate that all women wear headscarves in public regardless of their faith. Since the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022—following her arrest for hijab violations—the government has intensified enforcement of these laws, leading to widespread protests during which security forces have reportedly killed over 550 individuals and detained thousands more.