Woman Stripped to Protest Against Strict Dress Code in Iran Goes Missing After Arrest. In a daring act of defiance, a young Iranian woman was arrested after stripping on the campus of Tehran’s Islamic Azad University to protest the strict Islamic dress code enforced by Iranian authorities.
Her disappearance after the arrest has raised alarm among human rights organizations and activists around the world, who are calling for her immediate release and an investigation into her treatment during the arrest.
This incident has brought renewed attention to Iran’s oppressive clothing laws and the broader issue of women’s rights in the country, especially following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. The act of protest by this student echoes the continuing struggle of Iranian women against state-enforced modesty laws that infringe on their personal freedoms and rights.
The Protest and Arrest
The young woman’s protest began on November 2, 2024, when she was reportedly harassed by security forces at the university for not properly wearing her hijab, a mandatory garment for women under Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
According to reports from Iran International and various student groups, the situation escalated after security officers allegedly assaulted her for the improper wearing of her hijab.
In an extraordinary act of defiance, the woman responded by stripping down to her underwear in the middle of the campus as a form of protest against the abusive enforcement of the dress code. This act was a bold rejection of the systematic control that Iran’s authorities impose over women’s bodies.
Read : Berlin Shuts Down Iranian Consulates After Tehran Executes German-Iranian National
Video footage of the protest soon circulated online, showing the woman walking through the university campus in her underwear, a symbol of her resistance against the strict modesty laws that govern women’s attire in Iran.
Her protest quickly drew widespread attention, but she was arrested soon after by campus security and handed over to law enforcement. The public relations director of Islamic Azad University, Amir Mahjoub, confirmed the arrest in a post on social media, noting that the student’s motives were under investigation.
In Iran, a student harassed by her university’s morality police over her “improper” hijab didn’t back down. She turned her body into a protest, stripping to her underwear and marching through campus—defying a regime that constantly controls women’s bodies. Her act is a powerful… pic.twitter.com/76ekxSK7bI
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) November 2, 2024
Her arrest has since sparked outrage among international human rights organizations, with Amnesty International leading the charge. The organization has called for her immediate and unconditional release, stressing the need for an independent investigation into the allegations of sexual violence and beatings during her arrest.
Amnesty further emphasized that the student must be protected from torture and other forms of ill-treatment while in custody, and that Iranian authorities must ensure she has access to legal representation and her family.
Allegations of Abuse and Iran’s Response
The circumstances surrounding the woman’s arrest have been shrouded in conflicting reports. While Iranian authorities claim that she was suffering from a mental disorder and had been acting under severe mental stress, student groups and eyewitnesses offer a different account.
They claim that the woman had been harassed and assaulted by security forces prior to her protest, with some alleging that her clothes were forcibly torn from her body during the confrontation.
There are also reports that she was left bloodied after being slammed into a car or a nearby pillar during the altercation. These claims have further fueled concerns about the treatment of the student and other women who dare to resist Iran’s oppressive clothing laws.
Iranian women’s rights activists, both within the country and in exile, have rallied in support of the young woman. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights advocate, took to social media to voice her support.
Alinejad, who has been targeted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for her activism, praised the student for her bravery, stating that “In Iran, a student harassed by her university’s morality police over her ‘improper’ hijab didn’t back down.
She turned her body into a protest, stripping to her underwear and marching through campus—defying a regime that constantly controls women’s bodies.” Alinejad’s comments underscore the broader context of the Iranian women’s rights movement, which has seen increasing momentum since the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
The Iranian government’s response to the protest and arrest has been typical of its hardline stance on issues of public morality and modesty. While the authorities claim that the student was suffering from mental distress, this explanation is often used by the regime to discredit acts of protest and rebellion.
Furthermore, Tehran’s use of violence and intimidation to enforce compliance with its strict dress codes has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations, which have documented numerous instances of women being beaten, arrested, and even killed for failing to adhere to the country’s modesty laws.
The Broader Struggle for Women’s Rights in Iran
The disappearance of the student after her arrest is reminiscent of the tragic case of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman whose death while in police custody in 2022 ignited nationwide protests and international outrage.
Mahsa Amini had been arrested by Iran’s notorious “morality police” for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code, and her death under suspicious circumstances led to some of the largest protests Iran has seen in recent years. Much like Mahsa Amini, this recent case highlights the brutal enforcement of modesty laws in Iran, which continue to oppress women by denying them control over their own bodies and choices.
In recent years, Iranian women have increasingly challenged the country’s compulsory veiling laws, often risking their lives and freedom to do so. The “White Wednesdays” and “My Stealthy Freedom” movements have provided platforms for women to protest the forced wearing of the hijab, and many have taken to social media to share their stories of defiance.
Despite these efforts, the Iranian government continues to crack down harshly on any form of dissent, arresting women who are caught removing their hijabs in public or protesting against the dress code.
This latest protest underscores the enduring power of women’s resistance in Iran, even in the face of brutal repression. Iranian women have long fought against the regime’s attempts to control their bodies and lives, and this student’s act of stripping in protest is another example of how deeply they resent these restrictions.
The international community, particularly organizations like Amnesty International, continues to push for accountability and reforms in Iran’s treatment of women. However, the regime shows no signs of softening its stance on the compulsory veiling law, and women who challenge it are often met with violence, imprisonment, and even death.
As protests and acts of civil disobedience continue to sweep through Iran, the voices of women like Mahsa Amini and the young student who dared to strip on her university campus will not be silenced.
Their courage serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom and human rights in Iran, where women are leading the charge against a regime that seeks to control every aspect of their lives. The world continues to watch as these women risk everything to stand up for their dignity and their rights, hoping that one day, their fight will lead to lasting change.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏