University Students Summoned by Security Institutions amid Fear of Renewed Protests

Iranian intelligence and security forces have summoned dozens of university students across the country in recent days, amid an intensifying clampdown on dissent in the lead-up to the anniversary of the "Women, Life, Freedom" protest movement.

Students of multiple universities, including Amir Kabir, Allameh Tabatabai, Khajeh Nasir, Tarbiat Modares and Ferdowsi, were handed the summonses or notified by telephone, according to student media outlets. 

Some of the students were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence or other security institutions, where they were questioned about their political activities and asked to pledge not to participate in protests on the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death on September 16, which will coincide with the reopening of universities.

In other cases, students were called by unknown numbers and warned not to participate in demonstrations.

Student union councils across the country condemned what they called an attempt to intimidate and silence students and called on the authorities to respect their right to freedom of expression.

Over the past weeks, officials of the Islamic Republic have warned against a resurgence of widespread protests around the anniversary of Amini’s death in police custody.

Students have been at the forefront of nationwide protests sparked by Amini’s death, with many of them refusing to attend classes for weeks. 

Amid a brutal state crackdown on dissent and the media, the protest movement appears to have waned in recent months, but resistance to forced hijab and gender segregation in universities remains strong.