Iranian Student Commits “Suicide” Amid Continued Protests At Universities

More university students across Iran defied orders to return to class on Sunday as the authorities alleged that a student in the capital had committed suicide.  

Iran's judiciary said a student at the University of Tehran had taken his life, while Mizan news agency reported that the student sent messages before hanging himself inside the campus.   

Authorities have been accused of covering up the killing of students by security forces amid a heavy-handed crackdown on anti-government rallies.  

🎥امروز یکم آبان و سی و هفتمین روز از اعتراضات سراسری در ایران، بسیاری از دانشگاه‌ها صحنه اعتراض و تجمع دانشجویان است. در دانشگاه هنر و معماری #یزد دانشجویان با حضور گسترده اعتراضات را ادامه می‌دهند.#مهسا_امینی #اعتصابات_سراسری #اعتراضات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/qtlnfN3A74

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) October 23, 2022

Young men and women, including university students, have been at the forefront of the movement, and intelligence agencies have tightened the security situation at campuses across Iran. 

In the city of Yazd, footage shared on social media showed protesting students singing outside the Faculty of Art and Architecture. They asked lecturers to join them in condemning the heavy-handed crackdown on students. 

A video of students chanting "Women, Life, Freedom" at Gohardasht Azad University went viral. 

🎥امروز یکم آبان و سی و هفتمین روز از اعتراضات سراسری در ایران، بسیاری از دانشگاه‌ها صحنه اعتراض و تجمع دانشجویان است. در #دانشگاه_علامه دانشجویان معترض شعار می‌دهند: «دانشجو تهدید شده، از خوابگاه بیرون شده»#مهسا_امینی #اعتصابات_سراسری #اعتراضات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/tGttD307EJ

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) October 23, 2022

The protest movement was triggered by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman in police custody for allegedly not adhering to the country’s strict Islamic dress code. 

At least 215 people, including 27 children, have been killed in the crackdown on the demonstrators, according to one human rights organization. Several thousand people, including teachers, have been arrested.