Large-scale student protests at universities in Iran

Immediately after the reopening of Iranian universities, large demonstrations took place again in the country. “The mood has shifted”, says Iran expert Peyman Jafari: “Students do not want to go back to square one.”

The protests in Iran began on the streets last December and were then violently suppressed. According to the Iranian-American human rights organisation HRANA, the death toll has risen to more than seven thousand. Other sources even speak of more than thirty thousand deaths.

Last Saturday, universities in Iran reopened after more than a month. At several universities in Iran, particularly in the capital Tehran, large demonstrations immediately broke out. At Amirkabir University of Technology, Sharif University of Technology and Al-Zahra University, among others, slogans such as: “Down with the dictator.” could be heard. Students wore black clothing as a sign of mourning for the students who had been killed.

“When the protests began on the streets at the end of December, demonstrations also immediately took place on campus”, says Peyman Jafari, who himself came to the Netherlands as a refugee from Iran. He is an assistant professor of history and international relations at William & Mary in the United States and is affiliated with the International Institute for Social History in Amsterdam.

“The authorities immediately shut down the universities and teaching had to take place entirely online. Three days ago, they were allowed to reopen their doors. Students immediately seized this moment to protest.”

Why are we seeing a wave of protest particularly at universities?
“That has to do with a long tradition. It already began in 1953, when students in Tehran protested against the visit of Richard Nixon, then Vice President of the United States, shortly after the coup by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Three students were killed. From that moment on, universities have become a kind of bastion of freedom. Whenever there are demonstrations in the streets, they also take place at universities.”

Why now?
“There are two important reasons. First of all, the situation in Iran directly affects students. Their freedom is restricted at universities. In addition, Iranian students have always been engaged with the country’s politics. They have often expressed solidarity with other protests. We are seeing that again now.”

“Earlier, dozens of students and school pupils were killed during the national protests. We do not know the exact numbers. For example, there was a student of Italian language and literature at the University of Tehran, Raha Bohloulipour, who was killed at the beginning of January during a protest in Tehran, where security forces fired at demonstrators. Her fellow students have now put up a large photo of her at the university and sang for her.”

What drives these students to take to the streets again and again despite extreme violence?
“Courage and determination. It starts with a small group, which gives other students the courage to join. The mood has shifted, among everyone and certainly among students: we do not want to go back to square one. There must be fundamental change in Iran.”

“The slogans are often the same as in the streets: down with the dictator. But students also think about broader issues and pay attention, for example, to social inequality in the country. They also have a strong network. They know one another, sometimes attend the same class or belong to the same association. That makes it easier for them to mobilise.”

Could the student protests at universities give new momentum to the national protests in Iran?
“It is possible. But there has also been a great deal of repression; more than seven thousand deaths have been documented. The fear of protesting is great. But the anger has not disappeared. It could certainly spread to other groups. However, now that the United States is threatening the country with war, many people are waiting to see what happens.”

“On campuses, clashes are emerging between supporters of the regime, a relatively small group that often enjoys more privileges, and opponents. Tensions are running high there. One or two universities have already closed their doors again.”

“Precisely for that reason, it is important that we do not remain silent. As assistant professors, we can express our solidarity with our colleagues in Iran. Student unions can publicly speak out in support of the protesting students in Iran. And in the Netherlands, we can offer a safe place to Iranian students who are studying here. Even something that small is an important act of solidarity.”