A female student who undressed at Tehran's Islamic Azad University is being treated as a "troubled individual" rather than a security threat, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday. This comes as the first official response following the student’s act, which social media widely interpreted as a protest against Iran's strict dress codes.
Reuters reported that the student, identified online as Ahoo Daryaei, disrobed on Saturday, which attracted attention across various social platforms. Mohajerani emphasised a non-punitive approach, saying, "Instead of viewing this issue under a security lens, we are rather looking at it with a social lens and seek to solve the problems of this student as a troubled individual."
Daryaei was reportedly transferred from police custody to a treatment centre, although specifics regarding the type of treatment were not disclosed. The spokesperson added, “It is yet too soon to speak of this student's return to university. According to a video published by her husband, she needs treatment, and that needs to be completed before taking the next steps.”
According to Reuters, security guards detained Daryaei at the university, where she was initially evaluated. A university representative, Amir Mahjob, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Daryaei was found to be "under severe mental pressure and had a mental disorder."
This incident occurs amid increasing numbers of Iranian women defying the authorities' dress mandates. Nationwide protests erupted in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating hijab regulations. Amnesty International took to X to condemn Daryaei’s "violent arrest," calling for her immediate release and denouncing the “abusive enforcement of compulsory veiling."
Meanwhile, the semi-official Tasnim news agency criticised social media reactions, claiming they stemmed from the "anti-Iran movement," linking this response to the unrest surrounding Amini's case last year. According to the non-official news outlet Khabaronline, government officials confirmed that the student does not currently face criminal charges.
Inputs from Reuters
Reuters reported that the student, identified online as Ahoo Daryaei, disrobed on Saturday, which attracted attention across various social platforms. Mohajerani emphasised a non-punitive approach, saying, "Instead of viewing this issue under a security lens, we are rather looking at it with a social lens and seek to solve the problems of this student as a troubled individual."
Daryaei was reportedly transferred from police custody to a treatment centre, although specifics regarding the type of treatment were not disclosed. The spokesperson added, “It is yet too soon to speak of this student's return to university. According to a video published by her husband, she needs treatment, and that needs to be completed before taking the next steps.”
According to Reuters, security guards detained Daryaei at the university, where she was initially evaluated. A university representative, Amir Mahjob, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Daryaei was found to be "under severe mental pressure and had a mental disorder."
This incident occurs amid increasing numbers of Iranian women defying the authorities' dress mandates. Nationwide protests erupted in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating hijab regulations. Amnesty International took to X to condemn Daryaei’s "violent arrest," calling for her immediate release and denouncing the “abusive enforcement of compulsory veiling."
Meanwhile, the semi-official Tasnim news agency criticised social media reactions, claiming they stemmed from the "anti-Iran movement," linking this response to the unrest surrounding Amini's case last year. According to the non-official news outlet Khabaronline, government officials confirmed that the student does not currently face criminal charges.
Inputs from Reuters
