Tehran, Iran. Students held protests at several Iranian universities on Saturday at the start of a new semester, with some reported clashes with pro-government groups, according to local news agencies and social media posts. The demonstrations coincided with ceremonies held after 40 days to mourn those killed during last month’s anti-government protests.
Protests and reported clashes in Tehran
A video purportedly showed rows of marchers at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology condemning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “murderous leader” and calling for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s toppled shah, to be a new monarch.
State-affiliated news agencies including SNN carried videos of clashes, with protesters alleged to have injured volunteer student Basij militia by throwing rocks at the university. Pro-government Basij members often assist security forces in quelling protests.
Reports from other universities
Protests were also reported at Beheshti and Amir Kabir universities in Tehran and at Mashhad University in northeast Iran, according to videos published by rights group HAALVSH, which Reuters could not verify.
Demonstrations reported in Abdanan
In the western town of Abdanan, described as a hotspot for protests, demonstrators chanted “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” after the arrest of an activist teacher, according to rights group Hengaw and social media posts.
What developments will you be watching for next in protests at Iranian universities?