Students at Iranian universities clashed with pro-government groups on Saturday, marking a resurgence of protests coinciding with traditional mourning ceremonies for those killed during last month’s anti-government demonstrations. The demonstrations, which took place at multiple institutions across the country, represent the most significant unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
At Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology, video footage reportedly showed students marching and denouncing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “murderous leader,” whereas calling for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, as a potential monarch. The calls for a return to a monarchy echo a sentiment that has grown among some opposition groups, though Pahlavi remains in exile.
State-affiliated news agency SNN broadcast videos depicting confrontations at the same university, alleging that protesters injured members of the Basij, a volunteer militia often deployed to suppress dissent. The Basij, linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, frequently assists security forces in managing and dispersing protests.
Reports from rights group HAALVSH, which Reuters has not independently verified, indicated protests also occurred at Beheshti and Amir Kabir universities in Tehran, as well as Mashhad University in northeastern Iran. In Abdanan, a town in western Iran that has been a focal point of unrest, demonstrators chanted slogans including “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” following the arrest of a local teacher activist, according to Hengaw, a human rights organization and social media reports.
The protests are occurring approximately 40 days after the deaths of protesters during previous demonstrations, a period traditionally marked by mourning ceremonies in Iranian culture. The recent wave of unrest began in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police after being arrested for allegedly violating dress code rules. The ensuing protests quickly broadened into a wider challenge to the authority of the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian Revolution, which culminated in 1979, saw the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty and the establishment of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The current unrest represents a significant challenge to the Islamic Republic’s authority, with protesters voicing grievances over economic hardship, social restrictions, and political repression. The 1979 revolution itself involved widespread demonstrations, strikes, and civil resistance, ultimately leading to the fall of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Following the 1979 revolution, Iranian universities underwent a period of significant change. A “Cultural Revolution” between 1981 and 1987 saw universities closed for three years, as the novel government sought to purge institutions of Western influences and ensure ideological conformity. The government subsequently expanded access to higher education, but also implemented policies aimed at controlling curricula and student activities.
As of Sunday, there has been no official statement from the Iranian government regarding the latest protests.
