The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran says she is monitoring the case of a young Iranian woman who was forcibly detained after protesting the country’s mandatory hijab by removing her clothes at Tehran's Azad University.
Maio Sato shared a video of the student on the social media platform X, stating she would be following the incident closely, especially observing the response of authorities.
Footage circulated widely on Saturday shows the woman in her underwear on campus, with officers seen taking her into custody by force.
Imprisoned human rights activist and Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi issued a statement from prison, saying that that women pay a price for their defiance but do not bow to force.
She described the student’s body as a symbol of rebellion, anger, and resistance, calling for her release and an end to the suppression and harassment of women.
Amnesty Iran has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the student, urging officials to protect her from mistreatment while in custody.
“Authorities must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and ensure access to [her] family and [a] lawyer", wrote Amnesty Iran on X, preempting prison abuse as has been widely documented by rights groups since the crackdowns on Women, Life, Freedom protests and women refusing hijab.
"Allegations of beatings and sexual violence against her during arrest need independent and impartial investigations. Those responsible must held to account,” the group said.
According to student sources, the woman’s protest was sparked by harassment from university security over the hijab policy. Amir Kabir Newsletter, a prominent student publication on Telegram, reported that the student was transferred to a psychiatric hospital under orders from the IRGC intelligence organization.
This was confirmed by the newspaper Farhikhtegan, affiliated with Azad University, which stated that she had been admitted to a mental health facility.
On the same day, Amir Mahjoub, the Director of Public Relations at Islamic Azad University, issued a statement saying that the woman had been sent to a police station due to “severe psychological distress,” echoing statements from media accounts close to the IRGC that she had mental health issues.
State-affiliated outlets later circulated a video of a man identifying himself as her husband, who claimed she was the mother of two and claimed that she had mental health issues.
The incident has since drawn public backlash online, with social media users denouncing what they see as a familiar tactic used by authorities to delegitimize female protestors by labeling them as mentally unstable.
In a show of solidarity, the hashtag Science and Research Girl has emerged as a focal point for those opposing Iran’s treatment of women who defy hijab mandates.
Prominent Iranian figures also voiced support for the young woman’s protest. Katayoun Riahi, an actress who was among the supporters of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, posted, "we will not abandon you".
Civil activist Hossein Ronaghi added on X, “The courage of this girl who was attacked for her hijab… are flames that will burn the roots of oppression.”
Another activist, Roya Heshmati, who previously faced lashings for not wearing a hijab, posted on Instagram, “May your pride and defiance become a blazing torch in the dark chasm that lies before you, my dear sister.”
Many are also creating and sharing illustrations on social media in support of the young student.
Human rights advocates point to a pattern of Iranian authorities labeling female protestors as mentally ill and transferring them to psychiatric facilities.
Last year, Iranian psychology associations publicly criticized the government’s misuse of psychiatry as a tool for silencing dissidents.
In May, prominent psychotherapist Ahmadreza Yazdi warned against politicizing psychiatry, suggesting that some professionals may align with the Islamic Republic’s ideology and unjustly label opposition figures as mentally unstable.
The crackdown on women protesting the mandatory hijab intensified in the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death in September 2022 while in morality police custody. That event triggered widespread demonstrations, with many Iranians calling for greater freedoms and challenging systemic oppression.
