Protests persist over death of Iranian university student

Protests over the death of a 19-year-old University of Tehran student continue to intensify, as others gathered in front of the university's central library on Saturday amid reports of a heavy security presence on the main campus.

Amir Mohammad Khaleghi, an undergraduate in business management, was fatally attacked by robbers with a cold weapon near the university dormitory on February 13. The victim died from his wounds in hospital. The incident has sparked widespread anger among students, who accuse university officials of failing to ensure their safety.

The unrest began Friday, when students organized a sit-in at the courtyard of Tehran University’s dormitory complex. Security forces and plainclothes agents surrounded the campus, arresting four students.

Although the detained students were later released under pressure from their peers, reports of excessive force, including one protester sustaining a broken nose, have added to the outrage.

The National Student Guild Council released a statement holding university officials responsible for years of neglect that led to unsafe dormitory conditions.

“The loss of a 19-year-old student is the tragic result of years of inaction and misplaced priorities,” the statement said, citing repeated violence and theft at the dormitory's back entrance.

Students have expressed their anger through chants like "IRGC, you are our murderer" and "The blood spilled cannot be erased." Some shouted "Death to the Islamic Republic" and "Death to Khamenei" from dormitory windows.

Nationwide solidarity is growing, with students from universities such as Amir Kabir, Sharif, and Tabriz condemning the suppression of protesters and expressing sympathy with University of Tehran students.

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi called on students, university professors, and various segments of the Iranian people on Friday to support the protesting students of the University of Tehran and to ensure that the killing of Khaleghi and the suppression of students do not come without a cost for the authorities.

"The killing of Amir Mohammad Khaleghi and the violence against protesting students at Tehran University's dormitory once again demonstrated how incapable the Islamic Republic is in ensuring the security of the nation. Instead of protecting the lives and rights of its citizens, it becomes the primary source of insecurity through suppression, arrests, and killings. Ignoring human tragedies is merely a part of the entirely destructive record of this anti-Iranian regime," he wrote on X.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi also voiced support, urging Iranians to stand with the protesters: "Let’s not leave the young protesters alone."

In response, the Minister of Science Hossein Simayee Sarraf, announced plans to install surveillance cameras and security kiosks in vulnerable campus areas. He also confirmed the resignation of the dormitory manager.

The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office said it has assigned a special judicial investigator to the case and suspects arrested in connection with the murder.

Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has also called for an immediate investigation.

The overall political and social situation in Iran is tense due to the worsening of economic crisis, rising inflation accompanied by rising poverty.

As the protests persist, the government’s response thus far suggests an attempt to avoid the heavy-handed crackdowns seen during previous rounds of university unrest. Efforts to engage in dialogue and implement security measures appear aimed at calming tensions without further escalation. However, given the Islamic Republic’s history of suppressing dissent, the possibility of a harsher response cannot be ruled out.