Iranian students protest compulsory hijab, university costs as campus unrest returns
Iranian university students protested against compulsory hijab and worsening economic conditions, with Basij forces accused of threatening demonstrators during the campus gathering.
On September 28, 2026, students at Tehran's Allameh Tabataba'i University protested against compulsory hijab, university fees, and inadequate welfare services. Footage of the demonstration showed students chanting "Death to tyranny, hijab and the morality police" and accusing the regime of hypocrisy, with their own security forces present on campus.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Basij paramilitary initially attempted to address the students' grievances, but later threatened to detain them in a "sack," a veiled threat of violence.
The unrest at Allameh Tabataba'i University stemmed from concerns over rising tuition fees for night programs and students who had exceeded the standard period of study. Dormitory food and services were also seen as inadequate. The students demanded accountability from university officials.
At Tehran's female-only Alzahra University, tensions were also high after 165 students were barred from entering the campus despite disciplinary proceedings against them not being finalized. Some students claimed they were turned away without prior notification.
Boycotts of university cafeterias were reported at Lorestan University and Razi University due to increased food prices and declining quality. Lorestan University's president, Mehrdad Dadistani, attributed the high food costs to the country's inflation rate but assured the public that meetings with food contractors were underway to improve quality.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
