ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tehran University students have been protesting for a third consecutive day following the tragic killing of their colleague. Students are accusing Iranian authorities of failing to protect campus safety and are demanding that university administrators’ resign and justice be served. Amir Mohammad Khaleghi was an undergraduate Business Administration student at the University of Tehran. The 19-year-old was killed on Wednesday night while returning to his dormitory. A video widely circulated among Iranian users on social media, showed Khalegi leaving the university campus, and as he prepared to cross the street to his dormitory, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. Later Iranian authorities stated that the young man’s death resulted from a “heavy injury to the respiratory tract.” Tehran’s Minister of Science, Hossein Simaei, on Saturday added that “two assailants” attacked Khaleghi using “cold weapons,” however the motive behind the killing remains unknown. The Iranian Supreme Court’s media center on Sunday reported that the case is being investigated and that the attackers have yet to be arrested, adding that three to four people have been detained in connection with the murder. Khaleghi’s killing has led to intense protests at the University of Tehran with demonstrations taking place for the past three days. The Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that the protests were held at the Fine Arts and Tarbiat Modares colleges. Students were heard chanting, “If we don't unite, we will be killed one by one.” This slogan echoes sentiments from the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests that swept across Iran in 2022. Moreover, the Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported the arrest of two students - Amirhossein Gohari and Bakhshsn Alimohammadi - on Thursday while participating at the protests. On his part, the Minister of Science, Sarraf, on Saturday expressed “sorrow over Khaleghi’s killing” adding that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had tasked him with “following up on the case and ensuring that no unauthorized persons enter” the Tehran University campus. Simaei denied reports of student detentions, stating that “the investigation [into Khaleghi’s killing] is ongoing” by the Iranian Police and judiciary.” In light of the protests, the director of the Tehran University dormitory resigned on Friday, issuing a public apology to the family and the community. Meanwhile, Tehran’s Police Chief, Sardar Abbas Ali, and Mostafa Rostami, head of the Office of the Supreme Leader's Representative, have expressed concerns over “enemy influence” attempting to exploit the unrest. They also reported the arrest of individuals described as “hypocrites” attempting to infiltrate the protests. For years, Iranian students have been urging universities to improve security measures on campuses and in dormitories, but their demands have largely gone unheeded.
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