Report on Iran - Dec. 13, 2010

Report on Student protests on national Student Day in Iran

On December 7, Student Day, universities across Iran commemorated the memory of slain students by holding demonstrations and ceremonies and showed with their anti-government slogans and chanting that the university, which is the bastion of freedom, is unbeatable and will not bow down to any dictator. Protests and gatherings in Tehran were held in the Technical Department of Tehran University, Polytechnic (Amir Kabir) University, Sharif Industrial University, Beheshti University, Arts University, Science and Industry University, Tehran Scientific Research University, Abbaspour University, Tehran Free University Eastern Unit, Parand Free University, and Tehran Free Sahand University, while in other Iranian cities gatherings were held in the Free Qazvin University, International Qazvin University, Mashhad Free University, Engineering College in Mashhad, Industrial Shiraz University, Medical Science Shiraz University, Shiraz University, Isfahan University, Kermanshah’s Razi University, Gilan Technical College, Tabriz Sahand University, Tabriz Payame Nour University, Shahre Kurd University, Hamedan Bu-Ali Sina University, Free University Firouz Kouh Unit, Yasouj University, and the Sistan and Baluchestan University.

19 Universities in ten different cities hold gatherings and protests on Student Day

Tehran University Technical Department students started their protest on December 6 by chanting death to dictator.
On December 7 in Tehran University students chanted ‘death to dictator’ in strict security measures and sang the student song to show their solidarity with other students. Students booed Bassij forces who intended to disperse them. More than 300 students participated in the gathering.
Amir Kabir University students gathered in the university campus and chanted ‘students will die but will never surrender’.
In the Sharif Industrial University, students gathered in the central campus of this university despite the heavy presence of security forces outside the university and marched towards the university entrance chanting ‘death to dictator’ and ‘the coup government has to resign’. These students also cried ‘Allah O Akbar’ (God is Great) in Tardasht Dormitory number 3.
In the Beheshti University, about 400 students gathered outside the Computer and Electric Departments at 12 pm and marched towards the Literature Department.
Students of the Arts University gathered outside the central building of this university and sang the student song to commemorate this day.
In the Science and Industrial University, more than 300 students held a ‘silent gathering’ in protest to the suppressive atmosphere in this university. Hundreds of people gathered outside the university in support of the students.
In the Scientific Research University in Tehran, despite heavy security measures, students held a half hour gathering and chanted ‘death to dictator’ and sang the student song.
In Abbaspour University, about 400 students gathered and held a free tribune which ended with students chanting ‘political prisoners must be freed’ and the student song.
In the Free Tehran University Eastern Unit, about 200 students gathered and chanted slogans.
In the Islamshahr Free University, despite strict measures by the Protection Department in this university, students held a gathering outside the entrance of this university on December 6.
In the Free Parand University in Tehran students also held a protest gathering.
In the Firouz Kouh Free University, students gathered to commemorate Student Day and hundreds of students sang the student song together. This ceremony lasted about 30 minutes.
Two thousand students in the Free Qazvin University held a gathering and chanted ‘death to dictator’. This demonstration started when a student cried out Allah O Akbar when a Bassij agent tried to put his over the student’s mouth which led to protests from other students and triggered a demo.
In the International Free Qazvin University, students held a protest gathering. Security forces attacked the students and arrested 6 of them.
In the Zanjan University, dozens of students gathered and put up a banner in commemoration of Student Day.
In Arak University, about 150-200 students gathered chanting ‘death to dictator’. Students tried to enter the hall where pro-regime forces were holding a ceremony to disrupt the ceremony but they were not allowed to talk and about 80 percent of the students left the ceremony in protest.
Students in the Mashhad Free University started their 500 strong gathering at about 12 pm.
In the Engineering College in Mashhad, about 50 students gathered outside this college.
In Mashhad University, about 500 students gathered to commemorate Student Day.
In the Industrial University in Shiraz, the gathering started at 1:45 am. This gathering went on for about 30 minutes outside the administration building with the participation of about 100 students who all sang the student song together.
Students of the Razi University in Kermanshah chanted death to dictator when former Guidance Minister Safar Harandi came to their university on December 6. These students chanted ‘death to dictator’ in the middle of his speech and walked out on him.
In the Gilan Technical University, more than 200 students gathered in the afternoon and chanted ‘students will die but will never surrender’ and sang the student song.
Students in the Sahand University in Tabriz also gathered to commemorate Student Day.
Payame Nour University students in Tabriz went on a strike on Student Day and refused to go to their classes.
In the Shahre Kord University, despite severe security measures around the university, a number of students held a ceremony to commemorate this day. Students also cried out ‘Allah O Akbar’ on the night of December 6 in their dormitories.
Students in the Isfahan University had a number of gatherings and the main gathering was held outside the Physics Department in this university.
In Yasuj University, students went on a strike in protest to the presence of Ahmadinejad’s brother, Davoud Ahmadinejad. Protection Department agents attacked the protesters. Female students in this university also attempted to hold a ceremony in their dormitory but Protection Department forces opened the gas valves in the building to counter their protests.
In the Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan, despite numerous limitations, students held a large gathering and commemorated Student Day. These students sang the student song.
In the Sistan and Baluchetan University, students gathered outside the Engineering Department cafeteria and lit candles in memory of students who were slain in post-election protests.