Iran students right to protest government restrictions and red lines

Tehran – The Iranian government has confirmed that Iran students have the right to protest government restrictions and red lines, but officials emphasized that certain boundaries must not be crossed during demonstrations, according to spokeswoman Fatemeh MoHajjerani.

MoHajjerani said symbols such as the national flag and other sacred elements represent key red lines that all students must respect, even when expressing anger. She added, “Students have wounds in their hearts and have witnessed scenes that may upset or anger them; this anger is understandable.”

The statement follows the reopening of Iranian universities on Saturday for the new semester, which saw both pro- and anti-government rallies. Students revived slogans from nationwide demonstrations that peaked in early January, events that resulted in thousands of deaths.

The unrest began in December due to economic difficulties in the sanctions-affected nation, escalating into nationwide protests on January 8-9. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the demonstrations have caused more than 7,000 deaths, though the full toll may be higher. Iranian authorities have confirmed over 3,000 fatalities, citing “terrorist acts” influenced by foreign powers.

MoHajjerani also mentioned that a fact-finding mission has been initiated to investigate the underlying causes of the protests. The mission will release a detailed report to shed light on the circumstances behind the student rallies and nationwide unrest.