December 7 marks a significant day in Iran’s history, known as Students’ Day, commemorating the tragic events of 1953 when three students were killed at Tehran University’s College of Engineering.
This day now honors the enduring struggle of Iranian university students for freedom and justice. Iranian universities have long been bastions of knowledge and freedom. “Alongside knowledge, there emerges a deep longing for freedom,” a truth that has seen many opposition leaders in Iran rise from these academic ranks, especially from the most informed sectors of Iranian intellectuals.
During the Shah’s reign, students were at the forefront of organizing protests against his dictatorship, giving birth to leading opposition groups within universities. The mullahs’ regime, known for its severe crackdowns, has failed to quell these centers of protest, leading to widespread arrests and imprisonments.
The regime’s response was predictable yet brutal, employing military force to suppress these brave young voices demanding their rights and freedoms.
The 2022 uprising in Iran was a watershed moment, witnessing an unprecedented level of student participation from over 100 universities.
The uprising, spanning the last three months of 2022 and continuing into 2023, saw a remarkable involvement of female students. Young women led university protests and extended their activism beyond the campuses. Despite heavy crackdowns, the students’ resolve remained unbroken. “There was scarcely a day of silence within the universities,” a testament to their persistent activism. Each day brought new protests, innovative slogans, and acts of defiance that ignited the nation. The harsh reality faced by these students is a reminder of their courage and sacrifice.
On this Students’ Day, we remember the young women who paid the ultimate price during the 2022 protests. Donya Farhadi, Nasrin Qaderi, Negin Abdolmaleki, and Behnaz Afshari are among those whose stories symbolize the tragic cost of seeking freedom and justice in Iran. Their deaths, shrouded in misinformation by the regime, highlight the brutal lengths to which the authorities went to quash dissent.
The regime’s response to suppress these protests was extreme, involving plainclothes agents opening fire on students and conducting abductions from dormitories without legal warrants.
These students, especially the young women, are not just statistics but symbols of a generation’s struggle for a better future. Their legacy lives on in the ongoing fight for freedom and justice in Iran, reminding us of the power and courage of youth in the face of oppression.
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