Student arrests at Zanjan University continue
Published: Friday, August 08, 2008
13:35GMT—9:35AM/EST
ZANJAN – UNIVERSITY – ARRESTS
Washington, 8 August (IranVNC)—Iran’s Security Forces on Wednesday arrested the Secretary of the Islamic Students’ Association of Zanjan University, Bahram Vahedi, at his residence in Tabriz.
Amir Kabir University of Tehran’s student newsletter [AutNews] reports that Vahedi was arrested in connection with student protests, which took place from 9 to 14 June in response to the objectionable behavior of a university official who had sexually harassed a student.
The protests ended when the head of the university apologized for the behavior of his subordinate and agreed to meet student demands. University officials at the time gave written assurances not to confront student protesters about the sit-in action.
On 8 July, Payam Shakiba, Arash Rajei, and Hassan Joneydi, three other students who participated in sit ins at Zanjan University were arrested. No information is available on their condition after the arrest.
On 29 July, Zanjan’s prosecutor said: “No students were arrested in connection with protests at Zanjan University,” but, he stated that others who had caused “public disturbances and the closure of university classes” had been arrested outside the university grounds.
Meanwhile, Hassan Madadi, the deputy for student affairs at Zanjan University – the official accused of sexually harassment – was freed three weeks ago.
AutNews reports that Vahedi’s arrest is part of a pattern of confronting student activists and widespread arrests in Tehran, Mashhad, Shahroud, Ardebil, Tabriz and Zanjan.
Sources: Amir Kabir University of Tehran’s student newsletter
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