Tehran: Iranian authorities are increasing pressure on university students who participated in anti government protests, with dozens facing disciplinary proceedings, suspensions and expulsion. The latest measures have raised concerns about growing restrictions on student activities and freedom of expression across the country.
Students at several Iranian universities are facing disciplinary hearings involving university administrators, representatives of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, campus security officials and members of the Basij volunteer militia. Those facing proceedings risk suspension or expulsion from their universities.
At Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, disciplinary action has been reviewed against around 250 students, according to student union president Farzad Rahmani. At least 40 students have faced hearings, while 10 have been expelled, he said.
The figures highlight the scale of disciplinary action at the university, although the total number of students facing similar measures across Iran remains unknown.
Students who have attended disciplinary hearings said they were questioned about their participation in demonstrations and their political views. Some reported being asked to prepare written defences before being informed of the specific allegations against them.
One student said a disciplinary panel questioned him about his reaction to the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on February 28, 2026, when the military conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran began.
Students have also described pressure to admit wrongdoing and withdraw their criticism of the authorities. Some said their personal information was circulated through social media channels supporting the government, exposing them and their families to threats and harassment.
The involvement of university security offices, known as Harasat, and members of the Basij militia has added to concerns about the use of security institutions to monitor student activities. Harasat operates under the Intelligence Ministry, while the Basij is a volunteer paramilitary organisation associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The pressure has also triggered fresh demonstrations on university campuses. On November 3, students at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Tehran staged a sit in outside the dean's office, demanding an end to disciplinary proceedings and the release of detained students.
The students also called for greater accountability from university authorities and changes to disciplinary committees. They chanted slogans demanding the release of imprisoned students and political prisoners and calling for an end to disciplinary committees.
The demonstration followed another gathering on November 2, reflecting growing frustration among students over the treatment of those involved in protests.
A separate incident involving Shahin Shokouhi, a sociology doctoral student at the University of Tehran, has further increased tensions. Student groups initially reported that he attempted to set himself on fire outside a university building on November 1 following repeated disciplinary summonses and alleged security pressure. He was subsequently taken for medical treatment.
However, the University of Tehran disputed the reports of self immolation. The university said Shokouhi had injured his hand and was taken to hospital for treatment. It described his condition as stable and said no disciplinary ruling had been issued against him. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain disputed.
Meanwhile, dozens of students at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan in Zahedan have reportedly been summoned by intelligence authorities since November 1, according to the local rights group Haalvsh.
According to the group, some students have also been suspended for two semesters, while others were allegedly pressured to identify fellow students and provide information about their activities. The allegations have not been independently confirmed.
These developments follow a wider wave of protests that began in Iran on December 28, 2025. Initially triggered by a sharp fall in the national currency and worsening economic conditions, the demonstrations quickly developed into nationwide opposition to the country's political leadership.
Security forces responded with a violent crackdown in January 2026. Human rights organisations reported that thousands of people were killed or arrested during the unrest. The United Nations also raised concerns about the use of force against protesters and the detention of demonstrators.
University students played an important role in the demonstrations. Protests continued at several campuses in February, including Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology and Shahid Beheshti University, despite the earlier security crackdown.
The situation became more complicated after the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering a wider regional conflict. University disciplinary proceedings were temporarily interrupted during the military campaign but resumed as universities reopened in October.
The enforcement of compulsory hijab rules has also become another source of tension on campuses. On October 19, the University of Tehran said female students who continued to violate dress regulations could face disciplinary hearings.
Iranian university campuses have historically been important centres of political debate and opposition movements. Student activism also played a significant role in the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, which challenged compulsory hijab rules and broader government restrictions.
The latest disciplinary measures have raised concerns among student organisations about the future of academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest.
Although the exact number of students facing punishment across Iran is not known, recent reports indicate that pressure is continuing at several universities. Students fear that further disciplinary action and arrests could follow as the authorities tighten security measures across the country.