The protests in Iran are continuing and we are concerned about the situation of our colleagues and students at universities in the country. The origins of the escalating protests in Iran lie in the detention of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Jîna Amini, by the morality police in Tehran. According to the police, she was not wearing her headscarf correctly. The violent treatment in connection with her detention led to the young woman’s death and in solidarity many people are now manifesting their dissatisfaction with the violence, the regime and the coercion.
Uppsala University supports the peaceful protests. We will always stand firm in our values, affirming the equal value of all people, freedom of expression and democracy.
The protests have been met with violence and the use of tear gas and live ammunition. The University of Tehran is reportedly closed and the situation appears to be deteriorating. Our thoughts are with those at risk. Together with all universities in Sweden we have declared through the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions that we expect freedom of choice and freedom of expression for our Iranian friends and a peaceful democratic development. Anything else is unacceptable.
