2009 Iranian university dormitory raids

The 2009 Iranian university dormitory raids took place on June 14, 2009 (or 24 Khordad in the Iranian calendar) at various university dormitories throughout Iran.^[1] The raids were carried out by the state-sponsored Basij militiamen against students suspected of having participated in the ongoing election protests.^[2]

Raids

The dormitories of the University of Tehran, the largest general university in the Islamic Republic of Iran, were raided by Basij militiamen. At least 3 men and two women^[1], were reported to have been killed or wounded by the Basij.

Unrest between students and Basij also took place at Amir Kabir University in Tehran, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Razi University in Kermanshah, and University of Mazandaran; Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, in particular, was the scene of violence between students and members of both the Basij and the Ansar-e-Hezbollah.^[2]

Reaction

One hundred and nineteen faculty of the University of Tehran resigned on June 15, 2009 in protest of the raid^[3]. Ali Larijani, speaker of the Iranian Majlis, condemned the raid and blamed the Interior Ministry for the raids^[4]; the Interior Ministry, in turn, ordered a probe into the incident^[5].

The Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) wrote a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemning Iranian officials for the university raids and arrest of students.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Lyons, John (June 19, 2009). "Students slaughtered in Tehran university attack". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25658596-2703,00.html. Retrieved July 12, 2009. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ ^{a b} Tait, Robert (June 16, 2009). "Unrest in Iran spreads to provinces as students clash with security forces". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/16/iran-shiraz-university-chancellor-resignation. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
3. ^ Sullivan, Andrew (15 Jun 2009). "Tehran University's Faculty Resigns En Masse". http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/tehran-universitys-faculty-resigns-en-masse.html. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
4. ^ "Unfortunate incidents probed at Iran university amid crackdown". CNN. June 17, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/17/iran.university.probe. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
5. ^ "Iranian Ministry Seeks Probe of Deadly Raids at Tehran University". June 17, 2009. http://thejakartaglobe.com/world/iranian-ministry-seeks-probe-of-deadly-raids-at-tehran-university/312861. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
6. ^ "MESA Letter Of Protest To Iranian Authorities". http://www.payvand.com/news/09/oct/1086.html. Retrieved 10 October 2009. 

External links

• Video footage of the raid, broadcasted by BBC Persian, Feb. 22, 2010 (8 months after the raid)