University of Tehran Suspends Students for Flag Burning

The University of Tehran has temporarily suspended three students for burning the national flag during recent anti-government protests, as reported on Thursday. The protests erupted on Saturday across several major universities in Tehran, where students demonstrated against the government.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the judiciary chief, labeled the students' actions as inappropriate, emphasizing that any disciplinary violations within the university will be addressed through legal channels. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokeswoman, acknowledged the students' right to protest but stressed the importance of respecting national symbols.

Despite the unrest, classes at the university will continue, although Kharazmi University and several branches of the private Azad University have opted for virtual classes. The protests, which began in late December and peaked in early January, were fueled by worsening economic conditions, with Iranian officials acknowledging approximately 3,000 deaths, including security forces and bystanders, while human rights activists report a higher toll of around 7,000.