An Iranian woman protested against the hijab by stripping down following an assault by regime militia.

On Sunday, a female Iranian student protested an assault on her by the Basij, a paramilitary militia affiliated with the IRGC and designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S, by stripping down to her underwear on the campus of Tehran's Islamic Azad University.

A video of an unidentified woman strolling through the Science and Research Branch's courtyard in her underwear became highly popular on social media.

According to Iran International, a university official confirmed the arrest of a student who engaged in an indecent act at the Science and Research Branch of the university. Amir Mahjoub, director general of public relations at the university, wrote about the incident on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The student's actions are being investigated for their motives and underlying reasons.

The special rapporteur for Iran, Mai Soto, posted on X, "I will closely monitor the incident and the authorities' response. #Iran," along with a video of the young woman sitting in the courtyard from Voice of America's Farsi outlet.

The Islamic Republic's security forces severely assaulted a young student, according to a report by Amir Kabir Newsletter. After the regime bashed her head into a car door or a pillar, blood stains were reportedly seen on the car's tires.

Elika Eftekhari, an Iranian American lawyer, spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital about her protest, which she believes may seem shocking to outsiders due to the certainty of imprisonment, torture, and rape as punishment from Islamic Republic officials. She compared her act to Jan Palach's self-immolation in the formerly communist Czech Republic, which speaks to the pervasive psychology of depression and hopelessness among Iranians, who often feel trapped in a negative spiral both within the world and vis-à-vis their futures.

Eftekhari, a member of the U.S.-based Alliance for Human Rights and Democracy in Iran, stated, "The resistance movement in Iran is showing tremendous fortitude by taking the regime's gender apartheid misogyny head-on through civil disobedience. The call to action for the U.S. and West is clear: they must recognize her actions and understand them within the analytical framework of Iranians' readiness for regime change, not reform."

Lisa Daftari, editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk and an expert on Iran, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Iranian women are bravely challenging the mandatory Islamic hijab laws in Iran. Iranian men and women have been opposing the oppressive Islamic Republic's rule for decades, but particularly since the Woman, Life, Freedom demonstrations following the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini two years ago, the hijab, women's dress code, and women in general have been at the forefront of the anti-regime opposition.

The regime's oppressive laws are being challenged by Iranians with growing confidence, as each episode strengthens their resolve to stand up against them.

Masih Alinejad, an Iranian American human rights activist, wrote on X: "A student in Iran who was harassed by her university's morality police for her 'improper' hijab refused to back down. She protested by stripping to her underwear and marching through campus, defying a regime that constantly controls women's bodies. Her act is a powerful reminder of Iranian women's fight for freedom. Yes, we use our bodies as weapons to fight back a regime that kills women for showing their hair. This happened at Tehran's Science and Research University. She has since been arrested by the authorities. Be her voice. #WomanLifeFreedom."

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran stated that he would put an end to the notorious morality police patrols that apprehend women for not adhering to hijab regulations.

Pezeshkian's pledge to be empty rhetoric, as critics see it. Last month, Iran's Guardian Council passed a controversial hijab and chastity bill, which imposes a fine of three million tomans ($50) for violating the law. Now, Iran's parliament is reviewing the bill.

In Iran, Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, holds absolute control over all laws and legislation, while the president serves as a mostly ceremonial figure.