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Iranian students protest compulsory hijab at Tehran university as security forces deploy 51,000 personnel; retirees join demonstrations across cities

Iranian students protested compulsory hijab and rising costs at Tehran's Allameh Tabataba’i University on September 28, as 51,000 security personnel were deployed nationwide. Retirees joined demonstrations across cities, reflecting widespread discontent over economic and political issues amid heightened security measures.

english.mojahedin.org+1 source29 September 2026 · 22:04 UTC
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Iranian students and retirees protested across multiple cities on September 28, demanding an end to compulsory hijab and addressing rising economic pressures.34

Protests at Allameh Tabataba’i University highlighted grievances over educational costs and security measures targeting female students.

Students chanted, “Neither barracks nor business enterprise; long live the university,” linking their opposition to the commercialization of education with broader social issues.

The demonstrations coincided with a nationwide security alert, with 51,000 personnel deployed across Greater Tehran to prevent unrest, as reported by the Iranian Resistance.12

Retirees from various sectors, including telecommunications, joined the protests, indicating a unified front against economic hardships.

“Don’t think it’s only one day; our appointment is every day,” was another slogan echoing the determination of the protesters.

The security measures included motorized patrols, pedestrian searches, and increased surveillance, as authorities braced for potential unrest during Iran’s annual “Sacred Defense Week.”

Sources indicated that security forces were actively monitoring and suppressing dissent, with reports of new checkpoints and increased presence of plainclothes agents in urban areas.9

The protests reflect a growing discontent among various segments of Iranian society, uniting students and retirees in their demands for change amidst a backdrop of heightened security and economic challenges.

Key Insight
“Students chanted 'Neither barracks nor business enterprise; long live the university,' linking opposition to campus security and commercialization. The protests follow a nationwide alert that canceled leave for security forces through September 27, with motorcycle patrols and checkpoints reported in Tehran and other cities.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
english.mojahedin.org
“Students and retirees staged protests in several Iranian cities on September 28, highlighting continuing economic, social, and political grievances immediately after authorities had imposed an extensive nationwide security alert.”
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2
Fox NewsFox News
“Iranian security forces have stepped up their presence in Tehran and other cities, with motorcycle patrols, checkpoints and forces positioned across major urban areas as authorities brace for possible unrest, multiple sources inside told Fox News Digital.”
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