Ahoo Daryaei

Cover of Elle, 14 November 2024

The Science and Research Girl — possibly named Ahoo Daryaei (Persian: آهو دریایی, romanized: Āhū Daryāyī, pronounced [ɒːˈhuː dæɾjɒːˈjiː])—is a 30-year-old Iranian doctoral student in French literature at Tehran's Islamic Azad University. After reportedly being confronted and harassed by Basij paramilitary forces over Iran's compulsory hijab laws, with her clothing allegedly torn during the encounter, she responded in protest by removing her clothes and sitting partially undressed in the university courtyard on November 2, 2024. This defiant act transformed her into a symbol of resistance.

Following her protest, The Science and Research Girl has been detained by the Iranian state, leading to her forced disappearance from public view. Her whereabouts and condition remain uncertain, and some reports indicate she may be held in a psychiatric facility, raising international concern over her treatment.

Her bold action on November 2, 2024, has turned her into a symbol of resistance against Iran's strict dress code laws and the enforcement of the compulsory hijab, especially two years after the death of Mahsa Amini. Her protest and subsequent arrest have drawn international attention, with human rights organizations calling for her release. As of November 2024, she remains detained.

Context

Since the nationwide protests in September 2022, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a growing number of Iranian women have been actively resisting the country's mandatory headscarf laws. This movement has seen women publicly removing their hijabs, sharing images and videos on social media, and participating in demonstrations advocating for personal freedoms and women's rights. Despite facing significant risks, including arrests and harassment, these protests of defiance have continued, highlighting a persistent challenge to Iran's strict dress code regulations.

November 2, 2024

On November 2, 2024, The Science and Research Girl became the center of a high-profile protest incident at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University. According to witnesses, she was confronted by university security forces and members of the Basij paramilitary for not wearing her headscarf according to the strict dress code.

During the altercation, members of the Basij, a paramilitary group associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, allegedly attempted to take the student into custody under the pretext of violating hijab and mask requirements, tearing her sweater in an attempt to enforce the mandated hijab. Political scientist Mahnaz Shirali noted that the altercation escalated when she removed her remaining clothes and sat in her underwear in the campus courtyard as an act of defiance.

She then walked onto the street in her bra and panties, further protesting the enforced hijab laws in an act of public defiance. The protest was captured on video by onlookers, and footage quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention both within Iran and internationally.

Aftermath

The government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, responded by stating that the government views this as a social, rather than security matter, and emphasized that the student is currently undergoing medical treatment.

The Science and Research Girl was subsequently arrested by plainclothes officers and detained. Her whereabouts and condition remain unknown, with reports suggesting she may be held in a psychiatric facility. In Iran, authorities have a documented history of labeling women who defy compulsory hijab laws as mentally ill, using this as a tactic to suppress dissent. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have called for her immediate and unconditional release, underscoring the need for an independent investigation into the alleged abuse during her arrest. The National Secular Society has called on the UK Government to press Iranian authorities for the release of a woman detained after protesting against Iran's hijab laws.

The Amir Kabir Newsletter Telegram channel identified the girl as Ahoo Daryayi, a 30-year-old seventh-semester French language student at the Science and Research branch of Azad University.

The student faces severe legal consequences for her protest, including potential charges that could lead to the death penalty for "moral offenses," according to political scientist Mahnaz Shirali. Sociologist Azadeh Kian added that if psychiatric issues are ruled out, she may face flogging, imprisonment, and possibly a lengthy sentence under accusations of "debauchery" or "prostitution." The crackdown on such dissent remains deeply rooted in the Islamic Republic's policies, even following President Masoud Pezeshkian's election in July.

International reactions

On November 5th, hundreds of Iranians and French people gathered in the evening in the center of Paris, in front of the Pantheon near the Sorbonne University, chanting slogans and giving speeches to support resistance of Iranian women against oppression. Members of both lower and upper French parliaments from the green and left parties were present, but also members of the Femen association and the CGT union.

Mahdieh Golroo wrote regarding the incident: "The Science and Research Girl has no name; her name is being a woman in Iran. Her name is Nika, Sarina, and Hadis. Her name is Woman, Life, Freedom."

On November 10, 2024, the Global Student Forum (GSF) issued a statement calling for international awareness and action regarding the detention of "The Science and Research Girl." The GSF highlighted concerns over the treatment of women in Iran who actively resist the country’s mandatory hijab laws, specifically drawing attention to the violent measures reportedly taken against her. Emphasizing the need for accountability, the GSF urged international human rights organizations and foreign governments to press Iranian authorities for her release and ensure her safety. The GSF statement underscored the symbolic impact of her protest on global discussions about women's rights and state-enforced religious policies.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran (Mai Sato) announced that the incident involving the girl who disrobed in protest of mandatory hijab at the Science and Research University in Tehran is being closely monitored. She also reposted a video showing this woman in underwear protesting on campus, writing on X on Saturday, November 2, "I will be closely monitoring this incident, as well as the response of Iranian authorities."

Screencaptures of a video of her protest were featured on the cover of Elle magazine in mid-November.

Requests for freeing

After several days of silence after her arrest, French academic society warned that Ahoo Daryaei's life is in danger.

See also

• Mahsa Amini protests
• Women in Iran