Student activists under state pressure in Iran

Iran’s student organization, Unity Consolidation Bureau (Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat) condemned the arrest of their political director, Abbas Hakimzadeh.
Amir Kabir Newsletter reports that security officers raided this student activist’s home this morning at 7 a.m. and in addition to arresting him, confiscated several of his personal belongings including his computer.

Abbas Hakimzadeh, former member of Amir Kabir University’s Islamic Association, was also arrested last winter along with seven other students and spent 134 days in prison. He spent 120 days in solitary confinement and reportedly was subjected to “beatings and torture” whilst in custody. He was released on bail on July 8 from Evin prison.

The government has carried out widespread arrests of student activist in many Iranian universities in the post-election events. The Consolidation bureau condemns government policies of intimidation in its announcement saying: “The people are no longer in waiting for a movement, group or political party; neither are they waiting for a hero. What you see, is the unified anger and roar of people against the oppression that has been forced down their throats in the name of religion.”

Advar News reports that still nine members of the university alumni group, Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat are still in prison.