A young woman stripped to her underwear at Islamic Azad University in Iran on Saturday, an act widely seen as a protest against the country’s restrictive Islamic dress code. The incident, captured on video and shared across social media, shows university security detaining the woman as bystanders watch.

University Responds, Citing Mental Distress

Following the incident, Amir Mahjob, a spokesperson for Islamic Azad University, reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the woman was taken to a local police station, where officials assessed that she was under “severe mental pressure.” Authorities speculated that she may be struggling with mental health issues, which they argue explains her actions.

The daily publication Hamshahri echoed this view, stating that the woman has “severe mental problems” and may be transferred to a mental health facility following further investigation.

Social Media Pushback: ‘A Deliberate Protest’

However, many social media users see the act as an intentional and powerful protest. One user, Lei La, posted: “For most women, being…in their underwear in public is one of their worst nightmares…This is a reaction to (authorities’) insistence on the mandatory hijab.”

Backdrop: Growing Defiance Since Mahsa Amini Protests

The incident comes as more Iranian women continue to resist wearing veils in public, challenging the strict dress code following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurdish woman who died in 2022 while in custody of the morality police for allegedly violating hijab rules. Her death ignited months of protests across the country, with security forces deploying aggressive measures to suppress the movement.

Future of the Woman Unknown

The woman’s current location and legal status remain undisclosed, and her fate is unclear as authorities handle the situation. Meanwhile, her actions add another voice to the ongoing debate over women’s rights and personal freedoms in Iran, which remains a contentious issue both domestically and internationally.