Iranian students began the new semester with protests

On Saturday, at the start of the new semester, student protests took place at several Iranian universities, with clashes with pro-government groups occurring in some places. This was reported by local agencies and posts on social networks.

The protests coincided with the traditional 40-day memorial ceremonies for victims who died after security forces intervened during last month's anti-government unrest.

A video from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran shows students marching with slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and calls for the return of Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Iranian shah.

State media published footage of clashes in which members of the Basij militia were allegedly injured.

Rallies were also held at Beheshti and Amir Kabir universities and in Mashhad. In the city of Abadan, demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans after a teacher was detained.

(reuters, luc)