University of Tehran expels two students on charge of "burning a flag"

Mohammad Hossein Omid, president of the University of Tehran, confirmed on Saturday, 10 October 2026, that two students of the university have been expelled on a charge of playing a part in "burning a flag" during last year's protests. According to Voice of America, he made the remarks in an interview with the state-linked news agency ISNA.

The head of the University of Tehran claimed that apart from these two, no other student has been expelled and that 22 disciplinary cases linked to last year's protests have been closed. According to him, most of these cases ended in a "warning" or "reprimand", and a few in one semester's suspension from study. Omid also claimed that all students who had been detained since January have been released after the university followed up.

Official figures contradict reports from the University of Tehran

The figure of 22 cases announced by the university president does not match earlier reports. According to Voice of America, it was reported in May–June that 150 to 200 students of the University of Tehran were preparing defences for the disciplinary committee. Hassan Goldansaz, the university's deputy for cultural and student affairs, had also announced in June–July that about 30 cases were being examined by the disciplinary council.

A wave of cases against protesting students

The expulsion of two University of Tehran students is part of a broader crackdown on students who took part in the January uprising and the protests of winter 2025–26. According to Voice of America, at Sharif University of Technology 236 people were sent to disciplinary councils and six students were expelled; another 29 cases were opened over activity on social media.

According to a student activist, at Amirkabir University more than 200 students received disciplinary cases within a year and 50 suspension rulings were issued. At the Iran University of Science and Technology, cases have been opened against more than 100 students, and at Shahid Beheshti University the access of 20 to 25 students to the educational system has been cut. At K. N. Toosi University of Technology, about 30 cases linked to the protests of February–March 2026 have also been examined.

Earlier, the disciplinary council of Isfahan University of Technology had issued disciplinary rulings against about 30 students for taking part in the protests of January–March.

Hundreds of protesting students at Iran's major universities face disciplinary cases, suspension and expulsion.

Sources

• Voice of America