Clip Description: Majid Tavakoli, the prominent student leader at AKUT was arrested on December 7 (Students Day) after giving a courageous speech to a crowd of 1500 protesters at his school. He was severely beaten during his arrest and taken to jail, and is reported to be under pressure and subjected to torture.
Iran’s state-sponsored media have allegedly reported that Tavakoli was disguised as a woman when he was detained and have widely published close-shots of Tavakoli wearing so-called women’s clothing (as a means to undermine his courage and damage his reputation among his peers). Using women’s clothing to demean Tavakoli is also an insult to all Iranian women who have bravely fought in the green movement and have struggled for equal rights in Iran for years.
Iranian students worldwide are reacting in outrage and while demanding the release of Majid Tavakoli, are asking the state media to put an end to this pattern of behavior. Iranian male bloggers have initiated a Campaign for men to wear women’s clothing in support of Majid Tavakoli, as part of a greater movement reacting to the state’s mistreatment of political prisoners and student activists.
