Teachers’ trade associations have called for a public “mourning” and “strike” today, Wednesday, February 18, in protest against the killing of more than 230 students.
Many human rights organizations and independent media outlets had previously reported on the killing of children during the nationwide protests in January. However, the repression of students has not ended in the streets.
Interrogation and Creating Fear in Iran’s Schools
So far, two sessions titled “Basirat Afzayi” (an ideological term meaning “enhancing insight,” commonly used by the Iranian regime for political indoctrination programs) have been held at Homami High School in Mashhad, a major city in northeastern Iran. Attendance at these sessions has been mandatory for all upper secondary students.
Reports indicate that these sessions are held in the school’s prayer hall and are attended by school staff, including the principal and disciplinary supervisor, as well as several female and male agents.
The IRGC is Trying to Wipe Traces of its Crimes During Nationwide Protests
One of these sessions began with the question: Who killed citizens in the streets? After that, videos containing violent images from the nationwide protests of January 2026 were shown. During the screening, one of the men present attempted to convince the students that all acts of violence had been carried out by agents of Israel and the United States or by spies.
After nearly half an hour of footage showing scenes of protesters being killed, government buildings set on fire, and images of half-burned books, one of the women present began speaking. Claiming she had been sent by the Ministry of Education to answer students’ questions, she attempted to prompt students to speak by asking questions such as, “Why are America and Israel hostile toward Iran?” and “The regime had accepted livelihood protests, so why would it kill protesters?”
In another part of the session, claims were made about conditions in Iran before the 1979 revolution, particularly regarding living standards and the status of women. The female speaker cited examples such as “an increase in the number of female university students,” “women’s presence in universities and certain professions,” and “women’s activity in the fields of medicine and education” as achievements of the revolution.
At the end of the session, students were asked to report any classmates who had participated in protests or posted content on social media aligned with the policies of the United States and Israel, so that they or school authorities could “help” them.
Some students at this school stopped attending classes the day after the first “Basirat Afzayi” session. However, school officials contacted their parents and threatened that if the absences continued, their children would be barred from taking exams.
The second “Basirat Afzayi” session was held on February 12. During this session, images were also shown of missile strikes on Tajrish Square and Evin Prison in Tehran during the 12-day war last June. Students were encouraged to attend the February 13 rally marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution with their families—an action described as “preventing war.”
From Body Searches to Inspection of Mobile Phones
Following the bloody crackdown on January 8 and 9, for several consecutive days, male students in boys’ schools in Karaj, a city west of Tehran, were subjected to body searches by individuals other than school staff.
Students at Rajaei Boys’ Technical and Vocational School were searched at least three times, on January 13, 18, and 26. During the first instance, the school’s disciplinary supervisor took students to an empty classroom. There, they were physically inspected for pellet wounds or bruises that might indicate participation in protests.
During the second search, conducted on January 18, the inspection went beyond physical searches and extended to examining students’ mobile phones. At this stage, in addition to the school’s disciplinary supervisor, at least two men described by students as “strangers” and “not part of the school staff” were present. Students were told to hand over their mobile phones.
In this inspection, students’ mobile phones were checked for images and videos of the protests, “membership in Telegram channels,” “use of VPNs,” and messages or posts related to January 2026.
At Beheshti Boys’ High School in Karaj, several students were summoned to the principal’s office and questioned about their social media activity, following news pages, and communication with other students. At this school, students were told: “We know who was where. It is better for you to cooperate.”
At this school, in the early days of February, some students were directed to a room next to the office upon entering the school. There, in the presence of individuals who were not part of the school staff, they were subjected to body searches, and their phones and bags were inspected.
At that school, carrying items such as bandages and adhesive plasters has been considered “tools of unrest.” Some students were also asked to sign a written pledge, without their parents present, accepting responsibility for any protest activities outside the school.
