Your Excellency,

On behalf of more than 100,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU), I am writing to express serious concerns about the recent arrests of students and activists following anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to reports, over 2000 people have been arrested, including an estimated 100 university students. Large numbers of those arrested are currently detained in jails notorious for torture and other ill-treatment, with many being denied access to their families and lawyers. We are particularly alarmed by the latest report from Amnesty International that at least five people have died in custody.

UCU calls on the authorities in Iran to ensure the right to peaceful protest, to undertake an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the recent deaths in custody and to protect hundreds of detainees from torture and other ill-treatment.

Yours sincerely,

Sally Hunt

General Secretary