Concern about violence in Iran

"What is happening in Iran is deeply shocking. Many university members, including numerous students and academics, are taking to the streets for their freedom, but also very specifically for respect for women's rights. We are with the demonstrators and their families with the greatest concern and solidarity. As a university, we are committed to openness to the world, tolerance, contentious discourse, and human rights with all our strength in science, teaching, and our university life," says BTU President Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande.

The BTU sees itself as an international and diverse university. For the university community, democratic principles, self-determination and human rights are among the cornerstones of peaceful coexistence.

The protests in Iran were triggered by the violent death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She had been arrested because of her allegedly "un-Islamic" clothing, fell into a coma under unexplained circumstances while in police custody and died in a hospital on September 16, 2022. Since then, the situation in Iran has escalated. Students and academics at numerous Iranian universities face repression from the state.