Iranian Students Call For Protesters To Be Released

Shiraz University students stage a protest on January 5 in an effort to gain the release of their colleagues.

Student activists at Tehran's Shiraz University are calling for the release of four of their colleagues who were detained on January 3.

One activist, who requested anonymity, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that the students will begin a hunger strike on January 10 in protest.

The four students were suspended from school for two semesters before being jailed. They were detained after they took part in events celebrating National Student Day last month.

After those events, some 35 students were summoned to the university's disciplinary committee and charged with "causing chaos" and disseminating antistate propaganda.

Shiraz University students recently staged several protests to push for the release of their friends.

In recent months, rights groups have expressed concern over the increasing pressure on students activists in Iran.