A woman was arrested at the University of Science and Research in Tehran after appearing on campus in her underwear on Saturday. Videos of the incident, showing the woman in her underwear and her subsequent arrest, have since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread debate and speculation about the circumstances.

BBC Persian’s digital team confirmed the incident occurred on November 2nd, in Block 1 of the Azad University of Science and Research.

The viral videos show the woman sitting on a raised platform in a corridor of Block 1, interacting with male and female university security officers. The conversation is inaudible. Other footage shows her walking around the campus in her underwear.

The videos only depict the moments after the woman was in her underwear; the events leading up to this are not shown. One video, seemingly filmed from a classroom window, shows the woman on a path near Block 1, appearing to remove her shorts.

The reactions of those around her corroborate this. Shortly after, a police vehicle arrives, and officers appear to take the woman into custody.

Many international media outlets and social media reports suggest the woman’s actions were a protest against mandatory hijab laws and the alleged behavior of university security personnel.

Several reports cite Amir Kabir News Telegram channel, which claims the woman removed her clothes in protest after being harassed by Basij forces for not wearing a hijab and having her clothes allegedly torn by security forces.

In response to BBC Persian, Amir Kabir News stated that their report was based on information from a well-informed source. The veracity of these claims remains unverified. The incident continues to generate significant discussion and debate online.