Student Day () is the anniversary of the murder of three students of

University of Tehran The University of Tehran (UT) or Tehran University (, ) is a public collegiate university in Iran, and the oldest and most prominent Iranian university located in Tehran. Based on its historical, socio-cultural, and political pedigree, as well as ...

on December 7, 1953 (16 Azar 1332 in the Iranian calendar) by Iranian police in the Pahlavi era. This day is held to commemorate the three students who were killed on Azar 16th , 1332, due to protesting the official visit of Richard Nixon, the vice president of the United States at the time, and also the resumption of relations between Iran and Britain. The main reason for students' opposition to Nixon was the Mordad 28th coup and the overthrow of Mossadegh's government . Every year on the 16th of Azar, the memory of that day is kept alive with a ceremony held by various students in all universities around Iran and some other countries. Every year student demonstrations are held at universities to demand academic rights like freedom of speech and academic independence from the government. Often the protest reflects broader democratic concerns, such as those of 2009 Green Movement in 2009 and the Mahsa Amini ( Woman, Life, Freedom) protests in 2022. The government also organises gatherings and demonstrations on campuses which sometimes clash with student-organised protests. The day is commemorated by various sections of the student movement in Iran, including Leftist, Islamic, and Nationalist groups. It also was commemorated outside of Iran by the Confederation of Iranian Students for years after 1953. The

Confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

played a critical role at that time when the student movement inside the country was under severe pressure. A monthly bulletin published by the Confederation was also titled "Azar 16". The 2022 date is December 7.

The Initial Incident

Ahmad Ghandchi who belonged to Jebhe-e Melli (Nationalist Front) and two other students, Shariat-Razavi and Bozorg-Nia who were claimed by Hezb-e Tudeh (a communist Party), were killed when the Shah's police forces opened fire on the students of University of Tehran going on strike in protest at the resumption of Iran's relations with Great Britain and

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

's visit to Iran, following the coup d'état of 1953.In defense of Marxism - Student Day in Iran: Breaking the climate of fear and intimidation

During the 2009 Green Movement

On the anniversary of Student Day in 2009, large student protests broke out in opposition to the 2009 Iranian Presidential election. Following the December 7, 2009 Student Day protests in Iran, Heshmat Tabarzadi published an opinion piece in the ''

Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...

'', writing, "One thing is certain: Dec. 7 proved that the movement for a free, democratic Iran is robust and only growing in strength. If the government continues to opt for violence, there very well may be another revolution in Iran. One side has to step down. And that side is the government—-not the people."

References

Observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar November observances December observances Winter in Iran {{Iran-stub

The Initial Incident

During the 2009 Green Movement

See also

References