Iraqi students at Semnan University attacked in Iran — Asharq Al-Awsat
In Iran’s Semnan province, a group of people attacked Iraqi students near and inside their dormitory at Semnan University. As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, following the incident, the Iraqi embassy in Tehran said that the situation had been brought under control and the students had been granted a one-month leave.
How the events unfolded
According to the publication, the conflict began on Sunday when two intoxicated Iranians tried to enter the building where the students lived. The students escorted them out of the premises, after which the situation escalated: about 150 people gathered near and inside the dormitory and attacked the Iraqis.
During the attack, according to the publication, students’ personal belongings were damaged and the building’s windows were smashed. At the same time, the Iraqi cultural attaché in Tehran denied reports that students had been injured and described the incident as a personal dispute which, according to him, the attackers had not planned in advance.
In video appeals, Iraqi students urged their compatriots not to leave their dormitories and to leave Semnan province and the university, stating that the region had become dangerous for Iraqi citizens. They also claimed that some Iranians had knives and tried to attack Iraqis going to local shops.
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Iraq’s response and investigation
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said it had sent a committee to Semnan province to clarify the circumstances of the incident, check on the students’ condition and interact with the Iranian authorities. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein instructed the embassy in Tehran to monitor the progress of the investigation and insist on legal action against those responsible.
The Iraqi embassy said that its delegation held meetings with the university administration, provincial authorities and relevant bodies. According to the embassy, the one-month leave is intended to help reduce tensions and restore stability in the university environment.
Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, head of the judiciary of Semnan province, told the state-run IRNA agency that two people involved in the clash near the student dormitory had been identified. According to him, the investigation is continuing to identify everyone involved, and measures against those guilty are promised in accordance with the law.
