Measures by authorities of Qum University in the course of the mourning month of Moharram have aroused angry reactions by girl students at this university.
The authorities have deprived girl students from taking part in the main ceremony held at the university. Girls have been confined to their dormitory during this time.
In addition, the timing for women’s ceremony has been designated to be after the tenth day of Moharram, when the main ceremony ends.
In the lunar Hijri calendar, Moharram is the month when the grandson of Prophet Mohammad was martyred on the 10th day of the month. Shiite Muslims mourn these days, especially on the 9th and 10th days. This month and its related ceremonies are very important to Shiite Muslims.
After Ali Khamenei’s emphatic warnings regarding gender segregation in universities and public places, Iranian universities have received new instructions to tighten their monitoring of women’s observation of the mandatory dress code as well as the rules on gender segregation.
