The campus of Tehran University, Iran's oldest modern educational center, had a tense day May 13 as hundreds of students held rallies against mandatory hijab regulations they said have become more restrictive than ever. The students argue that a set of new laws imposed by university officials are worsening the educational environment by pressuring female students and provoking unnecessary tension.

Some of those students claimed that as part of the new restrictions, university officials have allowed "morality police" patrols inside the campus enforce hijab regulations. Those patrols, already a highly controversial police practice, have been operating for years on the streets in the capital Tehran and other large cities, issuing warnings to women in what is deemed “lax hijab."

Tehran University's cultural affairs head, however, dismissed the idea of such patrols. Majid Sarsangi noted that the university's own security personnel have been active on campus to give "warnings" to those who "disrespect" the cultural norms, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

But the students maintain that new regulations come as part of a recently intensified crackdown on personal freedoms including an official order from the country's Ministry of Science setting out oversight and disciplinary action for certain social media activities.