A major Iranian university has suspended three students for burning the national flag during recent anti-government protests, local media reported Thursday.
Student demonstrations erupted on Saturday at several major universities in the capital Tehran, with campuses in other cities joining in the days that followed.
Pro- and anti-government groups faced off during rallies on the university campuses. The anti-government protests revived slogans from earlier nationwide demonstrations that peaked in January and saw thousands of people killed.
"Three students who disrespected a national symbol of Iranians have been identified and, by order of the university president, have been temporarily suspended from their studies pending a disciplinary council hearing," the Fars news agency reported, quoting a statement from the University of Tehran.
On Wednesday, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei deemed the behavior of some students during the protests as "inappropriate,” including "burning the national flag or shouting slogans with offensive language."
"Anyone who commits a disciplinary violation within a university will be dealt with through legal channels, and if a crime has occurred, the judiciary will intervene," he said, according to Mehr news agency.
Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani on Tuesday acknowledged the students' "right to protest" but added "that we all have a duty to understand the red lines" including the "sanctities and the flag."
Science minister Hossein Simaei said universities would continue holding classes on campuses.
However, public university Kharazmi and several branches of the private Azad University announced they would hold classes virtually, citing the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Protests triggered by worsening economic hardship erupted in Tehran in late December before spreading nationwide, peaking on January 8 and 9.
Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, including members of the security forces and innocent bystanders, but say the violence was caused by "terrorist acts" fueled by the United States and Israel.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, mostly protesters, while warning the full toll is likely far higher.
