HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, October 4, 2011, students at Shahrekord University demonstrated against the quality and price of food available at the university’s self-service cafeteria.The protest was sparked by the news of a worm having been found in school cafeteria food.Iran’s semi-secret police tasked to monitor all educational institutes, Herasat, violently confronted student protestors and eventually quelled the demonstration.Shahrekord University is located in southwestern part of Iran in Chahrmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), as the new school year began in Iran, an increase in the cost of food available at Shahrekord University had caused discontent and anger amongst students.Following a report indicating that a warm was found in school cafeteria food, students began to gather demanding better food at reasonable prices.

In an interview with HRANA, one of the demonstrators said, “The majority of students are experiencing financial problems, and when the cost of food went up at the beginning of the new school year, students were very unhappy.What happened yesterday was only a spark among students who were already dissatisfied with the situation.”

During these demonstrations, students demanded school cafeteria officials to be reprimanded and a guild council to be formed again in Shahrekord University.Some of the slogans shouted by the protestors were:

Students die but accept no misery!
Chivalrous students, Support, Support!
Have no fear; have no fear; we’re all united!

Yesterday’s demonstrations lasted an hour during which students were violently confronted by Herasat agents.