The Iranian student protests of July 1999 (Also known as 18th of Tir and Kuye Daneshgah Disaster (Persian: فاجعه کوی دانشگاه) in Iran) (7–13 July) were, before the 2009 Iranian election protests, the most widespread and violent public protests to occur in Iran since the early years of the Iranian Revolution.
The protests began on 8 July with peaceful demonstrations in Tehran against the closure of the reformist newspaper, Salam. Following the demonstrations, a student dormitory was raided by riot police that night during which a student was killed. The raid sparked six days of demonstrations and rioting throughout the country, during which at least three other people were killed and more than 200 injured.In the aftermath of these incidents, more than seventy students disappeared. In addition to an estimated 1,200–1,400 detainees, the "whereabouts and condition" of five students named by Human Rights Watch who are believed to be detained by Iranian authorities remain unknown.
1999Jul, 9
Days of student protests begin after Iranian police and hardliners attack a student dormitory at the University of Tehran.
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Events on 1999
- 21Jan
United States Coast Guard
War on Drugs: In one of the largest drug busts in American history, the United States Coast Guard intercepts a ship with over 4,300 kilograms (9,500 lb) of cocaine on board. - 12Mar
Czech Republic
Former Warsaw Pact members the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join NATO. - 8Apr
Indian National Congress
Haryana Gana Parishad, a political party in the Indian state of Haryana, merges with the Indian National Congress. - 29May
International Space Station
Space Shuttle Discovery completes the first docking with the International Space Station. - 27Nov
Helen Clark
The centre-left Labour Party takes control of the New Zealand government with leader Helen Clark becoming the first elected female Prime Minister in New Zealand's history.