Twelve Kerala students currently stuck at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran are living through a nightmare as violent anti-government protests sweep across the country. Hailing from districts including Malappuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Kasaragod, the MBBS students have been confined to their hostel rooms near Azadi Square with almost no way to reach their families.
The situation has become critical following a nationwide communication blackout. Parents back in Kerala say they are terrified because they can no longer call their children directly. On the rare occasions, the students manage to get through, the calls are brief and clearly being monitored by local authorities. "Their calls are under surveillance and get disconnected almost immediately," said Tharish Rahman, a coordinator for the concerned parents. "We are desperately seeking the help of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the state government to get them out."
The protests, which began in late December over inflation and the collapsing economy, have turned into a bloody standoff between citizens and the regime. With the UN estimating thousands of casualties and over 18,000 detentions, the environment in Kerman is of uncertainty. For the students, the crisis is physical as well as mental. Parents report that their children have run out of cash and, with inflation spiraling, can barely afford food. Classes and exams have been postponed until at least March, leaving them with nothing to do but wait in fear.
NORKA officials have confirmed they are currently compiling data on all Malayalis stuck in Iran. While the MEA issued a travel advisory on January 14 warning Indians to stay away from the country, a planned evacuation flight has reportedly been pushed back.
"They were attending online classes for a while, but once the internet was cut, everything stopped," explained Subair, a parent from Kasaragod. "We try to call, but the line often gets diverted to someone else. It's obvious the phones are being tapped. We just want them home before things get any worse."
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