Iran holds funeral for slain senior commander

Iran held a funeral on Tuesday for senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Abbas Nilforoushan, who was killed alongside Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon late last month.

The funeral ceremony, held in Tehran's Imam Hossein Square, was attended by Nilforoushan's family, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, IRGC's Chief Commander Hossein Salami, and Commander of IRGC Quds Force Esmaeil Qaani as well as other high-ranking officials and military commanders.

At around 08:20 local time, Nilforoushan's body was brought to the square, where it was greeted by citizens with flowers. Attendees waved flags of Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestine and held pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Nasrallah, and Nilforoushan, while chanting slogans against the United States and Israel.

Angry mourners condemned Israel's violence and above everything else, demanded the response from the international community.

"The international community has failed to perform its duties so far. The situation can't be any worse than it currently is," said Tehran resident Amir.

"We demand international organizations to help stop this war," said another resident Maryam.

Nilforoushan will be laid to rest in his hometown Isfahan on Thursday evening, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.

Nilforoushan, 58, was killed on September 27 during a meeting with Nasrallah when Israel launched a large-scale targeted strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut. It took days for rescue teams to discover his body under mountains of debris caused by the strike.

Prior to returning to Iran, Nilforoushan's body was first welcomed by his supporters in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Nilforoushan had been serving as IRGC's deputy commander for operations since 2019. When confirming his death in a statement, the IRGC said he was serving as a "military adviser" in Lebanon.

Iran is now playing an active role in diplomatic efforts and negotiations with regional players.

"We have clearly said several times that the Islamic Republic [of Iran] is not seeking any further escalation of tensions. However, we are not afraid of war. We are fully prepared," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters.

While a war of words continues between Tehran and Tel Aviv, the Iranian people are still waiting to see how serious a possible Israeli response would be to Iran's October 1st barrage of missiles, the largest direct attack Iran has ever mounted against Israel.

Iran holds funeral for slain senior commander

College students in the United States have voiced opposition against the adoption of new rules around demonstrations on campus following the eruption of pro-Palestinian protests across the country this year.

A wave of pro-Palestinian student protests spread across U.S. college campuses earlier this year. In many cases, encampments were erected, with protesters demanding school administrations divest from Israel.

All of them were eventually removed, in many cases, by use of force.

Following the student protests, some institutions placed limits on the time or location that such protests are permitted, while others require preapproval for any demonstration.

Although administrators say the new rules aim to boost security and safeguard uninterrupted education for their students, critics say students' right to free speech may be suppressed.

"I do think that there is a responsibility of institutions not to militarize their response to their students. But all in all, there is a line in which one may cross where a protest can venture into being unlawful," said Timothy Welbeck, director of the Center for Anti-Racism from Temple University.

Last month, many students returning to their campuses for the new academic year faced a new set of rules, with several colleges banning tents and encampments.

On the anniversary of the new-round of the Palestine-Israel conflict, some students claimed the response to protesters was selective.

"One group got shut down outside, like we weren't allowed on campus, but on the same day another vigil was allowed to be held right next to Thomas building. So, I think that response really showed a lot," said Rhea Cook, a student from University of Southern California.

In one of the nation's largest public university systems, the University of California, blocking facilities, spaces, building entrances, paths and roadways are also forbidden.

"We shouldn't be deciding what kind of speech is available or allowed for students, especially in a time where you're doing so much learning and growing. Students need to be able to fully express themselves and be who they are without fear of disproportionate punishment on our campuses," said Kaira Brown, a college student.

Critics of the new regulations around protests also include some Jewish faculty members and students, who say they fear that freedom of speech may be threatened, even at some of the world's most prestigious institutions.

American students voice opposition to new rules to limit demonstrations