Kashmiri Students Return from Iran, Slam Media for ‘Distorted’ Portrayal of Ground Reality

Kashmiri Students Back from Iran Reject Panic, Criticise Media Coverage

By: Javid Amin | 17 January 2025

Returned students say panic was manufactured by exaggerated coverage, insist life and studies continued normally in Iranian cities

Relief at Home, Anger Over Narratives

When more than three dozen Kashmiri students arrived home from Iran this week, their return was met with relief, tears, and tight embraces from anxious families. But alongside gratitude for safety, another emotion dominated their voices: anger.

Anger not at Iran.
Anger not at their universities.
But at mainstream television channels and social media platforms, which, they allege, grossly misrepresented the situation on the ground, triggering fear, panic, and unnecessary disruption to their education.

Speaking to reporters after landing in Kashmir, the students said they felt compelled to return not because of any immediate danger, but because relentless media coverage created a perception of chaos that did not match their lived reality.

What Prompted the Return: Panic Versus Reality

The Trigger

The return of Kashmiri students followed:

• Intense television debates on unrest in Iran

• Viral social media posts warning of danger to foreign students

• Emotional appeals by parents seeking evacuation

As these narratives spread, families in Kashmir began urging their children to return immediately, fearing the worst.

Students’ Claim

However, students insist:

• They did not witness protests near campuses

• Universities remained functional

• Daily life in cities where they studied continued largely uninterrupted

One medical student said bluntly:

“We were safer in our hostels than we were mentally after watching Indian TV news clips sent by our families.”

Students Speak: ‘We Never Saw What Was Being Shown on TV’

Rejecting Social Media Rumours

Several students said that the most alarming claims circulating online—about mob violence, attacks on students, and campuses shutting down—were simply untrue in their experience.

They clarified:

• No foreign students were targeted in their cities

• No universities asked Kashmiri students to leave

• Academic schedules continued

A postgraduate student explained:

“Social media created a parallel Iran that we were not living in.”

Internet Disruptions, Not Insecurity

Students acknowledged that:

• Internet services were occasionally restricted

• Communication with families became difficult

But they emphasized that internet shutdowns were misinterpreted as signs of imminent danger, when in fact, they did not translate into physical insecurity on campuses.

Why Kashmiri Students Study in Iran

A Long-Standing Educational Link

Iran has been a preferred destination for Kashmiri students for decades, particularly in:

• Medicine

• Dentistry

• Allied health sciences

The reasons are clear:

• Affordable fees compared to Europe or private Indian colleges

• Recognised medical institutions

• Cultural familiarity and community presence

Thousands of students from Kashmir currently study across Iranian cities, forming a well-established academic diaspora.

Cost of Sudden Return

Many returning students pointed out that:

• They returned voluntarily, not under evacuation orders

• Travel costs were significant

• Academic timelines were disrupted

Some students fear they may:

• Lose semesters

• Face re-registration hurdles

• Bear financial losses their families cannot easily absorb

Parental Anxiety: Fear Fueled by Screens

Families Caught Between Love and Panic

Parents in Kashmir admit they were deeply shaken by:

• Graphic television visuals

• Breaking-news alerts

• Unverified social media videos

In a region already shaped by conflict and uncertainty, fear travels fast, and parents said they felt morally compelled to bring their children home.

One parent said:

“When every channel says Iran is burning, how do you sleep at night?”

Students Say Families Were Misled

Returned students, however, believe their families were misinformed rather than irrational.

They argue:

• Media failed to distinguish between regions

• Isolated incidents were portrayed as nationwide collapse

• Student safety was discussed without speaking to students

Media Under Fire: Accusations of Sensationalism

‘Panic Was Manufactured’

Students were unusually direct in criticising Indian media, accusing it of:

• Sensationalism

• Absence of on-ground verification

• Turning complex realities into dramatic headlines

They said many debates:

• Did not cite student voices

• Relied on viral clips without context

• Amplified worst-case scenarios

One student remarked:

“Media decided we were unsafe before asking us if we were.”

The Social Media Multiplier Effect

Students also blamed:

• WhatsApp forwards

• X (formerly Twitter) clips

• Instagram reels

These platforms, they said, amplified fear faster than facts, often recycling old or unrelated footage.

Ground Reality in Iran: What Students Describe

Campuses Remained Functional

According to students:

• Lectures continued

• Hospitals attached to medical colleges functioned

• Foreign students attended classes

Some classmates, they noted, chose to stay back, unconvinced that leaving was necessary.

Cities Not in Lockdown

Students clarified that:

• Daily commerce continued

• Public transport operated

• There was no atmosphere of siege in their localities

They stressed that Iran is a large country, and generalisations erased regional differences.

Government Role: Between Caution and Calm

Official Advisory Versus Evacuation

Authorities issued advisories urging caution but did not mandate evacuation. However, the public mood—shaped by media narratives—created pressure for immediate action.

Students said clearer communication could have helped:

• Calmer advisories

• Direct student briefings

• Myth-busting updates

Broader Issue: Media Responsibility in Crisis Reporting

When Coverage Becomes Consequence

This episode has reignited debate on:

• Ethical crisis reporting

• Responsibility toward vulnerable communities

• Impact of speculative journalism

Students argue that words and visuals can cause displacement, even without bombs or borders closing.

Kashmir’s Special Sensitivity

In Kashmir, where:

• Conflict memory is deep

• Anxiety is inherited

• Rumours have real consequences

Irresponsible reporting, students say, hits harder and faster.

Key Takeaways

What Students Want Now

Returned students are not demanding apologies. Instead, they ask for:

• Nuanced reporting

• Verification before amplification

• Inclusion of student voices

They also urge authorities to:

• Support academic continuity

• Facilitate re-entry where possible

• Engage directly with students abroad in future crises

Conclusion: Between Perception and Reality

The return of Kashmiri students from Iran is not just a story of travel—it is a case study in how perception can overpower reality.

While unrest in parts of Iran is real and deserves coverage, students insist their experiences reveal a crucial truth: not all crises are uniform, and not all headlines reflect ground realities.

Their testimony challenges both media houses and audiences to pause, verify, and listen—especially when the lives and futures of young students hang in the balance.

In a world driven by speed, their message is simple but urgent:

Accuracy is not optional. It is responsibility.