On March 9, conservative Iranian member of parliament Ali Motahari arrived in the city of Shiraz to give a speech at an event organized by Shiraz University reformist student association. However, on the road from the airport to speak to the university his car was attacked by plainclothesmen on motorcycles. The windows of the taxi were broken and Motahari suffered minor wounds above his eye.
Motahari, who said he felt the attackers "had come with the intent to kill or mutilate," took refuge with the taxi driver inside a police station for more than three hours before the assailants dispersed. Part of the attack was even caught on video.