02.07.2008 - Source: Freedom House

Annual survey of political rights and civil liberties 2007: Academic freedom is limited; scholars are frequently detained, threatened, and forced to retire for expressing political views; students involved in organizing protests face suspension or expulsion by university disciplinary committees ("Freedom in the World 2008") [ID 24906]

"Academic freedom is limited. Scholars are frequently detained, threatened, and forced to retire for expressing political views, and students involved in organizing protests face suspension or expulsion by university disciplinary committees. Student organizations have been sidelined since the election of Ahmadinejad, and even peaceful protesters are attacked and arrested.

In July 2007, a group of students at Amir Kabir University held a sit-in that was broken up by security forces. [...] The Alumni Association of Iran was also raided by security officials, who arrested 10 members, ransacked their homes, and confiscated their belongings. In September, three leaders of the Office for the Consolidation of Unity, Iran’s leading student organization, and five other students were charged with endangering national security and insulting Islam.

The authorities in 2007 particularly targeted U.S.-based academics with dual citizenship who were conducting scholarship or traveling in Iran. […]"

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Iranian government restricts academic freedom; call for removal of secular and liberal professors ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23023]

"The government significantly restricted academic freedom. In September 2006 President Ahmadi-Nejad called for the removal of secular and liberal professors from universities. Reports indicated dozens of university professors have been dismissed, forced to retire, or denied sabbaticals abroad since 2006.

Student groups reported that the government used a "star" system to rank politically active students — each star denoted a negative mark. Students with three stars were reportedly banned from university or prevented from registering for upcoming terms. Government informers were common on university campuses.

Additionally, there were reports the government maintained a broad network of student informants in Qom's major seminaries who reported teaching counter to official government positions."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Philosopher and scholar Ramin Jahanbegloo arrested for acting against national security and having contacts with foreigners ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20023]

"On April 25, authorities arrested philosopher and scholar Ramin Jahanbegloo for "acting against national security and having contacts with foreigners" and held him at Evin Prison. A media campaign called for his release, including statements from human rights organizations, prominent international scholars, and Western governments. Jahanbegloo was released from prison on or about August 30 and allowed to travel abroad."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Dozens of liberal university professors dissmissed or forced to retire; politically non-compliant students banned from university ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20707]

"The government restricted academic freedom. In September President Ahmadinejad called for the removal of secular and liberal professors from universities. Reports indicated dozens of university professors were dismissed or forced to retire.

Student groups reported that during the year the government used a "star" system to rank politically active students--each star denoted a negative mark. Students with three stars were reportedly banned from university or prevented from registering for upcoming terms.Government informers were common on university campuses. Additionally, there were reports the government maintained a broad network of student informants in Qom's major seminaries who reported teaching counter to official government positions."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Hussein Qazian and Abbas Abdi were sentenced for a poll which found out that a majority of citizens supported dialogue with the US ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46058],  [ID 18602]

"In 2003 Hussein Qazian and Abbas Abdi (a revolutionary leader in 1979 who later became a reformist) were sentenced to nine years --later reduced--in the National Institute for Research Studies and Opinion Polls case. In 2002 judicial authorities closed the institute, which had found in a poll commissioned by the majles that a majority of citizens supported dialogue with the United States. Among other offenses, the defendants were charged with spying for a foreign power, although government intelligence officials and then President Khatami publicly stated they were not spies. The supreme court dismissed espionage charges against Abdi in May; at year's end Qazian was released on temporary furlough."

Document(s): Open document