Academic Arrested In Iran For 'Insulting Sanctities'

A university professor has been arrested in Iran for allegedly insulting religious sanctities, an official said.

Sadeghi Niaraki, a prosecutor in the northwestern city of Ghazvin, told the Mizan news agency on March 2 that the unnamed professor at the city's Imam Khomeini International University had "insulted sanctities" during his classes.

Mizan is affiliated with Iran’s judiciary.

Niaraki said the incident happened "a while ago."

He did not provide more details.

The same charge has been brought in the past against intellectuals, activists and religious minorities in Iran, which is ruled by a conservative Muslim establishment founded shortly after the 1979 revolution.

Based on reporting by Mizan