Little information on the above-mentioned topic could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

According to a professor of history at George Mason University, Islamic Councils do report on students wishing to enter university, but, in his opinion, these reports are filed to the universities themselves, not to Pasdaran (30 Aug. 2002). The professor stated that students with records of arrest could be prevented from going to university following a report filed by the Islamic Council (ibid.).

For information on character tests for applicants to universities in Iran, please consult IRN38777.E of 14 May 2002.

No information on the treatment by the Islamic Council of students who refuse to participate in pro-government demonstrations could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Professor of history. George Mason University, Virginia. 30 August 2002. Telephone interview.

Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Unsuccessful attempts at contacting a professor of history at Pace University

Unsuccessful attempts at contacting a professor of political science at California State University

Unsuccessful attempts at contacting a professor of political science at the University of Southern California

Unsuccessful attempts at contacting the Director of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran

Unsuccessful attempts at contacting the Marze Por-Gohar Party

Unsuccessful attempts at contacting the National Council of Resistance of Iran

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International (AI)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)
International Federation of Iranian Refugees. 1997.

A Critique of the Dutch Government's Position on Iran

Iran Human Rights Chronicle

Iran News Watch

The Iranian

Iranian Human Rights Working Group

Iranian Times

MERIP

Press Information Notes

Middle East Times
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCR).

Brief on Iran

Netiran.com
RFE/RL

Iran Report

Salam Iran

Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran

Virtual Iran

World News Connection

Search engines:

Google.com