Also available in Persian — نسخه فارسی EN فا
❓ Unknown

Claim by a Media Outlet in Iran; A 'Famous' Mourner Becomes a Professor at the University of Tehran

Feb 6, 2026 February 6, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Saeed Hadadian, a prominent mourner, has been appointed as a professor at the University of Tehran amid a trend of expelling critical faculty members. This move reflects ongoing efforts to align higher education with the Islamic Republic's ideology. The situation raises concerns about academic freedom and the quality of education in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The appointment of a regime loyalist as a professor highlights the ongoing suppression of dissent in Iranian higher education.

👥 Key Players

Saeed Hadadian MENTIONED
Newly appointed professor at the University of Tehran
"His appointment reflects the regime's efforts to control academic discourse and promote loyalty to the Islamic Republic."
Kazem Alamdari MENTIONED
Writer and sociologist
"His comments highlight the regime's fear of dissent and the importance of academic freedom."
Ali Sharifi Zarqi MENTIONED
Expelled professor from Sharif University of Technology
"His election to a significant academic position underscores the ongoing resistance against the regime's policies."

📰 What Happened

Saeed Hadadian, a prominent mourner, has been appointed as a professor at the University of Tehran, amidst a trend of expelling critical faculty members. This reflects the regime's strategy to align higher education with its ideological goals.

  • Hadadian will teach a course titled 'Analysis of Stability Texts'.
  • 157 professors have been removed from Iranian universities over the past 18 years due to their critical views.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The appointment signifies a further erosion of academic freedom and the imposition of ideological conformity in education.
🌍 Regional: It may influence how other countries in the region view governance and academic independence.
🌐 International: The situation raises concerns about human rights and the quality of education in Iran, impacting international relations.

📚 Background

Iran's higher education system has faced significant changes, with many critical professors being expelled to promote a more ideologically aligned faculty. This trend threatens academic freedom and the quality of education.

Academic freedom in Iran Political purges in educational institutions
📡 Source: OPPOSITION
📊 Confidence: 70%
Ensaaf News is viewed as an opposition media outlet, which may reflect a critical perspective on the Iranian government.

In the continuation of the 'homogenization' of higher education, the expulsion of old and critical professors from universities, and the recruitment of individuals supportive of the Islamic Republic as university instructors; Saeed Hadadian, one of the well-known mourners, has also become a 'professor' at the University of Tehran. The website 'Ensaaf News' claimed on Tuesday that 'the University of Tehran has assigned a specialized course to Ali Asghar Hadadian Nayini, known as Saeed Hadadian, for teaching in the new semester.' According to this news website, Hadadian is set to teach the course 'Analysis of Stability Texts.' In recent weeks, alongside the expulsion of professors, reports have emerged about the recruitment of government-affiliated figures, including Sajjad Safar Harandi, son of Mohammad Hossein Safar Harandi, the former editor of Kayhan and Minister of Culture in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, Amir Hossein Sabati, a presenter on the 'Ofogh' network of state television, and Abbas Mozoun, another presenter from state television, as university professors. Kazem Alamdari, a writer and sociologist, stated in an interview with VOA about the recent wave of university professor expulsions: 'The Islamic Republic fears the awareness of the people.' Yesterday, Ali Sharifi Zarqi, an expelled professor from Sharif University of Technology, announced in a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter) that he has been elected as the head of the scientific committee for the International Computer Olympiad. The aftermath of the expulsion of 'protesting' professors; from accusations of 'ethical issues' to encouragement for 'greater decisiveness.' The protests of teachers' unions against the expulsion of activist professors; 'Cancel all unjust rulings.' Contradictions in the statements of Ministry of Science officials: from claims of 'the expelled professor's participation in riots' to expelled professors 'not filing complaints.' The policy of 'homogenizing the higher education system' in the Islamic Republic; 157 professors have been removed in the past 18 years.

🌐

Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

📰 Related Coverage

⚖️ Independent Platform — Artesh.com is not affiliated with any government, military, or political organization. Editorial Policy →