Five Officials from the Science and Research Unit of Azad University Dismissed

A special committee investigating the bus accident at the Science and Research Unit of Azad University announced on Wednesday, January 5, that five of the university's vice presidents and managers were dismissed due to "negligence" and "lack of attention." In the incident where a bus overturned on the internal premises of the Science and Research Unit in Tehran on Tuesday, January 4, ten people were killed and 25 others were injured. According to ISNA, the statement from the special committee stated that following the "negligence and lack of attention of some vice presidents and managers regarding oversight of outsourcing and ensuring the safety of student transportation, and the failure to verify the professional qualifications of the contractor," it was decided to dismiss the student vice president and the general director of student affairs, along with the head of the administrative and financial department at the time, the current administrative director, and the transportation manager who were the employer and supervisor of the student bus transportation outsourcing contract, and to refer them to the relevant legal authorities for dismissal. Additionally, two individuals were arrested in connection with the deadly accident, and the number of victims is expected to rise. The committee also emphasized that the investigation into the bus overturning and the resulting casualties would be pursued "without any political, group, or factional considerations." Meanwhile, the Tehran prosecutor earlier on the same day announced the arrest of two individuals related to the fatal bus accident at Azad University and summoned two officials from the Science and Research Unit to the prosecutor's office. According to the Tehran prosecutor, the investigator ordered the formation of a seven-member expert committee to investigate the cause of the accident, the condition of the road, the bus, and the driver's insurance status. Previously, the Tehran Bus Company had announced that the bus involved in the accident at the Science and Research Unit was not under its supervision. Following the incident, the president of Azad University ordered the formation of a special committee to investigate the incident, and all classes at the Science and Research Unit have been canceled, according to IRNA. The deaths of students in the bus overturning incident have brought attention to those who believe that the establishment of the Science and Research Unit in this area was a mistake from the beginning. In this regard, Ahmad Khorram, a former Minister of Roads and Transportation, stated: "The land of the Science and Research University was illegally seized at an altitude of 1800 meters, and they took pride in this bullying." According to ISNA, Ahmad Khorram added: "The plan to establish the Azad University Science and Research Unit in northwest Tehran was proposed during the fifth or sixth government and during the mayoralty of Mr. Karbaschi. This university was built at an altitude of over 1800 meters, which was under national resources, and construction there was legally considered unauthorized. At that time, I was the Minister of Roads and Transportation, and I was responsible for the strategic committee for greening the Alborz foothills, which opposed this project, but due to the support for Azad University, they seized a piece of land and then periodically took over dozens of hectares more." He pointed out that construction on slopes over 5 degrees is inherently dangerous, stating: "This university was built on unauthorized slopes in a snowy and icy area. When it becomes icy there, even a pedestrian slips, let alone a vehicle." In this context, Shahbanu Amani, head of the Safety Committee of the Tehran City Council, criticized the management of Azad University, saying that the university's managers spend budgets on "political areas and political maneuvering" instead of completing unfinished projects.