Health Minister Claims 300 Expelled Students Have Returned to University

The Health Minister of the government of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that approximately 300 expelled students have returned to study in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science, claiming that around 60 of those had official orders and have started their studies. Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi stated in an interview with the state news agency IRNA that by reforming the guidelines, the possibility of 'temporary registration' for students was provided, allowing their cases to be reviewed again within a certain timeframe. Zafarghandi also mentioned that they followed up with professors who had 'mandatory retirement' and were 'willing to return to the university.' However, the Minister of Health did not provide any statistics on the professors who have returned to the university, leaving the criticisms of Ghalibaf's government regarding the unfulfilled promises to reinstate expelled professors unresolved. Masoud Pezeshkian had previously stated at the introduction ceremony of the former and new ministers of science that all professors who had their contracts canceled or were expelled should be reviewed and students should be reinstated. In this regard, the acting head of Tarbiat Modares University announced on November 29 that all students and 'problematic professors' of this university have returned, noting that 'this return does not include individuals with definitive judicial cases.' As the policies of the Islamic Republic regarding universities continue, concerns about the intensification of the brain drain crisis from Iran have increased, with statistics indicating a significant portion of the skilled workforce's desire to leave the country. On December 2, Hossein Simaei Sarraf, the Minister of Science of the Islamic Republic, acknowledged that in recent years '25 percent of professors' have emigrated. Following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of the 'morality police' and the protests of 'Women, Life, Freedom,' pressure from Islamic Republic officials on students who were at the forefront of the protests, as well as on supportive professors, has increased, resulting in many of these professors being suspended, expelled, or forced into retirement. Additionally, some other professors were sidelined from teaching due to not aligning with the university heads appointed by the government of Ebrahim Raisi. The brain drain crisis from Iran continues; 25 percent of university professors have emigrated. The government spokesperson: 'The sea deer is not detained; it is in the treatment phase.' Prevention of 200 students from entering Amir Kabir University under the pretext of not adhering to mandatory hijab. An expelled professor from Tehran University announced the confirmation of his suspension. 'Hijab monitors are still stationed at the entrance of Tehran University.' Pezeshkian's promise for the return of expelled academics; a group of professors: no effective action has been taken.