Increased Pressure on Universities; Salami's Claim: All 'Enemy' Efforts Are Focused on Universities

Simultaneously with the intensification of pressures on students and the expulsion and suspension of several professors, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that 'enemies' have made universities their center with the aim of 'dominating the thoughts and beliefs of the youth.' According to Fars News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, Hossein Salami claimed on Tuesday, October 4, that 'enemies' view the university as 'the focal point of all their efforts' to 'distort minds, conquer hearts, dominate the space of thought and beliefs of our youth.' The term 'enemy' in the vocabulary of Iranian officials usually refers to the United States, Israel, and European countries. These statements by the Commander of the IRGC coincide with increased pressures on higher education institutions in Iran. As reported by the 'National Student Guild Councils' channel, on Tuesday afternoon, the security of Kharazmi University prevented a student from entering the university 'under the pretext of hijab' and along with 'shouting, insults, and physical assault.' According to this report, the security agents did not have an entry ban for this student, and the 'physical confrontation' and prohibition of his entry by security was carried out 'in an illegal process.' The Student Guild Council of Kharazmi University, in protest against this action by the security officials, emphasized in a letter to the university president the need for 'necessary action' against the security officer, stating that 'the university security has no right to prevent a student from entering the university.' In the context of governmental pressure on the higher education space in Iran, several professors have been expelled or suspended, officials in some universities have launched a facial recognition system for students in cafeterias, some students have been deprived of the right to have dormitories, and in some higher education centers, an 'ethical charter' has been published. Additionally, Naja Bahrami, an analyst on Iranian issues, told Voice of America that students and schoolchildren say they will not return to the path they have taken. Saeed Ghavami, a professor at the University of Manitoba, in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America, referred to four decades of 'lack of meritocracy in universities' and hiring faculty members without scientific criteria, stating: 'The situation has always been this bad, and in the past two years, it has become much worse.' Farshid Norouzi Roshnavand stated that the government will again fail in suppressing students and professors. Reports from the Associated Press on the suppression of universities and the security atmosphere in Iran mark the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. The ongoing pressure and repression include mandatory retirement of professors, deprivation of education, and detention of students. In the lead-up to the anniversary of the protests, 15 students from Birjand University have been suspended for one semester, and there has been a wave of protests against the expulsion of professors, with the president of Sharif University claiming it was a 'legal' action.