Intervention of Security at Sharif University of Technology in Students' 'Life Affairs'; Facial Recognition Cameras Installed in Girls' Dormitory

As the pressures and restrictions on students in Iran continue, the secretary of the Islamic Association of Sharif University of Technology announced the installation of facial recognition cameras in various locations of the university, including the entrance to the girls' dormitory. Ali Karimi stated in an interview with the 'Jamaran' website that the aim of installing the cameras is to control mandatory hijab compliance and monitor students' 'movement times.' He emphasized that after the approval of the 'Disciplinary Guidelines 1401,' the university's security is intervening 'in all aspects' of students' lives. This 'disciplinary guideline' was designed in November 2022, a few weeks after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police and the protests in Iran, with the goal of undermining the student atmosphere and suppressing political and social activities at the university, facilitating increased crackdowns on students and professors. Karimi noted that following the nationwide protests of 2022, 330 students from this university were summoned to the disciplinary committee, and 60 received sentences, with at least 20 students facing suspension from studies. He mentioned that several students have been summoned by security due to their online activities, attire, and similar issues, and have been threatened, with some parents also being contacted. The crackdown on campus is not limited to students, as professors who have supported their students or the nationwide protests have also faced repercussions. Karimi stated that the promotion process for 70 faculty members at Sharif has been halted, leaving them in limbo. He added that 'the performance of the recruitment committee lacks transparency, making it unclear what the criteria are for faculty promotions, and even its members are not specified.' He also referred to a wave of faculty migration over the past three years, noting that 10 to 15 percent of the university's faculty have emigrated, which translates to about 60 to 70 professors out of 450. Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of the 14th government of the Islamic Republic, and his ministers have promised to resolve the issues faced by professors and students and facilitate their return to universities. However, little has changed so far. Previously, the secretary of the Islamic Association of Tehran University and Tehran University of Medical Sciences had also stated that 'hijab enforcers are still stationed at the entrance gates,' causing humiliation and distress among students. Alireza Hashemi-Bafaqi told the 'Ham-Mihan' newspaper that despite the reduction of warnings outside university spaces, 'warnings about hijab are still given at Tehran University,' emphasizing that 'no positive changes have occurred in this regard.' Recently, 31 student organizations wrote a letter to the ministers of science and health of the 14th government, pointing out that some students are still imprisoned, some are awaiting prison sentences, some have stars (indicating disciplinary actions), some have been expelled, and many have been deprived of education by disciplinary committees, demanding the cancellation of illegal actions, nullification of sentences, and the removal of barriers limiting student organization activities. The disciplinary committees of Alzahra and Tehran universities have condemned two female students to deprivation of education. Kharazmi University stated that forming virtual groups of over 100 people requires permission; pressures on students in Iran are increasing. Protests against the 'suppression' of optional hijab continue; some students at Amir Kabir University have refrained from attending classes. Summoning students due to their activities on social media continues. Disciplinary actions against students in Iran persist; suspensions from studies are being issued for attending parties. Continued actions against students; suspensions and exile sentences have been issued for four students at Tehran University and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Increased pressures and summons of students; student councils across the country state that this is 'unprecedented' and is justified under the guise of hijab enforcement. The government's efforts to impose 'mandatory hijab' in universities; identifying 'improper hijab' with facial recognition cameras.