Khatami: We All Expect University Spaces to Become More Open

Mohammad Khatami, the former President of Iran, noted that after Hassan Rouhani's election as president, the atmosphere in universities has become 'somewhat better.' He added, 'We all expect to see a better and more open atmosphere in universities.' In a meeting with members of the Islamic Association of Tehran University and Medical Sciences, Khatami emphasized the 'expectations' for a 'better and more open' environment in universities, stating that 'a university and a student that cannot criticize is dead.' He remarked, 'Of course, we should not ask everything from Mr. Rouhani; other officials must also have the courage to understand that they have become responsible based on the slogans that Mr. President presented and were elected on.' According to a report on Sunday, October 5, on Khatami's website, he also pointed to the 'very' limited political activities of reformists and expressed hope that with the 'opening' of the political atmosphere during the elections, a 'capable,' 'healthy,' and 'aligned' parliament with the government would come to power. Khatami also stressed that Rouhani's government is 'under significant pressure and attack,' yet the president 'has remained true to his slogans and has not backed down.' Since Rouhani's government took office, some student organizations and political figures have called for an end to the 'security' atmosphere in universities. Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly spoken to students about his government's efforts to 'distance' universities from a security atmosphere. Student political activities were one of the reasons for the impeachment and dismissal of Reza Faraji Dana, the former Minister of Science, in August of last year. Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, a representative from Tehran in parliament, stated that some members of parliament fear the 'opening of freedom of expression in universities and the elimination of the security atmosphere in universities.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has previously asked officials in the Ministry of Science to prevent political movements in universities after Rouhani's government took office. During Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's eight-year presidency, many reports emerged of student expulsions or forced retirements of professors due to political activities. A large number of students were also arrested during protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, and some, including student activist Bahareh Hedayat, remain imprisoned. Dozens of professors from reputable universities worldwide have sent an open letter to the president and the head of Iran's judiciary, calling for the end of this student activist's imprisonment. 'The government is in an extraordinary predicament,' Khatami lamented in another part of his speech, expressing 'regret' over the 'destruction' of Rouhani's government in 'pulpits and state media.' He noted that 'the government is in an extraordinary predicament.' Referring to nuclear negotiations and the two paths of war and negotiation, he added, 'Those who want to fight, do they have the capacity, and has any war ever yielded a desirable result for the victor or the vanquished?' Khatami emphasized, 'From the day after the agreement, some who witnessed the consumption of over $700 billion and a negative growth of over 5% and zero employment and 45% inflation, did not say a word and now they are trying to catch the government for why prices have not dropped. Can that 45% inflation be reduced to zero overnight?' Previously, some political figures criticized what they called the silence of conservatives in the face of Ahmadinejad's government's actions. Among them, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of the Expediency Discernment Council, stated on Tuesday, September 2, that those who elevated Ahmadinejad 'to a level of sanctity should answer how they allowed such a deviation in the Islamic Revolution to occur.' Rafsanjani also emphasized in June that the clergy is 'culpable' in introducing and supporting Ahmadinejad and that many of them have not yet stopped supporting him.