Letters from 'Two Advisors to the President of Tarbiat Modares University' Exposed for Suppressing Student Protests

Leaked documents from Tarbiat Modares University reveal that two advisors to the university president sent letters to higher authorities requesting the suppression of student protests during the nationwide protests of 2022. According to images published from these letters on Sunday, July 30, in the channel of the National Student Guild Councils, 'Rasoul Hoshamand', who is the commander of the Basij resistance forces for university staff and also an advisor to the university president, not only sent letters to higher officials for the 'suppression of student protests' but also played a 'direct role' in organizing Basij members at the university to suppress student protests. Additionally, 'Mohammad Hossein Parkareh', an active Basij member and advisor to the university president on veterans and disabled affairs, was another individual 'active in suppressing students at Tarbiat Modares University', who, according to this report, was appointed to this position based on his 'relation to Farhad Daneshju, the university president'. The report emphasizes that Rasoul Hoshamand and Mohammad Hossein Parkareh secretly submitted a list of 'Basij members and suppression elements' to officials at the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology on November 8, 2022, who were stationed 'in all faculties' with the aim of 'spying and photographing students'. A published letter also shows that a report of 'names and details' of several students was provided, who were 'requested to be dealt with'. The confrontation with protesting students comes at a time when, during the peak of student protests, officials of the Islamic Republic, including the government spokesperson, were present at universities promising 'dialogue' and asking protesters to end their protests, while simultaneously arresting many of them and issuing academic bans and preventing protesting students from entering the university and dormitory environments. In parallel with the ongoing violent confrontations with protesting students, several professors supporting the nationwide protests have been threatened, suspended, or dismissed from their jobs. In this context, on July 16, a group of medical professionals and faculty members from medical universities expressed concern in a statement about a 'coordinated plan to dismiss prominent professors simultaneously with forced retirements or restrictions on other groups'. Parviz Sayad, an Iranian actor and filmmaker who graduated in economics from Tehran University, recently stated in an interview with Voice of America that 'the widespread movement of women, life, freedom will ultimately triumph over the Islamic Republic', adding 'we are hopeful for the future' and noted, 'Students and artists who are paying the price are sending us a message not to remain silent.'