One week after a group attacked Isfahan University of Medical Sciences due to a speech by Alireza Beheshti, Iran's Minister of Science stated that the ministry has "no blacklist for individuals attending speeches." Mansour Gholami, Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, said in an interview with ISNA news agency on Thursday, December 1, that some "licensing authorities" have informed student organizations intending to hold events that the invited individual is on the Ministry of Science's blacklist, but "the Ministry of Science has no blacklist." Since 1999, by order of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, holding any conference, speech, or debate in Iranian universities requires permission from a three-member committee, including the university president, the representative of the leader, and a representative from the Ministry of Science. According to the Minister of Science, if the three-member committee issues a permit for an event, "no one should object to this permit." However, despite the restrictions placed on the participation of many scholars and academics in such events, permitted events have repeatedly faced disruptions from groups. In the latest incident, last week, an event at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences related to Mohammad Beheshti, a senior official of the Islamic Republic in the early years of the Islamic Revolution, was disrupted due to a speech by his son, Alireza Beheshti. On the second day of the event, which was held to commemorate the 90th birthday of Mohammad Beheshti, Alireza Beheshti was scheduled to speak, but before his speech, a group of protesters stormed the hall and disrupted the event with slogans such as "Death to the instigator." In the official literature of the Islamic Republic, "instigator" refers to the protests and protesters against the results of the 2009 presidential election, and Alireza Beheshti, who was a senior advisor to Mir Hossein Mousavi in that election, was imprisoned for about three weeks. However, according to Ebrahim Rezaei, the cultural director of Isfahan University, this event was "permitted" and both "Isfahan University" and "Isfahan University of Medical Sciences" had granted permission for Alireza Beheshti's participation. The recent attack occurred on the eve of December 7, known in Iran as "Student Day." Mansour Gholami, the Minister of Science, stated regarding Student Day events that universities should support student meetings "within the framework of special laws and regulations" so that no issues arise in holding permitted and legally compliant programs. The restriction of the right to university education for some citizens of Iran, heavy sentences for students, and strict measures in university environments have repeatedly faced criticism from international organizations.
Minister of Science: We Do Not Have Any Blacklist for University Speakers
Iran's Minister of Science, Mansour Gholami, denied the existence of a blacklist for university speakers following an attack on an event featuring Alireza Beheshti. Despite official permits, protests and disruptions continue to challenge academic freedom in Iran, particularly around sensitive political figures. This highlights ongoing tensions between the government and academic institutions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An event at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences was disrupted by protesters due to a speech by Alireza Beheshti. Despite official permits, the event faced opposition, highlighting tensions around academic freedom and political sensitivities.
- The Ministry of Science claims there is no blacklist for university speakers.
- The disruption occurred despite the event having official permits.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iranian universities require permits for events, reflecting state control over academic activities. The 2009 election remains a sensitive topic, with figures associated with it facing ongoing scrutiny.
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