New Regulations for Hiring University Faculty; Participation in Protests or Signing Anti-Regime Statements Prevents Employment

A review of the latest employment regulations for university faculty members issued by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology indicates that hiring faculty members has become more stringent with security filters, and recruitment of individuals associated with or active in recent social protests is prohibited. According to the text of the regulations published on the 'Shenasnameh Gavan' website, a lack of membership, affiliation, or support for political and non-political groups 'opposed and hostile to the Islamic Republic' is one of the conditions for acceptance into the faculty. Additionally, 'not engaging in activities against the Islamic Republic, participating in protests and riots against the Islamic Republic of Iran, or signing anti-Islamic Republic statements' is also listed as another condition for acceptance. Having no disciplinary record in the university's 'Security' committee and adhering to complete dress code and hijab are other emphasized points in these regulations. Experts believe that the Islamic Republic's approach in higher education institutions and universities aims to homogenize management and educational circles to better control student protest movements. This trend has intensified following the nationwide uprising in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the 'Guidance Patrol.' Accordingly, Voice of America reported in Azar 1402 (December 2023) on the summons, suspension, expulsion, case fabrication, and forced exile of students and professors across Iran under the pretext of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' uprising. The report emphasized that existing evidence indicates systematic security pressures on universities, with traces of organizations such as the Ministry of Intelligence, the IRGC Intelligence Organization, and the Judiciary's Security Protection seen in all these suppressions. The Voice of America report stated: 'It seems that the Iranian government is determined to complete the project of purifying universities; for this reason, 32,000 adjunct professors from Islamic Azad University have been expelled.' In Esfand of last year, media reported that over 25 professors were expelled from Tehran University alone in two years, most of whom were graduates or activists in the humanities. Consequently, the 'Khabar Online' website reported on Bahman 18, 1402 (February 2024) that these expulsions continue midway through the academic year. Members of seven scientific associations in the country issued a statement on Shahrivar 19, 1402 (September 2023) warning about 'widespread expulsions of professors and security crackdowns on students,' stating that the gradual and currently accelerating 'dissolution' of the institution of science exacerbates the current deplorable inefficacy of the governing system. Following widespread expulsions, the Ministry of 'Science, Research, and Technology' issued a call for faculty recruitment in Shahrivar 1402 (September 2023), allowing for the first time those with doctoral degrees and 'without military service completion cards' to register, provided they had no military service absences. In the wake of the nationwide protests of 1401 (2022) that began with the central slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom,' many students joined the protesters, and several university professors supported them. In response, the Islamic Republic government suppressed the protesters and students, expelling many professors who were not aligned with its policies and figures supporting the protests from the universities. The Islamic Republic's approach to universities has also led to a decline in their global rankings. The Shanghai ranking system in 2023 shows that the status of Tehran University, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Sharif University of Technology, Tarbiat Modares University, and Iran University of Science and Technology has declined compared to 2022. The new academic year is approaching with a shortage of 80,000 teachers as the government tightens its grip on academics; Solmaz Akbarzadeh, a law professor in Bushehr, was expelled, and Zahra Mousavi, the daughter of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard, was expelled from the university. The anniversary of the government forces' attack on the university neighborhood; Prince Reza Pahlavi: The case of 'that crime' remains open for investigation in the national court. The retirement of 72,000 teachers and a shortage of 176,000 instructors in the new academic year. Amir Kabir Newsletter's statistical report on the suppression of students; over seventy thousand students participated in nationwide protests. A union official speaks of 'government interference in universities'; the Ministry of Interior instructs universities. Summoning students due to activities on social media. Islamic Azad University's directive; prevent 'disruptors of decorum' from entering the university. The president of Tehran University of Medical Sciences denied the expulsion of professors; 'we had no expelled professors.'