Note: Paranoia of Espionage and the Future of Academic Research in Iran

The arrest of several researchers and environmental activists on charges of 'espionage' and the ambiguous death of Kavous Seyed Emami, a university professor in prison, has once again turned the discussion about the relationship between universities and the world of science with politics and security issues into an important current topic in Iran. Although the sudden death of this university professor in custody and the status of other detainees remain shrouded in ambiguity, judicial officials are violating the most basic legal and ethical principles by accusing Seyed Emami and others of 'espionage' and having connections with 'foreign countries' without any right to defense and in a one-sided manner. This heavy accusation has not been proven in any court, nor has any convincing evidence been provided for it so far. At the same time, contradictory statements from judicial officials and members of parliament regarding what has happened in prison, the prevention of an autopsy of Kavous Seyed Emami's lifeless body, and the restrictions imposed on his lawyer and family raise numerous unanswered questions about the reasons for his detention and the circumstances of his death. Among these questions is: if he was indeed a spy and committed suicide, then what is the reason for these contradictions, concealments, and the prevention of access for his family and lawyer to the medical and legal files, as well as the one-sided propaganda against him and others in state media? The university and the accusation of espionage, alongside the ambiguities and numerous unanswered questions regarding the reasons and details of these arrests and what has happened in prison, have led to reports circulating in social media that exacerbate concerns. It is said that the main reason for Seyed Emami's death was his research on the very negative role of large construction projects, including unprofessional dam construction, in harming the environment. These projects have mostly been carried out by the IRGC. Other reports also indicate research on the impact of nuclear activities on the environment, which is said to have angered security and military forces. Although ambiguities, security concealment, and lack of transparency in events reduce the possibility of accurate judgment and verification of published news, these events are very bad and negative news for academic research and the academic environment in Iran and its relationship with the world. The ambiguous death of an academic in prison, although primarily a human rights and legal issue, also raises the issue of the rights and academic freedoms of researchers and the independence of research work and universities. How a university professor and his colleagues in the environmental field end up in prison, where an unbelievable suicide incident occurs, is an important issue for universities and research. What has been heard so far from officials or the 'evidence' presented in a documentary program against Kavous Seyed Emami not only does not help clarify ambiguities but also raises more doubts about the real motives behind these bitter events. Especially since the understanding of Iranian officials regarding espionage and being a spy is very peculiar and elastic, and the definitions of espionage in Iran include cases that may be rarely found in other countries, to the extent that military officials have stated, 'We have spies who do not even know they are spies.' For years, the scientific and research relationship of Iran with the outside world, especially with Western universities, has been under security scrutiny and viewed with suspicion. Although this sensitivity is understandable in very specific military areas and exists in other countries as well, the unprecedented expansion of the power of security forces and their student arm (Basij) in Iran encompasses all academic fields from humanities to basic and technical sciences. This is not the first time that Iranian academics have been accused of espionage (in the specific interpretation of Iranian officials). In fact, for years, the scientific and research relationship of Iran with the outside world, especially with Western universities, has been under security scrutiny and viewed with suspicion. Although this sensitivity is understandable in very specific military areas and exists in other countries as well, the unprecedented expansion of the power of security forces and their student arm (Basij) in Iran encompasses all academic fields from humanities to basic and technical sciences. In Iranian universities, a large organization called 'Herasat' has existed for years, whose main task is to monitor the activities of professors and students, finding instances of 'deviation,' 'Westernization,' and 'espionage.' Security forces also intervene in the administrative and academic files of professors, and their promotions are impossible without the green light from this apparatus. The shadow of Herasat and security forces over universities has led to a situation where the main power in Iranian universities is held by those who understand neither the requirements of research and academic freedoms nor the work of education. They view everything through a security and ideological lens and find excuses to harass and intimidate non-affiliated professors whenever necessary. Sometimes a simple relationship with a Western university can be suspicious, and an attempt to transfer 'sensitive information' can be perceived as a pretext for harassing an academic. For example, someone who raises a topic about social harms in Iran at an international congress can be accused by security and Herasat forces of blackening the image before the enemy or leaking confidential data. For this reason, participation in congresses and scientific meetings is monitored by Herasat, and individuals must respond to security officials regarding their participation in scientific meetings or contacts. In large international academic meetings, sometimes individuals are sent to spy on the event to see what Iranian academics are saying, who they are contacting, and what activities they are engaged in. Joint work with research centers in other countries is also subject to this security scrutiny and restrictions. Obtaining visas by foreign researchers is done under the direct supervision of security agencies. The nature of work of a foreign research center, its officials, or the scientific network it contacts, and even the religion and nationality of individuals can cause trouble for an Iranian researcher collaborating with that center. One of the main reasons for the limited contacts of Iranian scientific centers with major universities worldwide is this security perspective and the real or pretextual fear of 'espionage.' This police state atmosphere and the heavy shadow of Herasat over academic life have become part of the reality of academic life in Iran. Professors must be very cautious during foreign trips to avoid giving Herasat an excuse, as the Damocles sword of 'suspicion,' 'espionage,' and 'relationship with the enemy' and similar accusations hangs over all non-affiliated individuals, especially those who go to the West. However, all evidence indicates that what has happened to Kavous Seyed Emami and other recent detainees goes beyond all previous forms of police control and oversight. This time, the discussion is about prisons, human lives, torture, and heavy espionage charges within the judicial system, whose actors are more concerned with cooperating and aligning with security and military agencies than upholding the law and defending people's rights. In fact, if in the past the problem was limited to warnings, denial of promotions and study opportunities, strictness, and disapproval of foreign travel, now Herasat and military forces, in collusion with the judiciary, have drawn their swords, and it does not seem they want to be accountable to anyone. Mr. Rouhani's critical remarks about the strictness and suspicions against academics indicate that even he, as president, is more of an observer and cannot do much in such case fabrications, and those who easily stamp the 'espionage' label on others are backed by someone else. The number of foreign students worldwide has increased from about one million to five million over the past four decades, with 85% studying in advanced industrial countries... The behavior of military, security, and judicial officials towards Iranian academics signifies nothing but further isolation of higher education and research centers in Iran. The possibility of scientific espionage in sensitive research centers exists worldwide, and some research centers control their international relations in very specific areas. However, the number of these cases is very small, and we have witnessed unprecedented growth in international relations in the field of research and education over the past few decades. The number of foreign students worldwide has increased from about one million to five million over the past four decades, with 85% studying in advanced industrial countries. In just three European countries—France, Germany, and the UK—there are over one million foreign students, the US hosts about 800,000 foreign students and researchers, and in some countries like Switzerland, over 20% of students are foreign. The number of professors and researchers exchanged among the world's universities exceeds 500,000. Hundreds of thousands of academics also share their research findings with the global academic community at scientific meetings worldwide. Today, the exchange of students, researchers, and professors, as well as scientific exchange and joint research projects, has become one of the main criteria for scientific dynamism in higher education and an important index in the ranking of reputable universities. While the whole world is seeking to develop international scientific relations and attract guest researchers and foreign students, the behavior of military, security, and judicial officials towards Iranian academics signifies nothing but further isolation of higher education and research centers in Iran. The prevailing police and security atmosphere in universities has effectively poisoned the spirit of the university and scientific work. Incidents like the death of Kavous Seyed Emami further add to the weight of the academic atmosphere in Iran and the profound distrust and fear that exists.