Pressure on Universities, Code of Ethics, and Dormitory Deprivation; Students Will Not Turn Back

Government pressure on higher education in Iran continues with the suspension of a professor, the establishment of a facial recognition system for students in cafeterias, deprivation of some dormitories, security oversight at entrances, and the installation of a 'Code of Ethics' at universities. Najat Bahrami, an analyst on Iranian issues, told Voice of America that students and schoolchildren say they will not turn back from the path they have taken. According to a report from the Telegram channel of the National Student Guilds on Tuesday, October 3, coinciding with the start of the academic year, 'pressures and repression of students within universities' have increased. A visual report reflected on social media shows vehicles with camouflage appearances in the central campus of Tehran University, playing songs from the Iran-Iraq war era. On the other hand, according to the report from the National Student Guilds, banners titled 'Code of Ethics' have been installed in some universities and sent via SMS to 'all students,' introducing new restrictions on students' attire. Based on this report, 'female security forces' have been stationed at the entrance of the central campus of Tehran University, warning students about their attire and stating that 'girls are only allowed to enter the university with a hijab.' Meanwhile, 'the university president, along with security forces, welcomes students with flowers,' and according to this report, among them are individuals who 'had beaten students inside the university last year.' Similar reports have emerged from Amir Kabir University, Isfahan University of Art, Alzahra University, Allameh University, and Kharazmi University. According to a poster published on social media, Kerman University of Medical Sciences has also issued similar guidelines to control the attire of male and female students. The National Student Guilds channel also reported that at Shiraz University, a 'facial recognition system for students in cafeterias' has been established at a cost of '700 million tomans,' and although the reason given is 'cost management,' this report states that the main reason is 'to limit and control students more.' According to this report, 'in the next step, students will be forced to adjust their attire and appearance in a consistent and recognizable manner for these devices' to receive food in the university cafeteria, and 'given the involvement of security agencies in universities, this system could be used as a tool for repressing students.' Another report from universities indicates that at Tehran University, 'only a few students from the 98 entrance have been allocated dormitories,' and it is unclear where new students will be accommodated, as the university has stated that 'it has no obligation regarding dormitory allocation.' Additionally, according to news sources on Tuesday, October 3, Mostafa Azar Khshi, a faculty member of the Faculty of Theology and Religions, has been suspended from teaching at Beheshti University. According to estimates from a collection of human rights activists in Iran, at least 33 critical professors have been 'set aside or faced restrictions' in teaching at universities since late July 2023 for various reasons. Najat Bahrami, an analyst on Iranian issues, told Voice of America that at the beginning of the academic year and the reopening of educational centers, students and schoolchildren say they will not turn back from the path they have taken.