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Professor Dismissed for His Voice Prefers Sit-in to Hunger Strike

Jan 30, 2026 January 30, 2026 1 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

Ghasem Akseirifard, a former professor at Kharazmi University, claims he was dismissed due to the tone of his voice and has opted for a sit-in protest instead of a hunger strike. His case raises concerns about academic freedom and the criteria for faculty dismissal in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Akseirifard's protest underscores the precarious state of academic freedom in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Ghasem Akseirifard MENTIONED
Former physics professor at Kharazmi University
"His dismissal raises questions about academic freedom and the criteria for faculty evaluations in Iran."
Kharazmi University MENTIONED
Educational institution
"As a prominent university, its policies and decisions impact the academic landscape and freedom of expression in Iran."

📰 What Happened

Ghasem Akseirifard, a former professor, announced a sit-in protest after claiming he was dismissed due to the tone of his voice. He had initially planned a hunger strike but opted for a sit-in instead.

  • Akseirifard was ruled unfit for teaching by a university committee in 2014.
  • His research membership at the university remains unaffected.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This case highlights issues of academic freedom and the arbitrary nature of faculty dismissals, which can stifle intellectual discourse.
🌍 Regional: It may resonate with broader regional issues of freedom of expression and academic rights.
🌐 International: International observers may view this as indicative of Iran's restrictive policies on education and dissent.

📚 Background

Academic freedom in Iran is often challenged by government regulations and institutional policies, leading to dismissals based on arbitrary criteria.

Academic freedom in Iran Government censorship in education
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The article presents the facts of the case without overt bias, allowing readers to form their own opinions.

Ghasem Akseirifard, a former physics professor at Kharazmi University, who claims he was dismissed due to the tone of his voice, has announced that he will stage a sit-in every day from morning until evening in front of Kharazmi University. Mr. Akseirifard had previously stated that he would begin a hunger strike on Saturday. This university professor says that in September 2014, the committee for public qualifications at Kharazmi University issued a ruling stating that he is unable to convey concepts to students due to the tone of his voice. Mr. Akseirifard mentions that the ruling states he cannot be a member of the educational faculty, but his research membership at Kharazmi University is not an issue. In an interview with Radio Farda, this professor first answered the question of why he did not start his hunger strike on Saturday as he had previously stated.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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