Protest Gathering by Students at Tehran University

A group of students at Tehran University gathered on Tuesday, December 7, in protest against the labor issues in Iranian universities. According to ILNA news agency, the protesting students chanted slogans such as "Our demand is clear - commodification is condemned," "University is a money-making machine - weakening the workers," and "Support, support, the principled student." ILNA did not mention the number of participants in the Tehran University gathering but added that placards with writings like "The logic of capitalism - exploitation and forced labor," "Freedom of thought cannot be achieved with tanks and banks," "Gender discrimination is condemned - it is condemned," and "Student - worker - unity, unity" were held by the protesters. According to the report, a statement titled "Comprehensive Statement of Students of the Country on Student Day" was read during this gathering. The statement criticized the economic policies of the past few decades by "legislators and executors" that have plundered the fruits of the lives of students' parents, stating: "Unemployment, exploitation, and job insecurity are rampant, and health, treatment, and housing have become expensive commodities that many people cannot afford to buy." Reports from various media in Iran indicate a worsening economic situation for a significant portion of Iranian society. These reports also mention that the monthly living costs for households have increased to over three million tomans. According to ILNA, the authors of the statement noted that their "right to shout and protest" has also been "taken away," adding: "The ears are not listening to the many pains of the workers in society, and... justice and freedom have now both been relegated to oblivion." In this statement, while criticizing "class and gender discrimination," "local selection, gender selection, and educational guidance" in universities, along with "commodification of public education and the expansion of non-profit schools, educational institutions, and private classes," it was stated that this situation has "strengthened the foundations of discrimination in universities." According to this statement, "The consequences of the commodification of education have resulted in not only the children of lower classes being burdened with heavy educational costs while studying at university, but also gradually being deprived of entering university or failing to complete their university education." The statement introduced the "mass production of holders of university degrees without expertise" as a small part of the results of the current situation in universities. The authors of the statement noted that in recent months, disciplinary committees and university security, alongside external security institutions, have stood firmly to silence the independent voices of students. In recent years, a number of university professors and independent student organizations have criticized the securitization of university environments. They have also emphasized the necessity of "comprehensive organization of labor councils" to stand against "anti-student programs and laws" and to connect "student labor protests with the struggles of workers, teachers, women, and all the marginalized and excluded from society."