Punishment of Protesting Academics; Council Under Ali Khamenei Makes Students' and Professors' Right to Seek Justice Impossible

Shargh, in an article by Milad Alavi, referred to a new resolution by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council stating: "This resolution effectively removes all decisions made by universities and educational institutions from the jurisdiction of the Administrative Justice Court and other judicial authorities." According to the report, this resolution, finalized and announced with the agreement of the heads of the branches of government, practically deprives students and professors of their right to seek justice and redress against university decisions, contrary to the Constitution. Based on this resolution, objections to decisions made by boards of trustees, professors' evaluation committees, student disciplinary committees, student recruitment committees, etc., will be handled not by the Administrative Justice Court, but by a committee composed of the Ministers of Science and Health, the President of Azad University, the Secretary of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, and others. Shargh reported that this resolution was passed despite Article 173 of the Constitution, which designates the Administrative Justice Court as the authority for public grievances against decisions made by institutions. Additionally, this resolution contradicts Articles 34 and 159 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to seek justice and redress for the people. Milad Alavi further noted: "Interestingly, this resolution was issued for implementation by Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the thirteenth government, at a time when, according to Clause 6 of Article 3 of the Constitution, one of the government's duties is to eliminate any monopolistic practices by various agencies." Legal experts believe that the resolution of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council contradicts the Constitution, but there is no possibility for objection because, according to Note 2 of Article 12 of the 'Law on the Organization of the Administrative Justice Court,' the review of the resolutions of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council is outside the jurisdiction of the Administrative Justice Court. Student activists consider this resolution a punishment for universities by officials and believe that it also contradicts the principle of fair trial. This report comes as government officials and members of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council have yet to respond officially to the criticisms raised regarding this resolution. The wave of dismissals of professors and students intensified following the nationwide protests in 2022 in reaction to the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the 'Guidance Patrol' and the involvement of students and professors in opposing the Islamic Republic as a whole. Members of seven scientific associations in the country issued a statement on September 10, warning about the "widespread dismissal of professors and security crackdowns on students," stating that the gradual and currently accelerating "dissolution" of the institution of science exacerbates the current dismal inefficacy of the governing system. Arrests and convictions of several protesters, students, and artists in Iran continue, with protests against prison sentences for Zia Nobari and Hasti Amiri highlighting a series of repressions in universities. Collective resignations are taking place ahead of the anniversary of the attack on Sharif University, protesting the interference of a security agency. There are contradictions in the statements of officials from the Ministry of Science, from claims of an "expelled professor's involvement in riots" to the expelled professors "not filing complaints." Dozens of university professors have been sidelined in Iran over the past two years, with continued pressure on professors supporting protesters; Mostafa Azarakhshi, a theology professor at Beheshti University, was dismissed. Hassan Bagherinia, a dismissed professor, stated after being summoned to court: this is the "decline of the university in the sacred Islamic system." A theology professor at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad was dismissed following his "support for students' rights."