Scientific Associations of Four Universities Protest the Closure of the Iranian Sociological Association's Training Center: The Aim is to Prevent the 'Spread of Critical Ideas'

Scientific associations of sociology from several Iranian universities issued a statement condemning the Tehran municipality's decision to seal the Iranian Sociological Association's training center as 'unjust and illegal.' They emphasized that this action not only harms the scientific and research activities of the association but also inflicts an 'irreparable blow' to the scientific community in Iran. Members of the sociology associations from Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran University, Gilan University, and Yazd University stated that the aim of the 'policy of control and dominance over scientific institutions' is to prevent the 'spread of critical ideas' and declared that they will not accept such measures. The statement reads: 'The scientific community of the country will not succumb to authoritarian actions and will defend its civil rights.' Members of these associations noted that this action 'deprives citizens and scientific elites of their right to intervene in the social life of their city' and is detrimental to the entire society. The Iranian Sociological Association's training center was sealed off by the Tehran municipality without prior notice, and the association's equipment was removed from the building. This action has led to criticism of Tehran's mayor, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli. The Iranian Sociological Association has been active since the 1990s and has dozens of branches in various cities across the country. In recent months, the Tehran municipality has shut down dozens of reputable NGOs, social welfare charities, and research centers. In July, Tehran municipality agents attacked the building of the House of Human Sciences, leading to a several-day sit-in by members and employees and requests from prominent figures in the humanities to halt the eviction. The newspaper 'Ham-Mihan' reported that Tehran municipality officials claimed the 'legal deadline' for the Iranian Sociological Association's training center to utilize the property on Asad Abadi Street had expired, but the association argues that eviction notices were issued before their legal period had ended. Hossein Serajzadeh, the former head of this center, attributed the cause of these disputes to the 'personal and illegal' transfer of this office in 2013 by the then-mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. He referred to a decision by the previous Tehran city council stating that a list of locations should be made available to scientific associations, including the Iranian Sociological Association, and added: 'The new city council, which is controlled by the principlist faction, took office immediately after this decision and changed the previous approach.' The current president of the Iranian Sociological Association also stated that cooperation with the Tehran municipality has been cut off for the past three years. Saeed Moayedfar said: 'Despite our correspondence, they have not recognized the Iranian Sociological Association and have not responded to us.' The president of the Iranian Sociological Association has also regarded this issue as a form of 'anti-scientific, anti-civil stance by the Tehran municipality.' Criticism of the controversial Tehran mayor has increased; Zakhani has called critics a minority and dismissed their criticisms as incorrect. The closure of the Iranian Sociological Association's building by the municipality under Zakhani's management has led to the issuance of an 'eviction order' for the 'sociologists' association with over 500 members. The ongoing 'self-building' in universities has seen the dismissal of 25 professors from Tehran University over two years, focusing on the humanities. Speculation is rising regarding the collective resignation of ten members of the Tehran city council; the possibility of 'dissolution' of the council if Zakhani does not step down is also being discussed.