Statement by a Group of Civil Activists and University Professors; Demand for the Expulsion of Hossein Mousavian from Princeton University

A group of activists and former political prisoners, human rights advocates, and university professors have issued a press statement calling for the expulsion of Hossein Mousavian, a diplomat and former official of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from Princeton University in the United States. This group, titled 'Alliance Against Defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran', states in their statement that 'Mousavian's dark past and his connections to state terrorism and human rights violations necessitate decisive action from Princeton University. It is essential to note that the U.S. Department of State has designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, which intensifies our urgent request for accountability and action.' The statement continues that 'Mousavian, as the editor of Tehran Times, played a central role in facilitating the regime's propaganda apparatus and helped cover up and deny the crimes of the Islamic regime during its formative years.' According to the signatories of this statement, 'In his role as editor, Mousavian actively contributed to suppressing the truth and manipulating public perception of facts, thereby further consolidating the regime's grip on power through misinformation and censorship.' The signatories remind that 'this history of propaganda and complicity in human rights violations underscores the profound ethical implications of Mousavian's association with Princeton University and casts a dark shadow over the reputation and credibility of this institution.' The statement goes on to say that 'during the seven years Mousavian served as an ambassador for the Islamic Republic, over 23 Iranians were killed in terrorist attacks on European soil organized by the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the targeted assassination of Kurdish leaders in Vienna and the Mykonos restaurant in Berlin. These heinous acts highlight the direct implications of Mousavian's involvement in Iran's state terrorism and his role in organizing violence against innocent civilians.' According to this group, 'Mousavian's involvement in the assassination of Iranian dissidents became evident during witness testimonies in a German court. His role in organizing violence against innocent civilians is a testament to his complicity in Iran's malevolent activities and further illustrates the dangers of his continued presence at Princeton University.' The group further added: 'In light of these alarming revelations, we urge Princeton University to demonstrate its commitment to ethical and academic principles by immediately terminating Mousavian's employment. By continuing its association with an individual of such a dark background, Princeton tarnishes its reputation and undermines the trust of students, faculty, and the community.' The group has also requested Princeton University to 'publish all correspondence and contracts related to Mousavian that led to his hiring, financial information from donors to his program, and trips he has made to Iran since joining Princeton.' According to the Alliance Against Defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 'Mousavian's continued presence on campus is indefensible and inconsistent with the academic, human rights, and accountability standards that Princeton claims to uphold.' This press statement also includes comments from Parviz Dashtmalchi, Golaleh Sharafkandi, Dr. Narges Eskandari, Dr. Majid Mohammadi, Dr. Farhad Keyvan, Mina Ahadi, Behrouz Asadi, and Ladan Bazargan, who have shared their personal experiences and views about Hossein Mousavian. This collective statement comes at a time when the U.S. House of Representatives recently began investigating Mousavian's role at Princeton University. He is said to be suspected of attempting to advance the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the U.S. According to Fox News, this investigation was initiated following Mousavian's speech at the annual U.S. Strategic Command conference last September. Based on this report, twelve Republican members of the 'House Education and Labor Committee' sent a letter to the president of Princeton University, raising detailed questions and expressing concerns about the 'infiltration of the Islamic Republic' through Mousavian's activities at this prominent New Jersey university. Following Mousavian's speech at the annual U.S. Strategic Command conference, the chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees also demanded an explanation from Strategic Command regarding this matter. The non-governmental organization 'Alliance Against a Nuclear Iran' raised alarms after Mousavian, a Middle East security and nuclear policy expert, attended the funeral of Qassem Soleimani and made comments on the Islamic Republic's state television. This organization emphasized that since Mousavian is an agent of the Islamic Republic, Princeton University should be investigated for providing this position to him for propaganda purposes. Ladan Bazargan stated: 'The presence of someone with Hossein Mousavian's background in America is an appeasement of a child-killing regime.'