Tensions Rise in Iran Following Death Sentence for Reformist University Professor

Tensions are rising in Iran following the issuance of a death sentence for a reformist university professor. Thousands of reformist and extremist conservative students held separate protests in Tehran on Tuesday. Student demonstrations have been ongoing in several cities for over a week. At least two thousand extremists, mostly members of the Basij force, protested around the University of Tehran mosque in support of Islamic values and against the rising voices of reformist opponents in Iran. A spokesperson for the extremists told the crowd that anyone who takes a step against Islamic values will pay a heavy price for it. The protests were sparked by reports that a reformist member of parliament from Ahvaz was assaulted by Basij members on Monday. In another part of the university campus, around two thousand reformist students continued their protest against the death sentence of Hashem Aghajari, a history professor accused of insulting sacred beliefs. The students' demands expanded to include freedom of expression, the release of all political prisoners, and respect for human rights. In Washington, the U.S. State Department expressed concern once again about the death sentence against Aghajari. A State Department spokesperson described Aghajari as a man who had the courage to express his views and was sentenced to death for it. The Islamic Republic newspaper reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has instructed the judiciary to reconsider Aghajari's death sentence. These political tensions arise as moderate President Mohammad Khatami attempts to reduce the powers of conservatives who control the judiciary and other key institutions in Iran. Khatami has described Aghajari's conviction as inappropriate.