Two Professors from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Dismissed

The wave of suspensions and dismissals of professors from various universities in Iran continues, with the latest case involving Mahshid Gohari Kakhki and Marsedeh Islami from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. According to a joint statement released by the two professors on Sunday, October 15, the university announced the termination of their cooperation in the first week of the academic year. The statement reads: "We had not yet taken the first steps to go to the classroom, we had not yet had the opportunity to ignite the flame of awareness and intellect when we received the news of our termination again." The statement emphasizes that "after the complete termination of cooperation with Ferdowsi University last February due to our support for students, this time, after following up with the literature department and passing through seven obstacles of the university and faculty, we were shocked to see that our termination and teaching was confirmed." The dismissed professors wrote: "Our astonishment was not without reason; right in the first week of classes, a command comes from the university's board of directors, and thus we were expelled from our own home, the university." Mahshid Gohari Kakhki holds a PhD in literature and has previously published several books, including "The Resilience of Iranian Identity under Mongol Domination." Marsedeh Islami is also a PhD graduate in literature and a lecturer at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. In recent days, news has also emerged about the dismissal of Ali Asghar Khodayari, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Mining Engineering at the University of Tehran, Arman Zakeri, an assistant professor in the sociology department at Tarbiat Modares University, and Javad Emami, a professor at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Science and Technology. With the dismissal of the two professors from Ferdowsi University, it seems that the trend of dismissing critical and opposing professors by the Islamic Republic continues. Meanwhile, pressures in higher education are not limited to professors; students are also facing various pressures and restrictions. In this context, the Telegram channel of the Student Guild Councils reported on Sunday, October 15, an increase in security pressures on female students in Iranian universities, stating that after a wave of summons, suspensions, and dismissals of students, at least 20 female students at Allameh University in Tehran received "undated and unnumbered letters from security." According to this report, these letters contain "threats and intimidation" against students for not adhering to mandatory hijab. The Telegram channel reported that these female students received letters from security personnel upon entering the faculty. These letters, written on official Allameh Tabatabai University letterhead, lack a letter number and date. The letters warn female students that they have not complied with "dress regulations" and that if repeated, they will face "disruptions in their educational programs." Amir Kabir Newsletter also reported on Sunday that less than a month has passed since the reopening of universities, but confrontations in the academic environment have increased. According to this news channel, in recent days, patrols consisting of security forces and plainclothes personnel have had serious confrontations with students on campus. Amir Kabir Newsletter emphasized that harassment of students for non-Islamic dress and disturbances to them is part of the project of "Islamization of universities" in Iran. With the beginning of the new academic year, universities have witnessed a new approach from the Ministry of Science in dealing with various issues, including hijab. Reports indicate that with the start of the academic year, alongside the pursuit of final approval of the "Chastity and Hijab" bill, a security atmosphere has dominated educational environments.