Warning About Elite Migration; They Say: This is What You See, If You Don't Want It, Get Your Passport and Leave

The representative of Chabahar in the Islamic Consultative Assembly considered the emigration of human capital from the country to be more detrimental than the exit of economic capital and stated that the country's elites are forced to migrate. Moein-od-Din Saidi, in an interview with Rouydad 24, referred to the stigma placed by some officials and government media on emigrants, saying: "In fact, they are forced to emigrate and then labeled as unpatriotic, while this notion is incorrect and many of these individuals chose to emigrate out of necessity." He added: "The exit of human capital from the country is a serious issue, and in my opinion, the damage from this matter is far worse and harder than the exit of economic capital from the country. Currently, many top individuals in the national entrance exam, elites, and healthcare personnel have taken the path of emigration, and these events have made the situation more difficult than before." This member of parliament pointed to the reasons for the increasing desire of Iranians to emigrate, noting: "A significant portion of the emigration of individuals and elites is due to the economy, but the economy is not the whole story. For example, the recent approach taken regarding universities, where some capable individuals have been deprived of teaching, can also be among the influential reasons for emigration." Moein-od-Din Saidi also emphasized: "Unfortunately, some believe and say that anyone who is unhappy with the current conditions can leave the country. On the other hand, others say we are just what you see, if you don't want it, get your passport and leave. This is not the correct way to deal with the human capital and elites of a country." The Iran Watchdog website, in mid-September, interpreted migration with the title "The Empty Space for a Bright Future" and wrote: "Iranian skilled and educated migrants take with them a suitcase of ideas and effective plans for the progress and prosperity of this land to the West, and the government continues to willingly export these human resources." This website further quoted the director of the Iranian Migration Observatory, who stated that "key and specialized forces from 67% of knowledge-based companies have entered the migration process." It added: "Currently, the scope of migration from talented, educated, and elite Iranians has gone beyond and is expanding among various social classes, especially in the lower economic deciles."