Controversies Surrounding a Graduation Ceremony: Head of Campus Resigns; Sharif University Promises Action

Following the graduation ceremony at the International Campus of Sharif University of Technology in Kish, where female graduates wore optional hijabs, the Minister of Science ordered an investigation and action. Sharif University announced serious measures, and Amir Kabir Newsletter reported the resignation of the campus head after a threat from the Ministry of Intelligence. 48 hours after the graduation ceremony on November 16, the public relations office of Sharif University issued a statement reacting to the controversies surrounding the event. The statement noted that 'the failure to observe decorum and regulations led to the refusal of the president and the vice president for educational and graduate studies to participate in the awarding of some prizes and the departure of the university president from the conference hall.' The statement emphasized that university officials are committed to taking serious action against those responsible for this incident and anyone who has been negligent or at fault. After images of the ceremony circulated on social media, Ali Shamsipour, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Science, wrote on his X account: 'Following the inappropriate events that occurred at the graduation ceremony of students at the Kish campus of Sharif University of Technology, the Minister of Science issued an order for investigation and review, with results to be announced within 48 hours.' In response to this incident, Amir Kabir Newsletter reported on Saturday, November 18, that Ali Selak Ghafari resigned in a message addressed to the president of Sharif University and the head of the board of trustees of the Kish campus. The newsletter stated that this resignation was due to a threat from the Ministry of Intelligence. Previously, the newsletter had described the optional hijab of graduates as a 'civil disobedience,' stating that this civil disobedience showed that the Islamic Republic, despite repressing over 5,000 students, remains 'the loser in the game.' This incident comes as the Islamic Republic has intensified pressure to impose mandatory hijab and confront the choice of optional hijab in universities and public places. In this context, student activists reported an increase in security pressures on female students in Iranian universities coinciding with the reopening of universities for the new academic year. Accordingly, the Telegram channel of the National Student Guild Councils reported that on Sunday, October 15, at least 20 female students from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Allameh Tabatabai University received letters from security personnel upon entering the faculty. These letters warned female students that they had not complied with 'dress regulations' and that if repeated, they would face 'disruptions in their educational programs.' The confrontation of girls with the Islamic Republic regarding hijab has so far been in favor of women, and the Islamic Republic has been unable to deter them from pursuing their demands despite all efforts and threats. The Islamic Republic hopes that with the implementation of the 'Chastity and Hijab' law, it can prevail against women. Many legal experts and political analysts believe that if finalized and implemented, this law will lead to greater confrontations between society and the government.