Kharazmi University: Formation of Virtual Groups Over 100 People Requires Permission; Increased Pressure on Students in Iran

Kharazmi University of Technology has imposed more restrictive regulations on students, requiring permission from the 'Student Publications Supervision Committee' for the formation of virtual groups exceeding 100 members. The university also stated, 'Any membership in unauthorized channels will lead to penalties according to the disciplinary guidelines.' ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday, May 8, that currently none of the active student groups in virtual spaces have legal permits. The university cited the misuse of 'some of the created space' for 'defaming individuals' and spreading 'very inappropriate content on social media' as the reason for these restrictions. University officials claimed this decision was made after criticisms from 'students, parents, professors, and concerned individuals.' Since the onset of nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, students at Kharazmi University have played an active role in protests and have repeatedly protested and gone on strike to support their rights. In a report on the repression at this university on December 7, 2022, students wrote to university officials: 'We have been repressed many times, we have fought many times, and we have taken our rights from you many times. We will not rest for a moment to claim our rights and will use every means to reclaim our rights, even at the cost of our lives.' Since the beginning of the protests, pressures and interventions by Iran's security institutions in universities, as well as actions against protesting professors and students, have intensified. The 'Executive Guidelines of the National Student Disciplinary Regulations,' which established '20 punitive measures' and was signed by the ministers of Science and Health of the Islamic Republic, was communicated to universities in December 2022 amid the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. The introduction of these guidelines states that the 'Student Disciplinary Committee' is responsible for addressing student violations while emphasizing 'religious, ethical, legal, and human rights standards.' The newspaper 'Ham-Mihan' reported in December 2023 that with the approval of the university's disciplinary committee regulations, the repression of students has intensified and the atmosphere in universities is tense. A higher education union official in Iran recently stated that 'government interventions in universities have increased' and 'it is the Ministry of Interior that instructs universities.' Karan Abri-Nia, secretary of the university professors' union, told the 'Khabar Online' website: 'The restrictions and security issues dominating universities come from the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Council; in this situation, it can be said that the Ministry of Science has no role.' This union official mentioned that in 2023, these restrictions affected 'about 200 university professors, and nearly 25 professors were expelled from the university.' In another recent instance of intensified restrictions on student activities, including in virtual spaces, the Telegram channel 'United Students' announced that in recent months at least five students have been charged in the 'Disciplinary Committee' for activities related to social media. According to this student organization, the evidence in the cases included 'screenshots of tweets' and personal images. Reports also indicate punishments for students who protested against violations of their rights, with the expulsion of a protesting student from Tarbiat Modares University being one of the latest cases. According to the Telegram channel 'Progressive Students,' Ahmad Pirouznia, a doctoral student in literature at Tarbiat Modares University, was permanently banned from the dormitory, permanently banned from food, permanently banned from loans, and banned from studying for six months by the Disciplinary Committee, ultimately leading him to leave the dormitory. Under the pretext of not wearing mandatory hijab, students at Amir Kabir University in Tehran were prevented from entering. Students staged a hunger strike and placed food trays on the ground at Amir Kabir University. A union official spoke of 'government interventions in universities,' stating that the Ministry of Interior instructs universities. Students recounted their experiences of security forces' actions; entering the university with fear and anxiety. Students were prevented from entering Polytechnic University in Tehran; the 'Noor Plan' reached universities. Students were summoned due to their activities on social media. The Islamic Azad University issued a directive to prevent the entry of 'disruptors in decorum' into the university.