Several Baha'i Students Expelled from Various Universities in Iran

Baha'i news sources report the expulsion or denial of degrees to several Baha'i students at various universities in Iran. Morteza Ismailpour, the director of Baha'i News, confirmed these reports in an interview with Radio Farda. Farzad Safaie, an industrial metallurgy student, Vafa Hoidayi, a physics student, and Vasal Laghai Far, a chemical engineering student, are among those who were expelled recently due to their Baha'i faith. The Baha'i news agency in Iran also reported that officials at Payame Noor University in Kavar, Fars province, prevented the issuance of a degree for one of their students, Farzan Masoumi, due to his religious beliefs. According to the report, Mr. Masoumi, after completing 137 credits in political science at the undergraduate level, was denied his degree because of his adherence to the Baha'i faith. The report also noted that Farzad Safaie, a 1392 entry student in the continuous undergraduate program in industrial metallurgy at Ahvaz Azad University, was barred from continuing his studies after eight semesters in late May 1396 following a summons from university security and the blocking of his student account on the university website. Baha'i News also reported the expulsion of Vasal Laghai Far, an undergraduate student in chemical engineering at Amir Kabir University in Tafresh, despite pressure to abandon the Baha'i faith, stating that he was ultimately expelled at the beginning of the seventh semester for insisting on his Baha'i beliefs. Vafa Hoidayi, an undergraduate physics student at the Faculty of Energy Engineering and Physics, is another student who was expelled in the second semester due to his Baha'i identity. The Islamic Republic officials do not recognize the Baha'i faith as a religion or sect, referring to it as a 'deviant sect.' Over the past four decades, thousands of Baha'is have been expelled from universities and lost their jobs. Many Baha'is have also been imprisoned, executed, or forced to leave Iran. The Baha'i faith refers to Iran as a 'sacred' country and encourages its followers worldwide to learn Persian. In this context, the spokesperson for the Baha'i community stated that the violation of Baha'i rights has increased under Rouhani's government. A UN reporter noted the similarities in the persecution of Baha'is in Yemen with actions against Baha'is in Iran.