Students: Rouhani Should Prevent Illegal Actions Against Student Publications

In a letter to the President of Iran, 813 student publication activists described the recent months as the "most difficult" for student publications and urged Mr. Rouhani to issue a "decisive order" to higher education officials to stop the "growing trend of illegal actions" against these publications. The authors of this letter, published on Saturday, January 30, on several news websites including Ensaf News, stated that they had previously protested against the "constricted and suffocating atmosphere" surrounding student publications. However, the letter emphasized that the "wave of illegal actions" against those involved in student publications has been "intensifying" day by day. These responsible managers and editorial board members accused university officials of being "inactive and fearful or even sometimes complicit and cooperative" with these "threats and actions." The letter also protested the referral of students involved in publishing student publications to judicial authorities and their repeated summons to the supervisory committee for student publications, disciplinary committees, and university security. The activists stated that the rulings of these committees are "not communicated" to the students who have been condemned. The authors described the recent months, especially December of this year, as the "most difficult months and days for student publications." They emphasized that in some universities in Iran, writing about politics is considered an "unpardonable crime," and raising professional issues or university news is "immediately met with complaints from university authorities on various pretexts." The issuance of licenses for new student organizations and publications and the political activities of students were among the reasons cited for the impeachment and dismissal of former Minister of Science Reza Faraji Dana on August 20, 2014. Before Mohammad Khatami's presidency, student publications were often affiliated with political groups or cultural organizations at universities. However, during Khatami's administration, other students were also allowed to publish student publications, provided they obtained permission from institutions such as the university's cultural council or the supervisory committee for student publications. The current supervisory committee for student publications consists of members such as a representative of the office of the Supreme Leader's representative in universities, the university's student vice president, several faculty members, and representatives of the responsible managers of student publications. Nevertheless, the activists stated that in some universities, the supervisory committee for student publications "does not exist or, if it does, it has been months since its last meeting." According to the authors of this letter, the supervisory committees for student publications at universities oppose the publication of magazines due to the "possibility of publishing reformist content," "the proposed name or language or dialect of the magazine," and "various other pretexts," and "never" communicates a written decision of the committee opposing the publication to the applicant. The student publication activists requested the President of Iran to issue a "decisive order" to higher education officials to "prevent the growing trend of illegal actions, pressures, and threats" against student publications. The authors also urged Hassan Rouhani to use "everything in his power" to combat the "illegal actions of specific factions and to counter the passivity and complicity of some opportunistic university officials." Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, has repeatedly stated during his election campaign and presidency that his government will strive to distance universities from a "security atmosphere." He has also supported the political activities of students at universities. In contrast, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has urged university officials to seriously prevent academic centers from becoming what he called "places for the activities of political factions."