Widespread Dismissal of Critical Professors from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Replacement with 'Imam Sadiq Graduates' Under Alimohammadi's Interference

The news site 'Entekhab' reported on Saturday, September 24, that at least 25 prominent and critical professors have been dismissed from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi, with their positions being filled by graduates of Imam Sadiq University. The report cites Arash Bidallahkhani, a dismissed professor currently at the University of Manchester, who stated that the vice president of Ferdowsi University is a relative of Ebrahim Raisi and close to Jamileh Alimohammadi, Raisi's wife, and that all dismissals were conducted under her direction. This dismissed professor noted the intention of Raisi's circle and government to turn Ferdowsi University into a center for 'radical groups,' emphasizing that Jamileh Alimohammadi played a key role in purging critical and independent professors, even having a say in the cases of dismissed professors and interfering in all university matters. Investigations show that at least four professors dismissed from Ferdowsi University for criticizing the thirteenth government and supporting protesting students in 2022 are now teaching at prestigious universities in the U.S. and Europe. Masoud Pezeshkian, head of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, requested on September 8 that Hossein Simayi Sarraf, the Minister of Science, 'review all professors whose contracts were canceled or who were dismissed for any reason and reinstate the students.' On Saturday, September 24, Minister Simayi Sarraf told reporters that he is in contact with the judiciary to reinstate protesting students and professors, but 'I am not sure the judiciary will review these cases again.' The wave of dismissals of university professors in Iran intensified following the nationwide protests in 2022 in response to the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, particularly due to the involvement of students and support from professors for the protesters. Concurrently with the dismissal of experienced professors from Iranian universities, especially from Tehran University, reports have emerged of the recruitment of government-affiliated figures, including Saeed Hadadian, a cleric close to Ali Khamenei, Sajad Safar Harandi, son of former Kayhan editor Mohammad Hossein Safar Harandi and Minister of Culture in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, Amir Hossein Sabati, a host on the 'Ofogh' network of state television, and Abbas Mozoun, another state television host, as university professors.