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Islamic Regime instructed universities on how to suppress 2023 staff, student protests - report

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • Iran's Science Ministry ordered universities to harshly suppress protests on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death.
  • Documents show the ministry directed institutions to follow Supreme National Security Council directives and report on their actions.
  • The protests followed the 2022 killing of Mahsa Amini by security forces, leading to widespread unrest, deaths, and arrests.

Iran's Science, Research, and Technology Ministry issued directives to academic institutions on how to suppress protests that occurred in September 2023. These demonstrations marked the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death at the hands of the regime's security forces.

Rioting must come with a cost, and a passive stance will embolden the rioters.

— Ebrahim HosseiniThen-director general of the Office for Coordinating Administrative Misconduct Committees for Employees and Faculty Members, detailing the ministry's stance on protests.

Documents obtained by the Amirkabir NewsLetter, a student-run outlet, reveal that the ministry sent a letter to university heads demanding a harsh response to any unrest. The letter emphasized that "rioting must come with a cost, and a passive stance will embolden the rioters." It also explicitly called for institutions to adhere to directives from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council regarding the suppression of demonstrations.

Ebrahim Hosseini, then-director general of the Office for Coordinating Administrative Misconduct Committees for Employees and Faculty Members, wrote that university presidents should act preventatively. He suggested that explaining the consequences of such measures in maintaining healthy educational and research environments would strengthen the rule of law in handling violations. Hosseini urged the prompt submission of a requested report on these actions.

Distinguished university presidents can also have a preventive aspect; explaining the results and effects of these measures in making educational and research environments healthy will play a significant role in strengthening and influencing the concept and position of the rule of law in the process of investigating violations.

— Ebrahim HosseiniExplaining the role of university leadership in suppressing dissent and upholding the rule of law.

The September 2023 protests were sparked by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022 for allegedly not wearing her head covering properly. Her father's subsequent brief arrest and the surrounding of his home by security forces on the anniversary of her death further fueled public anger. Human rights groups reported that the "Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrations following Amini's murder resulted in over 500 deaths, including 71 minors, hundreds of injuries, and thousands of arrests.

Therefore, it is hoped that the preparation of the requested report and its submission will be put on the agenda as a matter of urgency.

— Ebrahim HosseiniUrging academic institutions to submit reports on their actions against protesters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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