In a continuation of the Iranian government’s crackdown against student activists, four individuals have received harsh penalties, including a total of eight years of suspension from their studies.
The development was disclosed by a student association on their Telegram channel, shedding light on the intricate details of the convictions imposed on the students.
Motahareh Gounei, a prominent student activist, has been handed a 24-month suspension, while her husband, Mehdi Hadizadeh, has been sentenced to a 12-month suspension from the university.
The judgments, issued by the authorities, involve the transfer of Gounei and Hadizadeh from Tehran University of Medical Sciences to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences.
The couple had previously faced detention during nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic. After a period of incarceration, they were subsequently released.
Kian Bani Hashemi and Fatemeh Gharibi have each been handed a significant two-and-a-half-year academic suspension. The verdict for the two students was issued by the Tehran University Disciplinary Council.
Since the commencement of the academic year in late September, disturbing reports have surfaced, detailing confrontations with students, expulsions, suspensions, and disciplinary committee sessions.
Furthermore, female students opposing mandatory hijab have received orders to cancel their residence in dormitories.
Last year, students from various universities across the country played a pivotal role in the uprising following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. University campuses became hotbeds of student protests, sit-ins, and gatherings.
The student-led demonstrations persisted for several months, marked by the violent detention or exclusion of hundreds of students from various universities. Suppressive forces also carried out multiple attacks on student dormitories at various institutions of higher learning.
The case involves Hamid Nouri, a key figure implicated in the 1988 massacre of Iranian political prisoners, a massacre that left thousands dead and many more scarred for life. While the appeal court's verdict is still pending, it's worth reflecting on the trial's significance and what it represents for justice, human rights, and the pursuit of accountability.
The 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran is a tragedy that should never have happened. It is a stain on the pages of history, a moment when the world should have stood up and cried out against the unspeakable atrocities that took place. But justice was elusive for decades. Families of the victims longed for answers, and survivors carried the physical and emotional scars of that horrendous period.
Fast forward to November 2019, when the Swedish authorities arrested Hamid Nouri, a man alleged to have played a pivotal role in the 1988 massacre. Sweden's decision to act under the principle of universal jurisdiction was a beacon of hope for those who had waited for justice for 35 years. It was a reminder that justice knows no borders, that human rights are universal, and that those responsible for heinous crimes must be held accountable, no matter where they hide.
The subsequent trial in Sweden was not just a legal proceeding; it was a message to the world that the pursuit of justice and accountability remains steadfast even decades later. It demonstrated the power of international law to reach across time and distance to hold individuals accountable for crimes against humanity. The trial was a symbol of solidarity with the victims and survivors of the 1988 massacre, their pain acknowledged, and their voices heard.
As we await the verdict from the Swedish appeal court, we should take a moment to commend Sweden for its commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law. By conducting this trial, Sweden has exemplified the principles of international justice and demonstrated that no one is above the law. It has shown that nations can play a crucial role in holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, even when their crimes were committed in a different time and place.
We also thank the Swedish government for its dedication to upholding human rights. By pursuing this case, Sweden has sent a clear message to the international community that justice is not a mere concept but a tangible, achievable goal. It has provided a glimmer of hope to countless victims of human rights abuses worldwide, reminding them that they, too, can seek justice.
The road to justice can be long and arduous, but it is a journey worth embarking upon. As the appeal court's verdict approaches, let us remember that it represents not just a legal outcome but a triumph of humanity over cruelty. Regardless of the final judgment, Sweden's commitment to this trial is a testament to the enduring importance of accountability and justice. It is a beacon of hope for all those who have suffered and reminds us that the pursuit of justice is a cause worth fighting for.
In the end, whether the appeal court confirms the life sentence or not, one thing is certain: December 19, 2023, will be a day to remember, not just for Sweden but for all those who believe in the power of justice and accountability to heal wounds, restore dignity, and build a more just and humane world.
This opinion article was submitted by Laleh & Lawdan Bazargan, sisters of Bijan Bazargan one of the victims of the 1988 Massacre, and Plaintiffs in Hamid Nouri’s Case.
Opinion expressed by the authors are not necessarily the views of Iran International.
Reliable sources tell Iran International that since September, more than 400 students have faced suspensions, threats from disciplinary committees, or dormitory expulsions due to their refusal to adhere to hijab regulations, engaging in student activism, or expressing their political views on social media.
Many of these affected students, apprehensive about further repercussions, remain hesitant to disclose the suspension sentences imposed on them or share details of their harassment experiences.
A 20-year-old student from Tehran's Al-Zahra University did speak out recently, revealing that her university's disciplinary committee demanded a written apology for her actions. They sought her admission of wrongdoing and a pledge not to repeat her supposed mistake. Refusing to comply, she was subsequently suspended from studying for two terms and permanently barred from accessing university services. To make matters worse, she was abruptly evicted from her dormitory at ten in the evening.
Another student from Tehran University of Art told Ham-Mihan newspaper she was expelled from her dormitory and banned from entering the campus. “When I asked [the university authorities] for a [disciplinary committee] ruling and citing existing regulations, pointing out the illegality of their action, they called my family,” she said.
“When my family also protested to the decision, they were threatened with my arrest,” she said, adding that her frightened family had to immediately set on road from their hometown to get to the dormitory and take her away to prevent her arrest.
A scuffle over hijab between a female student and a Harasat agent who pushes her down the stairs.
“We protested to a death sentence to show our sensitivity to human rights issues as students, but I was subjected to interrogation for this outside the university,” another student from Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University, who described the environment on the campus as “nerve-wracking,” said.
In some cases, students say, pro-government professors have helped the disciplinary committees by taking photos of students who did not abide by hijab rules in their classes.
Tens of professors and lecturers who were critical of the regime were expelled, suspended or forced to retire a few months ago to pave the way for hiring pro-regime faculty members.
On Sunday the chancellor of the Islamic Azad University with campuses around the country said the university has hired 18,000 young and revolutionary Ph.D. students” to replace lecturers. “A revolutionary atmosphere will be made possible through employment of young lecturers.
The Islamic Azad University, a private university system which is nevertheless controlled by the government, has over 350 campuses across the country and over one million students.
The purge of academia which was dubbed as “homogenization” of the academia by hardliners is widely seen as another attempt at “Islamification of the academia” and “a second Cultural Revolution” similar to the Cultural Revolution following the establishment of the Islamic Republic in the early 1980s, during which universities remained closed for nearly three years.
Students have been defying stricter hijab regulations including wearing the maqna’e, a black veil with a stitched front coming down to the chest that is much more conservative than the headscarf, and long-shapeless tunics.
Last month the intelligence and security body known as ‘Harasat’ raided classrooms in several faculties of the Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran during the lectures and confiscated the student ID cards of those who were not wearing maqna’e.
Harasat, a body present in all universities and government organizations, often works in tandem with the intelligence ministry and other intelligence agencies to gather information against both students and academic staff and its reports are often very instrumental in admission to post-graduate schools and even government employment.