In new purge, Iran expels independent, Reformist professors

TEHRAN — The hard-line government of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has in recent months initiated an academic purge that has resulted in the expulsion of Reformists and independent professors from universities. It's a move that is reminiscent of the policy of former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following the 2009 disputed presidential elections.

The new wave of purges gained momentum following widespread protests that took place in Iran in September 2022 after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's so-called morality police sparked unprecedented demonstrations, leading to the loss of hundreds of Iranian lives at the hands of security forces.

The Student Scientific Association of Allameh Tabatabai University, acknowledging the new policy targeting professors, expressed their concerns in a statement on Feb. 5: "Recently, we have discovered that professors from universities across the country, from Tehran to Kurdistan, have been subjected to 'ceasing cooperation' (which essentially means dismissal)."

These professors were apparently supportive of students who had protested against the government and the Islamic Republic during the unrest.

In the meantime, nine political science professors of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the Central Tehran branch of Azad University have unexpectedly retired and announced the end of their cooperation.

Sousan Safaverdi, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences of Tehran's Azad University, confirmed a "mass retirement" of professors at the university and highlighted that these measures in reality meant “purging.”

Top professors aren’t immune

Prominent professors have also become victims of the trend of academic purges. Among those affected is well-known sociologist Saeed Madani, who was arrested in 2022 and recently received a nine-year prison sentence. Moreover, Mohsen Borhani, a respected law professor at Tehran University, is also on the verge of dismissal after demonstrating support for the protesters and openly criticizing the trials that resulted in death sentences.

Arash Raisinejad, a well-known international relations professor at Tehran University, was expelled due to his support for protesting students.

In confirmation of his dismissal from Tehran University, Raisinejad posted a tweet on April 23 expressing his thoughts: "What if, one day, Iranian families can live prosperous, happy, and dignified lives in their homeland? Will I witness that day? I do not know, but I remain hopeful."

In February, Morteza Mardiha, a philosophy professor at Allameh Tabatabai University, found himself among the individuals whose activities had been "suspended."

Another name making headlines in this regard is Ali Sarzaiem, an economics professor at Allameh Tabatabai University. He confirmed the news on May 2.

These instances highlight the distressing impact of academic purges on esteemed professors, raising concerns about the freedom of expression and diversity of perspectives within the educational system.

In reaction, Morteza Farrokhi, deputy of the Ministry of Science, addressed the issue, claiming on Feb. 13 that "there are no official records regarding the dismissal of university professors following the recent protests. If any dismissals have occurred, they are likely due to academic incompetence or delays in obtaining required qualifications."

He maintained that "no professors have been fired for political reasons.”

It is crucial to note that the dismissals extend beyond the previously mentioned professors, as many others faced similar consequences before the September 2022 protests.

Reza Omidi, a professor renowned for his significant scientific contributions and research in combating poverty and inequality, also faced the termination of his cooperation with Tehran University. The news of this decision was first made public in the early months of 2022, prompting 870 students, graduates and professors to publish a statement against it.

Furthermore, on Jan. 21, 2022, Shahid Beheshti University expelled sociology professor Mohammad Fazeli, who was also a senior adviser in the Reformist-backed government of Hassan Rouhani (2013-2021).

Simultaneously, Sharif University of Technology fired Arash Abazari, a renowned philosophy professor, due to the Ministry of Science “not approving his qualification” for continued tenure at the university.

Interestingly, the reactions in cyberspace from hard-liners and the current government have taken a different tone. Some have sought to question the academic qualifications of the dismissed professors, reflecting a varying perspective on the matter.

Following the footsteps of Ahmadinejad

The current developments serve as a stark reminder of the government of hard-liner Ahmadinejad, signaling the emergence of a second wave of professor dismissals within the past two decades.

During Ahmadinejad's tenure, numerous renowned professors holding differing political opinions from the authorities at the time were expelled from universities. Critics of these measures viewed the dismissal of professors as a form of political cleansing within universities aimed at eliminating dissenting voices.

Another major concern, repeatedly highlighted by many, revolved around the potential replacement of knowledgeable professors with individuals who lack expertise and are primarily employed for their shared views with the ideology of the Islamic Republic.

At the time, the dismissal of professors, coupled with concerns about the potential replacement of highly knowledgeable individuals, led many to consider it a troubling sign of the declining scientific standards in the country and a potential lowering of the overall academic quality of universities.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, a professor at Allameh Tabatabai University who chose to remain anonymous exposed the disturbing aftermath following the removal of critical professors during Ahmadinejad's era. Shedding light on the situation, the professor emphasized the detrimental impact of these dismissals and the subsequent influx of young, hard-line teachers whose primary objective was to intertwine their ideology with their teachings.

The professor revealed, “These changes resulted in a significant decline in the academic standards, knowledge dissemination and teaching quality at Allameh Tabatabai University. This decline, in turn, led to a rise in undereducated students.”

Alarmed by the echoes of these patterns resurfacing within the country's universities, the professor cautioned that history is, unfortunately, repeating itself, potentially exacerbating the situation even further.

The results of the political purges

In an interview with Al-Monitor, a law professor in Tehran who preferred to remain anonymous spoke of the reasons behind these purges. He asserted that during the recent protests, the professors aligned themselves with the students, aiming to safeguard the university from external interference such as security forces and promote nonviolent approaches.

He emphasized the consequences of these purges, noting that they discourage scholars, scientists and experts from pursuing accurate scientific work. Moreover, they instigate thoughts of emigration among many professors.

According to the professor, universities are meant to cultivate an environment for academic excellence, where distinguished professors and experienced researchers thrive. However, the expulsion or suspension of these accomplished individuals, coupled with the entry of others lacking scientific competence, undermines the credibility of universities in society. This erosion of trust ultimately casts doubt on the reliability of the graduates produced by these institutions.

He underscored the direct losses incurred by the country through the absence of such high-profile and independent professors in universities. The danger of dismissing these professors becomes even more significant when considering that their absence paves the way for the rise of pseudo-science proponents within the country.

“The dismissal of every science-oriented and competent economist or political scientist, for example, leaves room for the emergence and growth of non-scientific and non-independent individuals who are influencing the decisions in the Islamic Republic,” said the professor.