Harassment of Students, Academics Continues in Iran

We remain concerned by the Iranian regime's continued repression of academic freedom and assault on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad pointed out during his appearance at Columbia University in September that universities should be places where the freedoms of expression and conscience should flourish. Since he spoke at Columbia, however, dozens of Iranian students have been detained, professors replaced, and freedom of expression severely curtailed on university campuses throughout Iran. These abuses culminated in the detention of students following demonstrations at universities in several cities to honor Student Day on December 7. The families of the detained men and women have not been allowed to communicate with their loved ones since that time.