Oppression of Academic Freedom in Iran

In recent months and during the Women, Life, Freedom revolution in Iran, the Islamic Republic regime has orchestrated daily violent assaults against Iranian campuses and university dormitories across the country. Students’ safety and security have been under severe violent attacks day and night, even inside university buildings, libraries and cafes. In several cases, the regime forces attacked dormitories and assaulted students. 

Protesting university students have been beaten, tortured, arrested, and forced to suspend their studies or even killed by security forces. Many detained students have been held in prisons for weeks or months with no access to medical care or even lawyers. They have been prevented from contacting their own families, while authorities provide no updates on their cases to the public or families. 

In early November 2022, over 600 university professors called for the unconditional release of all the students who were arrested during recent student protests. In mid-November, the ICOIA and a few other academic groups and university professors outside Iran called for the end of student oppression, and violation of university campuses. They demanded the freeing of all arrested students. 

Stigmatization and expulsion have been the regime's strong weapon against student non-violent uprisings for the past four decades, to suppress any movement, particularly student movements. Many students received lengthy prison punishments, suspension and expulsion from universities and dormitory services. Many of the students' whereabouts are yet unknown and a number of the arrested students have been subjected to mental and physical abuse and were deprived of medical care in prison. The lives of many are in danger and the emotional and psychological impacts on their classmates are expected to be long-lasting and dramatic. 

This report provides a summary of the students' status and the unjust and cruel oppression of the Islamic Regime of Iran against the student protests.