68 Student Organizations in Iran Severely Criticize Sentences Issued Against Students
68 student organizations in Iran have severely criticized the sentences issued against students, stating they will not allow “totalitarians once again” to target freedom; meanwhile, the Minister of Science has stated that among students arrested during December protests, 5 students remain imprisoned.
In a statement issued by 68 student organizations on Monday, July 23, referring to the current situation in the country that has caused “various forms of public discontent,” it stated: “The justifying rhetoric of those in power has placed the country on a dangerous path.”
The statement also noted that last month 63 student organizations issued severe protests against security approaches and harsh judicial sentences against students, stating: “However, authoritarians have shown that not only have students’ voices gone unheard,” but in recent days a conviction has also been issued against Farshte Tousi, one of the student activists.
Farshte Tousi, a student activist from Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran, was sentenced in primary court on charges of “propaganda against the system” to 18 months of imprisonment and a two-year ban from participation in political parties and organizations, social networks, media and press, as well as travel ban.
According to Human Rights Watch, as of last week at least 8 students from universities in Tehran and Tabriz have been sentenced to imprisonment of up to eight years, and some other students have been banned for two years from any political and media activity and even from presence on social networks.
Based on this report, Sina Darwish Omran and Ali Mozaffari were each sentenced to eight years, Leila Hasanzadeh to six years, Sina Rabiei to one year, Mohsen Haghshenas to two years, Roya Saghiri to 23 months, and Ali Kamrani and Ali Qadiri each to 6 months in prison.
On the other hand, Mansour Ghollami, Minister of Science, Research and Technology, told the newspaper “Etemad” that as of July 16, for 12 percent of students arrested in December protests, prison sentences “ranging from several months to several years” have been issued.
According to Mr. Ghollami, among students arrested during last December’s protests, five students remain in prison.
The Science Minister, however, stated that the ministry is negotiating with the judiciary to annul the issued sentences.
Last week, 125 professors from various universities in Iran also issued a letter to Hassan Rouhani protesting the arrests and sentences issued for students in recent months, calling for his “support” of the students.
In recent weeks, gatherings have also been held protesting these sentences.
According to Parvaneh Salehshouri, a parliament representative, during last December’s nationwide protests and afterwards, approximately 150 students were arrested, of whom 17 have so far been sentenced.
Also according to Mahmoud Sadeghi, another parliament representative, students’ sentences were issued based on reports and interrogations by the Rouhani government’s Ministry of Intelligence.
Hassan Rouhani in the 2013 election competition had raised promises of returning students barred from education to universities and eliminating the “security atmosphere” in universities.
Nevertheless, various student groups in recent years have repeatedly protested the “securitization” of university atmospheres and the “starring” of students.
Source: Radio Farda
