Dozens of Iranian student organizations criticize security environment and student summons

Dozens of student organizations in Iran criticized the summoning of student activists to "off-campus institutions" and the suspension of student associations in a letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

In this letter, which was published on Sunday, April 17, on the Ensaf News website, 72 student organizations considered the suspension of seven Islamic associations in recent months, the summoning of 50 student activists, and the pressure on these organizations as reminders of the policies of the ninth and tenth governments towards universities.

The letter continues by stating that attempts to create cases, cancel previously issued permits without any explanation, create an atmosphere of fear and terror, exert pressure to change plans, threaten and summon security agencies are among the problems faced by student organizations and activists in recent months.

Criticism of the security environment in universities comes at a time when the Iranian president had repeatedly promised to eliminate the security environment in universities during his election campaign four years ago. Mr. Rouhani faced difficulties in appointing his Minister of Science at the beginning of his government; the parliament rejected several of his options and one minister was impeached after two years, until Mohammad Farhadi finally reached the post.

Source: Voice of America