OCTOBER 2006
HUMAN
RIGHTS
WATCH
NUMBER I
Denying the Right to Education
Introduction I
Barred from Education 2
Admitted but SiLenced 5
Suspensions by University Disciplinary Committees 6
Appendix 9
Introduction
When the new academic year started in Iran in late September 2006, several
graduate students learned that the government was barring them from registering to
take up university places. Because of their political beliefs and opinions, and in
blatant violation of its international human rights obligations, the Iranian
government is denying these students the right of access to education. Other
students were informed that to be allowed to register they must sign a “commitment
letter,” making the taking up or retaining of their university places conditional on
toeing the line politically.
This development comes on the heels of a year-long official drive to punish student
activists for political activities, beliefs, writings, and membership in student
associations that are not officially endorsed. Several official organs within and
outside of the universities have Led a campaign against student activists, including
university disciplinary committees, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Science, Research
and Technology (SR&T Ministry), and the Ministry of Information. University
supervision committees have also banned 19 student publications, and suspended
or dissolved Islamic Students' Associations in 15 universities. 1
Currently, the authorities have barred at least 17 students from higher education—six
during the 2005-06 academic year, and ii in September 2006. At Least another 54
students (and possibly many more) have been registered on the condition that they
cease their political activities. Also, since July 2005 university disciplinary
committees have suspended at least 41 students for up to two semesters. (Human
Rights Watch has obtained the names of a further 35 students convicted and
sentenced by the Judiciary since July 2005 for activities relating to political activism
and student association membership, and six students who have been prosecuted
but whose punishments have not yet been announced. Their cases are not discussed
in detail in this background paper, but they are listed in the appendix.)
Amir Kabir University, Isfahan University and Medical Sciences, Hamedan University and Medical Sciences, Loristan
University, Uromieh University, Sabzvar Teachers College, Birjand University, Sahand University of Tabriz, Alameh Tabataba'i
University, Razi University of Kermanshah, Medical Sciences University of Kermanshah, Medical Sciences University of
Shahrkurd, Medical Sciences University of Kashan, Shahid Rajai University, and Industrial University of Isfahan.
Iran is a party to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). 2 As
a party to the ICCPR, Iran has undertaken to respect the rights of everyone to freedom
of expression and association. Under the ICESCR Iran has undertaken that higher
education shall be made equally accessible to all. Both covenants oblige states
parties to guarantee that the rights be exercised without discrimination of any kind
as to political or other opinion. The actions of the Iranian authorities in excluding
students from university on grounds of their political and religious opinion or activity,
and prosecuting others on similar grounds, is in direct contravention of Iran's clear
legal obligations under both covenants.
Barred from Education
During the last academic year (2005-2006), the Ministry of Science, Research and
Technology notified six students that they can no longer pursue their higher
education. They are: Mehdi Aminizadeh (Mofid University in Qom), Peyman Aref
(Tehran University), Hamed Hasandoost (Teachers' College in Tehran), Ezattollah
Torbatinejad (Kurdistan University), Towhid Alizadeh (Tehran University), and
Muhammad Zamani (Zanjan University).
In September 2006, another i i students discovered that, despite having been
accepted to graduate programs, they were not allowed to register. They are: Hananeh
Azizi (Alameh Tabataba'i University), Siamak Karimi (Hamedan University), Yashar
Chajar (Tabriz Polytechnic University), Zahra Janipour (Hamedan University), Gharib
Sajadi (Alameh Tabataba'i University), Roozbeh Riazi-Moghadam (Amir Kabir
University), Mansour Ezati (Industrial University of Isfahan), Saeed Ardeshiri (Kerman
University), Sh uresh M uradi (Kurdistan University), Salar Saket (Kurdistan University),
and Mohsen Fatehi (Tehran University).
2 International covenant on Economic, Social and cultural Rights (IcEScR), adopted December i6, 1966, G.A. Res. 2200A (XXI),
21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. i6) at 4 9, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 993 U.N.T.S. 3, entered into force January 3, 1976, ratified by Iran
on June 24, 1975. International covenant on civil and PoLitical Rights (IccPR), adopted December 16, 1966, G.A. Res. 2200A
(XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171, entered into force March 23, 1976, ratified
by Iran on June 24, 1975.
2
Interviews with some of these students, and official letters by the SR&T Ministry,
obtained by Human Rights Watch, indicate that the ministry's barring these students
is politically motivated and directly linked to their activism. Furthermore, according
to student testimonies and official letters, it is not the SR&T Ministry but the Ministry
of Information that is the main authority involved in deciding to bar them from
education.
All of the above students, except for Hananeh Azizi, are either members of Islamic
Students' Associations in their universities or have been outspoken activists.
Apparently, Hananeh Azizi is being barred from her right of access to higher
education because her father is the persecuted writer Yusuf Azizi Banitoraf. 3
In a letter written in response to an appeal by one of the barred students, obtained
by Human Rights Watch, Seyed Morteza Nurbakhsh, director of the Central
Committee for Selection of Students and Faculty at the SR&T Ministry wrote, “After
receiving an answer to our inquiry from the Ministry of Information, it has been
determined that the said student lacks proper qualifications for continuing his
education at the graduate level and thus following this decision by the Ministry of
Information, it was announced to the National Organization for Admissions (Saziman
SanjishAmuzis/iKeshvai to reject his admission.” 4
The Ministry of Information, which primarily acts as an intelligence agency, is not the
proper authority to determine a student's educational “qualifications.” All of the
above students earned their right to enter graduate programs by passing competitive
entrance examinations.
“Complete report of the press conference by Office to Foster Unity regarding students barred from education,” Advarnews,
September 29, 2006. Security agents arrested Yusuf Azizi Banitoraf in April 2005 and charged him with endangering national
security. He was subsequently released on bail.
Letter from Seyed Morteza Nurbakhsh, director of the Central Committee for Selection of Students and Faculty at the
Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, to Seyed Jalal Hosseini, director of the President's Office for Coordination of
Complaints from the Public, dated April 23, 2006.
3
Another of the barred students, Mehdi Aminizadeh, told Human Rights Watch:
Last year, during the first day of school, university officials contacted
me and said that, based on a Letter from the Selection Committee of
the NationaL Organization for Admissions, you are barred from
continuing your education. I pursued the matter with the Ministry of
Science, and it became clear that the Ministry of Information is where
this decision was taken. I was also “invited” to the Ministry of
Information where its officials told me, “In our view, it is best to deal
with students like you at this level. This way it has a much lower cost
for the system [ nizam].” They told me outright that they are going to
prevent me from pursuing my education. 5
Peyman Aref has a history of being persecuted by the authorities, who have arrested
him several times during the past five years. In April 2006 a court handed down a
suspended sentence of 18 months' imprisonment after convicting him of
propaganda against the state and of acting against national security. He has lodged
an appeal. Aref had entered the graduate program at Tehran University's College of
Law in September 2005, having ranked second in the nationaL entrance exam. He
told Human Rights Watch that university officials notified him in April 2006 that he is
barred from education and cannot finish his master's degree. He also alleged that
the Ministry of Information asked the SR&T Ministry to prevent him from engaging in
further academic work. Aref told us, “In a letter from the Selection Committee for
Students and FacuLty, I was notified that I lack proper general and ideological
[ iteghad4 qualifications for continuing my education. I have been summoned to the
Ministry of Information several times, and their officials told me that if I give any
lecture, or write anything they consider extreme, they will imprison me.” 6
Human Rights Watch obtained a letter sent from the SR&T Ministry to one student
barred from continuing his education. Prior to this he had received a letter, dated
September 19, 2006, which stated that the student's admission had been rejected
Human Rights Watch interview with Mehdi Aminizadeh, October 5, 2006.
6 Human Rights Watch interview with Peyman Aref, October 3, 2006.
4
due to “selection [ gozinesh] regulations,” but that the rejection could be appealed.
The accompanying appeals form required the student to follow these instructions:
i. Provide a summary of your political and social background (before and after
the revolution).
2. Describe activities you have engaged in (after the revolution).
3. Provide details of any detention (even for a brief period) by security or judicial
authorities. Include date, reason, and duration of your detention.
4. Please identify exact names and addresses of well known references
(excluding family members) who are familiar with you through your place of
education or work. 7
This letter demonstrates that the SR&T Ministry's admissions process is based on a
student's political background and activities.
Admitted but Silenced
At the start of the current academic year on September 23, university administrators
allowed an unknown number of students to register only after having filled out and
submitted pro forma commitment letters to the SR&T Ministry. In these letters the
students accepted to follow all “ideological [ iteghad4, political, and moral
regulations” or else be barred them from further education. 3
Iranian student activists told Human Rights Watch that no one, except for
government officials, knows for certain how many students registered under such
conditions. Because of their conditional registrations, these students feel
intimidated from coming forward and risking their education. Student activists said
they believe the number of conditional admissions is “a couple of hundred.” 9
Letter from Seyed Morteza Nurbakhsh, director of the Centrat Committee for Selection of Students and Faculty at the Ministry
of Science, Research, and Technology, to a student (identity withheld) subjected to conditional registration, copy on file with
Human Rights Watch.
of the commitment letter that must be signed by students prior to their registration, provided by Seyed Morteza
Nurbakhsh, director of the Central Committee for Selection of Students and Faculty at the Ministry of Science, Research, and
Technology, to Iranian Students News Agency, October 4, 2006, https://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx I D=N ews-
799139&Lang=P (accessed October 4, 2006).
Human Rights Watch interviewwith student activist, identity withheld, October 3, 2006.
5
Officials at the SR&T Ministry confirmed to reporters that there are conditional
registrations, and said there are 54 such cases, but explained that each of these is
conditional “because [ the student's] file is in complete.”° On October 4, 2006, Seyed
Morteza Nurbakhsh told reporters that “We took commitment Letters from students
who had problems for graduate programs, but these problems were absolutely not of
a political nature.””
During the same interview, Nurbakhsh provided a copy of the commitment letter that
students were required to sign to be allowed to register. The letter reads as follows:
I ...son/daughterof... ID No.... Issued from ... Date of Birth
acknowledge that the Central Committee for Selection of Students and
Faculty is allowing me to enter the university under certain conditions.
I commit to observe all ideological [ iteghad4, political, and moral
regulations within the current legal framework, in particular the
university's disciplinary regulations. I understand that in case of any
instance of acting against the terms of this commitment letter, the
relevant officials are allowed to cancel my registration and to prevent
my further education. Obviously, in case of such decision, I am
responsible to pay all relevant educational costs.' 2
Suspensions by University Disciplinary Committees
During the past year, disciplinary committees in universities have summoned
student activists in large numbers. These committees have been in place since 1985,
but during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) they were rarely used
as a means of pressuring student activists. As one student told Human Rights Watch:
10 “A review of ‘starred students,' from an ‘absolute lie' to explaining the truth,” Iranian Students News Agency, October 4,
2006, https://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-799139&Lang=P (accessed October 4, 2006).
Ibid.
12 Ibid.
6
Targeting of student activists by Disciplinary Committees started in
2002 and in the past year it has greatly intensified. They have become
the main centers of exerting pressure on students to force them into
silence. The pressure originates from the Supreme Council for Cultural
Revolution and the Ministry of Information. These organs direct the
committees to go after specific students.' 3
The disciplinary committees are charged with investigating student misconduct and
are empowered to hand down punishments. According to the Disciplinary
Regulations for University Students in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the purview of the
disciplinary committees covers a broad range of offenses including criminal,
educational and administrative, political, and moral offenses.' 4 Among the political
offenses defined in the Regulations are “insulting Islamic and national beliefs and
committing actions against the Islamic Republic (such as writing slogans,
distributing announcements)” and “providing false information intentionally.” 5
The committees can order punishments that include suspending students from the
university, expelling students, and even banning students from education in all
universities for up to five years.' 6
The composition of the committees is determined by the university administration. In
each university, the disciplinary committee has five voting members: a
representative of Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei, the dean of students,
a member of the faculty appointed by the university president, and two students also
appointed by the university president; there is also a non-voting committee secretary.
Committee decisions require a simple majority.' 7
13 Human Rights Watch interview with student activist, identity withheld, October 3, 2006.
14 . . . . . . . .
Disciplinary Regulations for University Students in the Islamic Republic of Iran, art. 6,
https://www.sadjad.ac.ir/rights/A148.asp (accessed October 2, 2006).
Ibid., art. 6.c.
16 Ibid., art. 7
17 Ibid., art. 3.
7
Since JuLy 2005, discipLinary committees have suspended at Least 41. students from
universities for up to two semesters. According to media reports, i i. students (who
were not named) were suspended from Hamedan University.1 8 Human Rights Watch
obtained the names of another 30 suspended students, as follows:
Suspended for two semesters:
1. Mujtaba Bayat, member of the central committee of Islamic Students
Association, Tehran University.
2. Zeinab Peyghambarzadeh, Tehran University.
3. Arash Khandil, member of the Islamic Students' Association, Loristan
University.
4. Muhammad Javad Dorrodkeshan, member of the Islamic Students'
Association, Loristan University.
. Hassan Rezaii Ghal'e-No, member of the Society of Islamic Students,
Medical University of Mashad.
6. Towhid Alizadeh, Tehran University.
7. Siamak NadaLi, member of the Islamic Students' Association, Loristan
University.
8. Mustapha Navidi, Sharif University.
Suspended for one semester:
i. Muhammad Sadeq Esfandiari, Tehran University.
2. Hadi Arami, Yazd University.
3. Abed Tavancheh, Amir Kabir University, former member of the central
committee of Islamic Students' Associations.
4. Abbas Hakimzadeh, Amir Kabir University, member of the central
committee of Islamic Students' Associations.
. Hussein Heidari, Tehran University.
6. Mohsen Sohrabi, Amir Kabir University, member of the Islamic
Students' Association.
7. Asu Saleh, Kurdistan University.
8. Muhsen Fatehi, Tehran University.
9. Ali Feyzi, Tehran University.
iS “Heavy suspension sentences issued for ii student activists in Hamedan University,” Adi'arnews, September 14, 2006.
8
10. Amin Ghalei, Isfahan University, member of the Islamic Students'
Association.
i i. Behruz Karimizadeh, Tehran University.
12. Arsalan Gudarzi, Tehran University.
13. Muhammad Khani, Alameh Tabataba'i University.
14. Alireza Maghsoodi, director of student Basij [ a militia organization],
Azad University of Ban dar Abbas.
15. Muhammad Amin Mahdush, Isfahan University and Medical Sciences,
member of the Islamic Students' Association.
i6. Ahmad Mirzai, Isfahan University and Medical Sciences, member of
the Islamic Students' Association.
17. Seyed Hussein Mir-Karimi, Sahan University of Tabriz, member of the
Islamic Students' Association.
i8. Hussein Najafi, Mash ad University and Medical Sciences.
19. Salman Sima, editor of So/than Tazeb student publication, Azad
University of South Tehran.
20. Rasool Bakhshali, Neishapur Payam Nur University.
21. Hadi Montakhebi, Isfahan University.
22. Behrouz Karimizadeh, editor of Khakstudent publication, Tehran
University.
A student activist at Tehran University told Human Rights Watch that since June 2006,
Tehran University's disciplinary committee summoned other students, and has so
far issued suspension rulings for 13 of them. 19 Of these cases, he said, five students
were suspended for two semesters and eight for one semester.
Appendix
List of 35 student activists prosecuted for political activity and sentenced by the
Judiciary, from July 2005 to present, as provided by Iranian student activists:
i. Muhammad Ali Ebadi, member of the central committee of Islamic Students'
Associations, Karaj Teachers College, charged with propaganda against the
19 Human Rights Watch interview with student activist, identity withheld, October 3, 2006.
9
state and insulting the (Supreme) Leader, sentenced to six months'
imprisonment, July 2005.
2. Davood Yari, former member of the Islamic Students' Association of Shahr-
Kurd University, charged with insulting officials, sentenced to a fine of io
million rials (US$110) and 30 lashes, August 2005.
3. Abbas Shekoohmand, student at Teacher's College, former member of the
central committee of the Islamic Students' Association, charged with insulting
an official, fined i,ooo,ooo rials ($iio), August 2005.
4. Amir Hussein Balali, former member of the Islamic Students' Association of
Amir Kabir University, charged with participation in student protests between
1999 and 2001, fined io,ooo,ooo rials ($iioo), November 2005.
. Ahmad Farraji, student at the Science and Industry University, charged with
propaganda against the state and acting against national security, sentenced
to three years' imprisonment (suspended), November 2005.
6. Shiva Nazarahari, student at Azad University, spokeswoman for the
committee in Defense of Political Prisoners, charged with participating in an
illegal protest in front of the United Nations office in Tehran, sentenced to one
year's imprisonment (suspended), November 2005.
7. Farid Modarresi, student at Alameh Tabataba'i University, charged with acting
against national security, sentenced to eight months' imprisonment
(suspended), December 2005.
8. Ali Pasbar, student at Tabriz University, charged with acting against national
security, sentenced to three years' imprisonment, December 2005.
9. Saeed Ardeshiri, student at Kerman's Bahonar University, charged with acting
against national security, sentenced to one year's imprisonment (suspended),
January 2006.
10. Reza Delai Milan, student at Kerm an's Bahonar University, charged with
acting against national security, sentenced to five months' imprisonment
(suspended), January 2006.
ii. Hussein Khodayari, student at Kerman's Bahonar University, charged with
acting against national security, sentenced to five months' imprisonment
(suspended), January 2006.
12. Ali Asghar Sadeghi, charged with acting against national security, sentenced
to i months' imprisonment, February 2006.
10
13. Mehdi Aminizadeh, member of the central committee of Islamic Students'
Associations, Shahid Rajai University, charged with acting against national
security, sentenced to two year's imprisonment, February 2006.
14. Muhammad Rezai, student at Alameh Tabataba'i University, charged with
acting against national security, sentenced to two years imprisonment,
February 2006.
15. Mikaeel Azimi, charged with acting against national security, sentenced to i
months' imprisonment, February 2006.
i6. Heydar Zahedi, student at Tabriz University, charged with insulting officials,
and acting against national security, fined i, 5oo,ooo rials ($160), April 2006.
17. Ali Afshari, member of the central committee of Islamic Students'
Associations, charged with acting against national security and propaganda
against the state, insulting officials, and disseminating misinformation,
sentenced to six years' imprisonment, April 2006.
i8. Peyman Aref, student at Tehran University, charged with acting against
national security, sentenced to i8 months' imprisonment (suspended), April
2006.
19. Farid Hashemi, student at Tehran University, charged with acting against
national security and propaganda against the state, sentenced to six months'
imprisonment (suspended), April 2006.
20.Amin Kurd, student at Azad University, charged with participating in an illegal
protest in front of the United Nations office in Tehran, sentenced to one year's
imprisonment (suspended), April 2006.
21. Ali Sadeghi, former member of the Islamic Students Association at Khajeh
Nasir-al-din University, charged with insulting officials, sentenced to one
year's imprisonment (suspended), June 2006.
22. Murteza Boresh Jan, student at Yazd University, charged with propaganda
against the state, sentenced to six months' imprisonment, June 2006.
23. Muhammad Reza Rahimi-rad, student at Yazd University, charged with
insulting the Leader, sentenced to six months' imprisonment (suspended),
July 2006.
24.AmirAshaghi, member of the Student Republican Association atYazd
University, charged with acting against national security and propaganda
against the state, fined i,ooo,ooo rials ($iio), July 2006.
1 1
25. Omran Porandakh, student at Razi University of Kermanshah, sentenced to
six months' imprisonment (suspended), July 2006.
26.Akbar Atri, former member of the central committee of Islamic Students'
Associations, charged with acting against national security, propaganda
against the state, and insulting the leader, sentenced to three years'
imprisonment, July 2006.
27. Behrooz Khaleqijan, student at Yazd University, charged with propaganda
against the state, sentenced to six months' imprisonment, July 2006.
28. Poya Muhammadian, political secretary of the Islamic Students' Association
at Amir Kabir University, sentenced to three-and-a-half months' imprisonment,
July 2006.
29. Navid Cholami, student at Yazd University, charged with propaganda against
the state, sentenced to six months' imprisonment, July 2006.
30. Mehdi Shirzad, student at Tehran University, charged with gathering with
intent to commit a crime, sentenced to two years' imprisonment (suspended),
August 2006.
31. Farab Samimi, Kar University, charged with participation in student protests
ofJune 2003, sentenced to six months' imprisonment, August 2006.
32. Abdullah Momeni, student at Alameh Tabataba'i University, member of the
central committee of Islamic Students' Associations, charged with acting
against national security, propaganda against the state, sentenced to twenty-
three months' imprisonment (suspended), September 2006.
33. Alireza Moradi, student at Razi University of Kermanshah, charged with acting
against national security and insulting sacred beliefs, sentenced to five
months' imprisonment and a fine of 3,000,000 rials ($330), September 2006.
34. Nader Zamin, student at Tabriz University, charged with acting against
national security, sentenced to one year's imprisonment, September 2006.
35. Reza Abbasi, student at Zan Jan University, former member of the Islamic
Students' Association, charged with propaganda against the state and
insulting the Leader, sentenced to one year's imprisonment, September 2006.
12
List of six student activists prosecuted by the Judiciary from JuLy 2005 to present, but
not yet sentenced, as provided by Iranian student activists:
1. Hamed Iranshahi, member of the IsLamic Students' Association at Arak
University, October 2005.
2. Muhammad Mubasheri, student at Sharif University, charged with insuLting
officiaLs and disseminating misinformation, October 2005.
3. Amir Ra'yat-nazari, student at Tehran University, charged with acting against
nationaL security, October 2005.
4. Arman Rezapour, student at Azad University, charged with acting against
nationaL security, May 2006.
. Davood Hasan pour, student at Tehran University, charged with propaganda
against the state, June 2006.
6. Jamshid Khatami, student at Mash ad University, June 2006.
13
