Students In Iran Protest Dismissal, Suspension Of Professors

University students have kept up strikes, class boycotts, and sit-ins in some universities in Iran, 74 days after popular protests started against the Islamic Republic government.

The students at Beheshti University held a sit-in Monday in protest to the suspension of professors who supported the students.

In a statement, they announced if the suspensions and dismissals continue, they are ready to boycott classes and end-of-semester exams.

Earlier, an assistant professor of Beheshti university, Mohammad Ragheb, wrote on his Instagram page that he has been suspended because of his participation in anti-government protests.

Previously, Hossein Mesbahian, a faculty member of University of Tehran also stated that he had been fired upon the order of university officials.

On Sunday, students at Tehran University's Faculty of Literature staged a sit-in to protest the dismissal of Hossein Mesbahian.

Iranian media reported that Tehran University political science professor Sadegh Zibakalam was summoned Monday by Tehran Prosecutor's Office.

Zibakalam is an Iranian academic, author and pundit described as reformist and neo-liberal. He appears frequently on international news outlets including the BBC News and Al Jazeera.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) in its latest report said 569 students have been arrested since September 16 when the nationwide protests began in Iran triggered by the killing of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

HRANA also noted that as much as 143 universities across Iran have been the scene of anti-regime demonstrations.