Iran’s Pressure On Students Leads To Lengthy Suspensions

In a continuation of the Iranian government’s crackdown against student activists, four individuals have received harsh penalties, including a total of eight years of suspension from their studies.

The development was disclosed by a student association on their Telegram channel, shedding light on the intricate details of the convictions imposed on the students.

Motahareh Gounei, a prominent student activist, has been handed a 24-month suspension, while her husband, Mehdi Hadizadeh, has been sentenced to a 12-month suspension from the university.

The judgments, issued by the authorities, involve the transfer of Gounei and Hadizadeh from Tehran University of Medical Sciences to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences.

The couple had previously faced detention during nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic. After a period of incarceration, they were subsequently released.

Kian Bani Hashemi and Fatemeh Gharibi have each been handed a significant two-and-a-half-year academic suspension. The verdict for the two students was issued by the Tehran University Disciplinary Council.

Since the commencement of the academic year in late September, disturbing reports have surfaced, detailing confrontations with students, expulsions, suspensions, and disciplinary committee sessions.

Furthermore, female students opposing mandatory hijab have received orders to cancel their residence in dormitories.

Last year, students from various universities across the country played a pivotal role in the uprising following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. University campuses became hotbeds of student protests, sit-ins, and gatherings.

The student-led demonstrations persisted for several months, marked by the violent detention or exclusion of hundreds of students from various universities. Suppressive forces also carried out multiple attacks on student dormitories at various institutions of higher learning.