On December 12, 2023, the Iranian Student Guild Councils reported on Telegram channel that the University of Tehran’s Disciplinary Committee had launched disciplinary proceedings against at least 30 students from the Faculty of Social Sciences for their participation in a Student Day protest rally on December 7.

The disciplinary proceedings came as tensions escalated at the University of Tehran. Among the issues that students were protesting were the actions of Gholamreza Jamshidi, the head of the Faculty of Social Sciences. In November 2023, a video surfaced on social media showing Jamshidi engaging in aggressive behavior towards students, including by referring to them as “prostitutes” and labeling the Faculty as a “brothel.”

Scholars at Risk is concerned by a university disciplining students for their support of protest movements. Higher education authorities should refrain from such disciplinary actions and respect students’ exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, disciplinary actions intended to deter or punish organized student expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society in general.

Sources:
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-university-protest-punishments/32727109.html
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202311084491
https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2102205.html
https://x.com/SedayeShahrivar/status/1734278562079719576?s=20 https://x.com/indypersian/status/1733930985123700744?s=20
https://x.com/bbcpersian/status/1733814363356631338?s=20