Around May 5, 2026, the University of Tehran suspended Amirmohammad Karimi, a polymer engineering student, for two semesters for allegedly burning Iran’s flag.

Iranian security forces had arrested Karimi two weeks before his suspension. He was unable to attend his disciplinary hearing, and the University of Tehran issued his suspension in absentia.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the suspension, arbitrary arrest, and imprisonment of a student in apparent retaliation for the peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly—conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and other related higher education values.

Sources:
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/05/article-25-1
https://hanahr.org/en/news/two-university-of-tehran-students-expelled-by-disciplinary-committee/
https://www.facebook.com/tavaana/posts/university-of-tehran-students-vahid-rostami-and-amirmohammad-karimi-arrested-ami/1386232610202353/