Feb 19, 2023
According to IRGC-affiliated news agency Tasnim, legal proceedings have been initiated against Zeinab Kazempour, the engineer who was disqualified from selection as a candidate of the Construction Engineering Organization due to not wearing hijab. Kazempour expressed her protest and stance loudly and clearly in the assembly on Thursday, February 16.
Students Oppression
The Students Union reported on Friday, February 17, that “suspension” and “expulsion” rulings have been significantly increased against protesting students. The most extreme case is Fatemeh Mahzoon, an anesthesiology student. Based on the ruling, Mahzoon is expelled from the university and will not be allowed to attend any university in Iran for 5 years.
At the same time, Ensieh Khaz’ali, VP for Women and Family Affairs, says that President Raiesi has agreed to “forgive” students who have received warnings or suspensions. However, there is no further information about this “pardon” of students.
Meanwhile, 120 art students at Tehran Art University have protested the suspension of professors in an open letter. The letter to the head of the art department states that “the suspensions of professors have caused great disappointment and sadness among students.”
Human Rights Charter by Academia
A group of academics has published a charter emphasizing the need for equality and human rights in the future after the fall of the Islamic Republic.
This charter was launched by a group of Kurdish academics and then attracted other academics. Below is a summary of the points mentioned in the charter:
Commitment to equality despite gender, language, religion, beliefs, ethnicity, race, disability, and social class.
Respecting one’s dignity against humiliation and dehumanization.
Commitment to international human rights and UN principles.
Commitment to alignment with the international practices against women discrimination.
Changing all the regulations that enforce oppression against women, in subjects such as abortion, divorce, traveling, and inheritance shares.
Commitment to respect LGBTQIA+ rights.
Commitment to omit executions and tortures.
Commitment to preserving environmental assets.
Commitment to respect cultural diversity and fight against ethnocide and linguicide.
Commitment to cultural pluralism.
Commitment to the development of first languages [mother tongues], including the right to education in the first language and the acceptance of multilingual structures.
Commitment to the separation of the institution of religion from the government (secularism).
Freedom of belief and religion.
Commitment to dismantle undemocratic privileges such as lifetime political status.
Trials for Islamic Republic’s crimes.