Tragic Deaths of Four Iranian Asylum Seekers in Greece
Female Athlete To Receive Reward For GoldMedal ‘Only If Married’
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News bulletin of the Iranian Progressive Youth
01-12-2010
Iranian Students, Activists Condemn Planned Changes To Social Sciences Source: Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty December 02, 2010
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lans are afoot in Iran to bring the social sciences into line with Islamic teachings, leaving students like Sam worried. Sam, a 29-year-old who studies social sciences in Tehran, believes authorities have targeted his field of study because it helps develop critical thinking. “Social sciences are intolerable to religious [fanatics] whose most backward spectrum is currently ruling Iran,” he says on condition that his real name not be used. But Sam also says the efforts of Iranian authorities, who have announced changes to university social-science curriculums that they intend to implement over the next few years, will ultimately fail. If the effort is intended to silence lines of thinking that could compete or contrast with officially sanctioned views, then Sam believes authorities must look far beyond Iran’s universities. “Today the creation of new ideas in Iran is not limited to universities,” Sam says. “I can even say that in unofficial [structures] the creation and spread of new ideas is more widespread. The universities of Iran are today nothing more than publishing centers for degrees.” At issue is the way in which uni-
versities teach the social sciences, fields of study that include law, philosophy, management, political science, psychology, women’s studies, and human rights. While the fields have achieved universal acceptance, Iranian authorities have announced restrictions on the university-level study of 12 social sciences designed to make them more palatable with respect to the Iranian republic’s values. Closing Ranks Senior education official Abolfazl Hassani, announcing the restrictions in October, said that the curriculum of those dozen subjects is based on the Western school of thought and therefore not in line with Islamic fundamentals.
Hassani said no new departments relating to the 12 fields of study will be allowed to open, and 70 percent of the content currently being taught is slated for revision. The changes, intended to bring the courses into line with the religious teachings of the Islamic republic, will be finalized by the summer of 2011. The announcement is seen as a response to criticisms of the social sciences voiced by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in August 2009. Khamenei criticized the social sciences for engendering doubt about religious principles and suggested that the authorities look seriously into altering the curriculums of social science courses.
His criticism of the social science has since been echoed by other officials, including the head of Iran’s Basij force, Mohammad Reza Naghdi, and the head of the country’s judiciary, Javad Larijani.
A group of their own people He says he knows many students wants to dig up laws from 1,400 of the social sciences who have alyears ago and implement them.” ready begun to brush up on their foreign-language skills so they can “They can’t do it,” Said says. pursue their studies elsewhere. “We’re not living in a time where Others, he predicts, will continue they can stop people’s ideas and their studies outside the university Larijani has focused his criticism actions.” framework in Iran. on psychology and sociology, which he says are incompatible Another university graduate, who Possible Responses with religious theories. Naghdi spoke on condition of anonymity, has gone so far as to claim the so- says that the campaign against the Opposition figures have been vocial sciences are the foundation of social sciences must be seen in the cal in condemning efforts to alter a “soft war” against the Islamic re- context of increased repression the way social sciences are taught, public. against universities, which were at saying it is a sign of authoritarianthe center of antigovernment pro- ism. Criticism has also come from con- tests in 2009. A former Azad Uniservative figures such as hard-line versity accounting and philosophy Earlier this month, former Presicleric Mohammad Taghi Mesbah student who was among those dent Mohammad Khatami warned Yazdi, President Mahmud Ah- arrested amid the unrest that fol- of unforeseen consequences. madinejad’s spiritual mentor, who lowed Ahmadinejad’s reelection, has called university professors he says authorities are seeking re- “When in the Middle Ages sancof law and political science “cor- venge. tities were extended everywhere rupt” and accused them of trainand to everything, man rebelled ing many of those who played a “We witnessed the social sciences and reacted by putting aside all key role in last year’s “sedition,” and their products being put on [religious issues] because even isa term used by Iranian officials trial,” he notes, describing the cur- sues that were not holy had beto describe the mass protests that rent moves as politicians interfer- come holy during those times.” followed Ahmadinejad’s 2009 ree- ing in the academic sphere. lection. In July, opposition leader Mir HosThis, he predicts, will prompt a sein Musavi said that the “organSeeking Revenge? reaction from students and pro- ized attack” on social sciences fessors, giving the authorities an serves as a reminder of the “bitSam, the student from Tehran, excuse to intensify pressure on ter experience of the former Sosays the offensive demonstrates academics who have criticized the viet Union and other totalitarian the “very fragile” position of the establishment. regimes in Eastern Europe that social sciences in Iran. Yet he placed restrictions on the humaniand other students who spoke to A senior member of Advar Tahkim ties.” He added that totalitarian RFE/RL believe that authorities Vahdat, the political committee of regimes that copy such methods will ultimately fail in their renewed the alumni organization of Iran’s would face a similar fate. efforts to “Islamicize” humanities. largest reformist student group, says on condition of anonymity One of Musavi’s advisers, Amir Recent graduate Said, who now that changes to the curriculum of Arjomand, recently accused Iranihas a management degree from the social sciences could hamper an authorities of preparing an “acIran’s Azad University, says the Is- the work of academics, leading ademic coup” following last year’s lamic republic cannot put its own them to leave the country to pur- “election coup.” Having fled Iran stamp on the social sciences be- sue their studies. in recent months, he suggested cause it lacks the resources to go during a speech in Berlin in midit alone. “A significant number of talent- November that academics and ined students will leave Iran,” he tellectuals should launch an online “Who have they had as a source warns, “and those who are inter- humanities-based university for or authority [on humanities] in the ested in social sciences and can’t the people of Iran that would alpast 30 years that they could use leave the country will be forced to low them to study social sciences now?” Said asks. “Those who cut quit social sciences and become at the international level. [off] hands are now planning to al- frustrated.” ter [the teaching of] human rights.
Female Athlete To Receive Reward For Gold Medal ‘Only If Married’ Source: Persian Letters December 02, 2010
Iranian student movement Progress and Perspective Source: Iranian Progressive Youth November 26, 2010
On the occasion of Iran’s National Student’s Day
Special Guest Speaker:
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ranian athlete Khadijeh Azadpour, who won a gold medal at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, says that officials told her she would only be given the apartment she was promised as a reward for winning a gold medal if she got married. Azadpour, 22, who won the gold medal in Sanshou 60kg Wushu (a Chinese martial art) at the Asian Games on November 17, told the website “Tebyan” that the authorities had not kept their promise. “Before I left, they promised to give me a house if I won a gold medal. They said, ‘After you return, you will get the keys to the apartment at the airport,’” she said. “But unfortunately it didn’t happen and after following up they said that the conditions had changed and only if you get married will the reward be yours.” She said the decision would damage her morale and the morale of other athletes, adding that such incidents could also make her lose her motivation to compete in other sporting events.
Saeed Habibi, Human rights activist, former chairperson of the Azadpour said she worked hard to Iranian student union win the gold medal. She said she trained for nine months, day and Peyman Jafari, Political scientist, night. She also said that the Irani- researcher at University of Aman authorities should treat female sterdam and male athletes equally. Shahin Nasiri, Essayist, spokes“In my view there is no difference person “Iranian Progressive between my gold medal and the Youth” gold medals won by the men, [the authorities] should look at athletes Pejman Salim, Jurist, board member “Iranian Progressive Youth” the same way.” The Sanshou champion said that if female athletes had access to the same sports facilities as men, they might be even more successful than their male colleagues. RFE/RL’s Radio Farda sports reporter Mehdi Rostampour writes that there was “discrimination” between men and women athletes even before the games. “Iran’s sports organization gave male athletes who were being sent to Guangzhou 10 million toumans while female athletes received only 900,000 toumans,” he notes.
Q&A portion Language: Dutch Music: Babak-o-Doestan Shervin Najafian University of Amsterdam CREA Theater Turfdraagsterpad 17 1012 XT Amsterdam Saturday, December 4 14.00 to 18.00 hours Free entrance Confirm your attendance at the Facebook event here
IDFA awards Iran’s “anonymous filmmakers” Source: Radio Zamaneh
Tragic Deaths of Four Iranian Asylum Seekers in Greece Source: Persian2English November 24, 2010
November 25, 2010
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he International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has honoured the “anonymous filmmakers” who recorded the images of the Iranian people’s protests following the controversial presidential elections of 2009. The festival website reports that Lionel Veer, Dutch Ambassador of Human Rights will award the prize to The Silent Majority Speaks, a collection of films and images taken by people from the protests that followed the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 presidential elections. For security reasons, Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, Iranian women’s rights activist, will accept the prize on behalf of the anonymous collective that made the film. The award consists of a five-thousandeuro cash prize offered by Amsterdam’s oldest cinema hall, Pathe Tuschinski.
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he bodies of four Iranian refugees suffocated to death have been discovered in a truck in Greece. After discovering the bodies, the Greek police has announced that four refugees who are in all likelihood Iranians have died of suffocation in a truck that was transporting them to Italy. The France Press, citing an informed Greek police source, has reported that the bodies of the victims who were all men were discovered inside a truck with an Italian license plate. According to these sources, the Greek police noticed a parked truck on a road near Amfiloxia [western Greece] and proceeded to investigate which resulted in the discovering of the bodies.
The same sources refuse to deny the possibility that other refugees were also in the truck or human traffickers have hidden the bodies of The festival website states that other victims. The initial report indicates that the victims were all IraThe Silent Majority Speaks is the nian refugees who were trying to reach Italy. work of an anonymous collective who portray the desire of young Greece, which is part of the eastern [branch] of the European Union, Iranians for change in the protests is considered to be the most important path through which illegal imto the alleged vote rigging in the migrants from Asia and Africa find refuge in the West. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, since the begin2009 elections. According to the festival website: ning of the year, forty four refugees have drowned in Evros river in the “The film is a 93-minute collec- northeast borders of Greece and Turkey. tion of 14 films that were taken by cell phones from the unrest and violent moments in the people’s street protests during which several protesters were killed.”
World’s youngest blogger on trial in Iran Source: RadioZamaneh November 20, 2010
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eporters Without Borders announced that the world’s youngest blogger was put on trial six days ago without a defence attorney behind closed doors in Iranian northern city of Amol. Persian branch of Reporters Without Borders reports that the eighteen-year-old Navid Mohebbi is currently in Saari Prison awaiting sentencing. The report stated yesterday: “Navid Mohebbi, director of Gah Neveshteha blog and a women’s rights activist, was arrested on September 18 by intelligence officers at his home under violence and severe beatings.” The blogger is charged with “activities against national security, insulting the founder and the current leader of the Islamic Republic and membership in the One Million Signatures Campaign.” Following the controversial elections of 2009, the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was challenged by millions of protesters who claim their votes were stolen. Journalists and bloggers have been a main target of the government’s crackdown on dissent in the post-election events. According to Reporters Without Borders, Ahmadreza Ahmadpour who writes “Pejvak-e Khamoosh” blog has been detained in Qom Prison since last December. He has been sentenced to one year in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime and publishing falsehoods and defaming the clergy.” Mohammad PourAbdollah, another blogger who was arrested in February of 2009, was sentenced to six years in prison for the charge of “assembly, collusion and propaganda against the regime.” The appellate court has reportedly reduced his sentence to three years in prison but the judiciary has refused to grant him bail. Mehdi Khazali, another Iranian blogger, was arrested in October charged with “activities against national security and disturbing public minds.” Khazali was released on a $20,000 bail a month later .Mehdi Khazali is a staunch Ahmadinejad critic who has been disowned by his father, Ayatollah Abolghassem Khazali, who unlike his son, is a conservative cleric and member of the Guardian Council.
UN resolution on human rights violations approved Source: RadioZamaneh November 19, 2010
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he Third Committee of the United Nation has approved a draft resolution condemning the Islamic Republic for human rights violations. Reuters reports that General Assembly’s Third Committee, which is also referred to as the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, passed the resolution 80-44 with 57 abstaining last night in New York. The resolution was drafted with the support of the US, the EU and Canada could be adopted next month. The Canadian representative argued that there has been a “very regrettable” deterioration of human rights in Iran in the past year. The draft lists violation of human rights defenders, excessive use of
violence, arbitrary arrests, unjust trials, torture, dismemberment, stoning, increase in executions including executions of juvenile offenders, widespread gender inequality, violence against women and violations of minority rights as major causes of concern in Iran. The draft notes “particular concern” about what it referred to as the failure of the Islamic Republic government “to investigate or launch an accountability process for alleged violations following the presidential elections” in June 2009. The Committee also expressed grave concern about “serious and systematic restrictions” on free assembly and peaceful organizations, freedom of speech
in the media, freedom of political dissidents, human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists in Iran. The International Campaign for Human Rights described the Committee’s approval of the draft resolution as “a welcome step in the continuing effort to put a stoplight on the country’s growing human rights crisis.” Mohammad Javad Larijani, Iran’s representative in the Committee criticized the move saying the United States was “the mastermind and main provocateur behind a text that had nothing to do with human rights.”
Call for Commemoration of Iranian Students’ Day Source: Students for Iran November 16 2010
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s the date of Iran’s Students’ Day approaches, universities across Iran remain at the forefront of resistance against the dictatorship and totalitarianism of the Islamic Republic and continue the struggle for freedom, justice and human rights. The student movement carries on its pivotal role in the contention between the defenders of freedom and democracy on one side and the strongarm of the state on the other side. Although the regime’s militaristic forces have inflicted a great deal of harm to Iran’s universities as a means to keep them in check, Iran’s academic institutions remain quite vibrant in the pursuit of truth and justice and in their role as a cradle of progressive ideas. December 7, which marks the day in 1953 when three student activists (Ghandchi, Shariat-Razavi, and Bozorg-Nia) were killed by the Shah’s forces, remains a symbolic day for Iran’s students who further the efforts for democracy, freedom, human rights, and justice. While the student movements is proud of its seven decades of continuous and unabated struggle for enlightening the Iranian society and improving Iranian’s lives, today it faces real challenges. Even a simple celebration of this year’s Student Day poses grave risks and dangers. Over the past year, the pressure to stop Iranian students from engaging in peaceful, civil activities continues to escalate daily. Often times, active students are incarcerated or barred from continuing their education on politically motivated charges. IRI authorities fabricate scenarios as a means to charge student activists with involvement in “soft revolution, sedition, or connection to foreign forces” — all of which serve to deprive active students of their basic civil rights and academic freedoms. As a group of Iranian academics living outside Iran, we have assumed the responsibility of echoing the voices of student activists inside Iran using the international arena and planning major events to commemorate Students’ Day and to highlight and reflect the Iranian students’ demands. Improved cooperation among Iranian students and academics abroad can greatly better the quality and quantity of Iranian student organizations all over the world. This is essential to revitalizing the Iranian student movement outside the country – one that can become a significant cornerstone for the Iranians peoples’ efforts to attain freedom. We urge the following goals to commemorate Iran’s Students’ Day: The immediate and unconditional release and freedom of the over seventy imprisoned students. Overturning the disciplinary committees’ temporary and permanent prohibition of student activists. Guaranteeing academic freedom and stopping the human and civil rights violations in universities. Putting an immediate end to the ideological intervention in humanities and social science education and research. Defending the institutional independence of academia in Iran and putting an end to the government’s intervention in universities’ management. Stopping the government’s program of expulsion of independent professors and replacing them with corroborative uneducated figures. Nullification of the dissolution of Iran College of Medical Sciences, and stopping governmental intervention in the organizational structure of universities. Putting an end to the political, ideological, sexist and religious discrimination in the student admission process. Voicing the student movement’s viewpoints in Iranian national affairs. Mobilizing Iranian student organizations abroad. Supporting international sanctions against state officials who have engaged in the systematic human rights abuses and violations against the Iranian people. The time and location of events in various cities will follow. Individuals and academics who wish to support this cause may do so by emailing us at 16azar.ec@gmail.com. Please go to Students4Iran.org and DaneshjooNews.com for additional information.
Iranian Progressive Youth www.iranpy.net contact@iranpy.net