HRK General Assembly condemns violence against university staff in Iran
(HRK statement of 16 November 2022)
At its meeting in Jena yesterday, the General Assembly of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) expressed its dismay at the continued state violence in Iran against peacefully protesting citizens, including many students and academics. The Assembly of German University Leaders declared its solidarity with the Iranian university members and the citizens demonstrating for human rights and explicitly also for women's rights and equality in Iran. It appealed to the Iranian leadership to immediately refrain from the use of violence, to seek dialogue and to absolutely respect the freedom of expression and of science.
In the course of the nationwide demonstrations for the respect of human rights, there have been strikes and protests at numerous Iranian universities in recent weeks; for example, at the University of Tehran, the Amirkabir University of Technology, the Sharif University of Technology and the Islamic Azad University. Although in Iran the campus of a university is under special protection by law, police and other security forces have repeatedly used violence against peacefully protesting university members, and some university campuses have been stormed. There have also been reported arrests of numerous students by armed security forces in plain clothes, as well as attacks by Basij militias on various universities, such as the University of Sistan and Baluchestan in the Sunni south-east or the University of Kurdistan in the north-west of the country.
"Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and academic freedom are being violated on a significant scale in Iran. We condemn the massive violence, which is being used in particular against university members who are concerned about the present and future of their country," said HRK President Prof. Dr. Peter-André Alt. "At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude for the solidarity that students and researchers from Iran are currently experiencing at German universities. Iranian students make up the fourth largest group of international students from outside Europe in this country. Their concern for relatives and acquaintances in Iran is great."
Scholars at Risk (SaR), the international network for the protection of academics at risk, is also deeply concerned about the excessive violence, especially against Iranian students, teachers and researchers. SaR calls for support for Iranian students and scholars through admission agreements and in the fight for academic freedom.
