60 Bahai students barred this year

HRANA, August 17, 2022. –

The “roll call” of Bahai students who have been barred from entering tertiary education after sitting this year’s university entrance examination has now reached 60. See the HRANA site for their names and the cities and regions they come from.

More Bahai students barred than in previous years

HRANA, August 13, 2022. –

Thus far, 53 Bahai students in Iran are known to have been barred from tertiary education after sitting this year’s University Entrance examination. Last year, 18 excluded Bahai students were identified, and the year before that it was 21.

46 Bahai students known to be barred from university this year

HRANA, August 10, 2022. –

As of today, 46 Bahai students who participated in the national University Entrance examinations this year have been barred from tertiary education using pretexts such as “incomplete file” on their academic records. Their names are:
سما میثاقیان ساکن رفسنجان
آرشام نیری ساکن کرمان
نشاط عبدلی ساکن اصفهان
کوروش کریمی نژاد، ارشیا پروین، آریا مصلح، روژین عاطفی، عهدیه نامجویان، تارا روزبهان و دیبا بهشاد ساکن اصفهان
شیوا امین ساکن شاهین شهر
مهسا فروهری، هانا موفقی و هیوا بدیعی ساکن کرج،
بهزاد براتی ساکن مشهد
آوا مشکین نفس، فارس حمدی حصاری، ملیکا ملّاکی ساکن بیرجند
بابک یکانی، عطاییه همتی و ژینوس همتی ساکن کرمان
پارسا روحانی و ساغر شهیدی ساکن کاشان
شمیم ایدلخانی و نسیم ایدلخانی ساکن اردبیل
مستعان اقدسی، منا امینی، هونام اسماعیلی، جمشید نورانی و همایون اسماعیلی ساکن تهران
ثمین شهریاری، ساکن کرج
شیدا ایشانی و نورا میرزائی ساکن فردیس کرج و کرمان
فروتن رحمانی، رها بارقی، بشیر نعیمی و رکسانا بابائیان ساکن شهرهای کرج، چابهار، کرمان و میاندوآب
شمیم خاکزاد در تهران
فائز مقدم در ارومیه
نوا ترابی در کرج
تارا بهبهانی و لوا حقیقی در فردیس کرج
بدیع روحانی، مهتا مغربین، رها گلشنی و پرند حسن زاده از اصفهان

16 Bahai students excluded, & a short history of discrimination

IranWire, September 30, 2021. –

IranWire has a short history of the various disguises used to exclude Bahai students from tertiary education in Iran. Since the results of the 2021 national entrance exams were announced in late September, Baha’i students who obtained passing grades and went to the education assessment site found they were under “General Disqualification.” Because of his or her faith, a Baha’i student does not meet one of the general conditions set out for the 2021 entrance exam. The first paragraph of these general conditions states that the student is required to follow Islam or one of the religions recognized in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic. The report lists 16 Bahais known to have been barred from entering university in this way: Nora Motlagh, Leva Motlagh, Sepehr Nikki, Ava Shahriari, Nora Nabipour, Mesbah Misaghi, Foroutan Rahmani, Rosa Mokhlesi, Nasim Shahriari, Farhan Shizadi, Elena Qolizadeh Roshankoohi, Mahsa Forouhari, Forouzan Nikokar, Parsa Charkhand, Lena Kamjoo and Emilia Hakimian.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai students again barred from tertiary education in Iran

HRANA, September 26, 2021. –

HRANA reports the case of Nasim Shahyaari-Zavaareh (نسیم شهریاری زواره), an 18-year-old Bahai from Tehran who was successful in the University Entrance examinations, but has been barred from university because of her Bahai beliefs. On the web site of the National Assessments organisation, her profile has the word “rejected,” a shift from previous years when the words “file incomplete” were used. A number of other Bahai students have also received the message “rejected.” When Miss Shahyaari followed up on her rejection, she was told that the Ministry of Intelligence had tagged her. She was then asked about her beliefs and her family’s beliefs, and told, “I cannot do anything: if you insist you are a Bahai your problem probably cannot be solved.”

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Iran to tighten repression of Bahais and Sufis in Mazandaran Province

HRANA, March 10, 2021. –

A leak of confidential documents has revealed that a meeting of representatives from nine of Iran’s security organisations, together with officials from government departments, held in Sari on September 3 last year, decided to tighten the repression of Bahais and Sufis in Mazandaran Province. The activities of Bahais in the bazaar (in the economy) and in private meetings are to be more tightly controlled. The Directors of primary and secondary schools in Sari County are tasked with identifying Bahai pupils and attracting them to Islam, while the heads of tertiary education in the County are required to ensure that the exclusion of Bahais from tertiary education is enforced. The head of the Ministry of Industry and Mining was tasked with controlling the activities of Bahais in the bazaar. Such a high-level meeting confirms anecdotal evidence that Bahai and Sufi communities are growing in Iran, to the extent that they are seen as a threat.

Bahai students again barred from Iran’s universities

Iran Wire, November 2, 2020. –

On Friday, October 30, Ebrahim Khodaei, head of the Iran’s National Organization of Educational Testing, announced that this year’s results of 2020 had been posted on the organization’s website. Participants, he said, could visit the site, enter their registration number and other personal information, and then view their personal results.

As in previous years, when Bahai students logged on this year, they found that their records were flagged with the words “incomplete dossier”: a catch-all term the testing organization has been using for more than a decade now to stop students known to belong to the Baha’i community from progressing to the next stage in their education.

At the time of writing, IranWire had received the names of 14 Bahai participants who have been locked out of the grading system because of an “incomplete dossier”. They were Parsa Seyed Ahmad, Shahrad Mohammad-Zadeh (who ranked 653rd in the nationwide entrance exams), Kimia Manouchehri, Setareh Izadi, Kian Laghaee, Aria Sheikh Zavareh, Marjan Abbas-Pouli, Faran Ghodratyan, Vahid Sadeghi, Mobina Hooshmandi, Arshia Eshraghi, Shamim Idelkhani (who ranked 686th), Aryan Dehghani (2000th) and Sayena Shafizadeh. The “Iran” news site reports 17 Bahai students have been excluded, without naming them.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Elaheh Sami`zaadeh sentenced to an additional year

HRANA (ENG), May 25, 2020. –

As previously reported, Elaheh Sami`zaadeh (الهه سمیع زاده), a Bahai from Shiraz, was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Sayyid Mahmud Saadaati (قاضی سید محمود ساداتی), on charges of “propaganda against the regime and membership in opposition groups” (plus a one-year concurrent sentence), for her work as an instructor at “mother-child innovation courses” using her valid college degree obtained from official institutions. Another charge of “forging a university degree” was brought up against her in July 2019 and caused her bail to be increased by 60 million tumans. This case was heard by Judge Fakhaarzaadeh (قاضی فخارزاده), the charge being “misuse of scientific titles,” which refers to her studies at the Bahai Institute of Higher Education. He has sentenced her to one year in prison and 2 years suspension from holding all governmental and public jobs. All Bahais in Iran are permanently barred from governmental and public jobs, and also from work in many economic sectors, and from tertiary education.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

As academic year begins, more Bahai students are excluded

Hesar news, September 19, 2019. –

As the new academic year begins in Iran, reports are coming in from across the country of Bahai students who have passed the university entrance examination (the ‘Concours’) but are refused enrollment in tertiary institutions because of their Bahai beliefs. One current collation of these reports has 22 names :
-1 سهند شیرازی، تهران؛
۲- مهتاب خادم، تهران؛
۳- نگین فروغی، شهرکرد؛
۴- وفا نوبخت، ساری؛
۵- بهزاد یزدانی، شیراز؛
۶- ترنم کمالی، شیراز؛
۷- تارا احسان، تهران؛
۸- آیلار روشن نهاد، ساری؛
۹- ارمغان عنایتی، سمنان؛
۱۰- سیاوش بلوچ قرائی، مشهد؛
۱۱- درسا مصطفوی، تهران؛
۱۲- آریا احسانی، کرج؛
۱۳- نوریه فردوسیان، اصفهان؛
۱۴- شایلین عقیلی، کرج؛
۱۵- نگار ایقانی، شیراز؛
۱۶- غزل الله وردی گرجی، ساری؛
۱۷- سراج صفریان، ساری؛
۱۸- شعله موفقی ایولی، ساری؛
۱۹- روژان احسانی، کاشان؛
۲۰- روژین کثیری، کرج؛
۲۱- مهسا فروهری، کرج؛
۲۲- شمیم ایدلخانی، اردبیل

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Minister of Education approves policy of barring Bahais from schools

Radio Farda, September 11, 2019. –

Iran Press Watch, following HRANA and other Persian sources, has reported that Borna Piraasteh (برنا پیراسته), an outstanding Bahai student at the Sa’adat School in Semnan, has been barred from re-enrolling in the third grade of high school after the summer break because of his Bahai beliefs. According to a Radio Farda report, after this news became public, the newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Mohsen Haaji Mirzaa’i (محسن حاجی‌میرزایی) declared that all students belonging to “non-official” religions are barred from secondary schools, because this would constitute “propaganda.” He was speaking at a news conference connected to a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, but the report does not indicate whether Cabinet has approved his policy, which would involve barring all Bahai children from schools.

The Piraasteh family were informed that their son would not be allowed to enroll by the Principal, speaking by telephone. Initially they were told this was because some parents at the school had objected.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Review court confirms that Bahais are barred from tertiary education

HRANA, August 8, 2019. –

The Review court for administrative law has upheld a ruling that Bahais in Iran are barred from tertiary education. Hanaan Har (حنان حر) passed the University Entrance examinations three years ago and was accepted at the Noshirvaani (نوشیروانی) University in Babol, to study Mechanics, but from October 23, 2016, she was barred from the campus because of her Bahai beliefs. In the following year, she took a case to the Administrative Court to obtain her human and civil rights, but the court refused to hear the case because it stated that “Bahais are not only barred from working in public places, they are barred from tertiary education in Iran as well.”

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Negin Qadameyan, serving a 5-year sentence, allowed furlough

HRANA, April 27, 2019. –

Negin Qedamiaan (نگین قدمیان), who began serving her 5-year sentence for educational crimes in relation to the Bahai Open University (BIHE) on December 16, 2017, was allowed a furlough from Evin Prison from April 22 to April 27. She had lodged several requests for a furlough for medical treatment for gum inflammation and pain in her jaw and teeth. She was arrested, along with many others associated with the Open University, in May, 2011. On March 12, 2013, she and nine other Bahais associated with the Open University were tried. After the trial they were freed on bail or with a pledge, until summoned to begin their sentences.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Student expelled for Bahai beliefs in Kashan

HRANA, February 2, 2018. –

Sepehr Shahidi-Qamsari (سپهر شهیدی قمصری), who was in the fifth semester of a degree in civil engineering at the Sina Institute in Kashan, has been expelled because of his Bahai beliefs. On December 18, 2018, he found that his page on the Institute’s site had been closed, and on following up on that, University officials told him that two weeks early inspectors from the Universities of Isfahan and Kashan had come to the Institute wanting to check the “religion” box in his student file, and had determined that he should be expelled because of his Bahai beliefs, without being given any certificate or statement of the grades he had achieved.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Three Bahai students expelled at end of semester

HRANA, January 10, 2019. –

On January 9, Badi Safaajou (بدیع صفاجو), a Bahai from Karaj who was in his seventh semester of a degree in chemical engineering at the Azad University, was expelled because of his Bahai beliefs. He was called out while sitting one of the term examinations and told of his expulsion. The head of his department told him this was because he was a Bahai. He had achieved an average grade of 19.7.

In a separate report, HRANA notes the expulsion of Shirin Beninezhaad (شیرین بنی نژاد), who was in the fifth semester of a course in applied computer science at the Sama College branch of the Azad University, in Andisheh New Town (between Karaj and Tehran). On January 9, she was summoned to the University and told that she had been expelled one month earlier. At that point she had completed the classes for the course and one of the examinations. She had another three examinations to sit in order to complete her degree. The head of the College told her and her family that they (the University authorities) had no role in her expulsion, and she should take any questions to the Ministry of Intelligence.

Shaayaan Ma`navi (شایان معنوی), a Bahai student in the third semester of a degree in civil engineering at the Qods City campus of the Azad University was also expelled recently. On December 17, 2018, he found his access to the University web site was blocked, and on January 10, after numerous enquiries, he was told he had been expelled because of his Bahai beliefs.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled in Shahryar

HRANA, January 7, 2019. –

On January 5, Sama Nazifi (سما نظیفی), a student of architecture at the Shahryar campus of the Azad University, was expelled because of her Bahai beliefs. In the previous year, she had earned a commendation from the University. Although Bahais are generally excluded from tertiary education in Iran, individuals sometimes succeed in enrolling and gaining some higher education, until information and pressure from the Ministry of Intelligence causes the University to expel them.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Graduate denied his diploma

HRANA, December 23, 2018. –

Three months ago, Behrouz Farzandi (بهروز فرزندی), a Bahai from Shiraz, completed a graduate degree in business studies at the Payam-e Nour university, but has not been issued his diploma because of his religious beliefs. Mr. Farzandi is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war and spent two years in a prisoner of war camp. He has a 25% disability because of his war injuries. The University has claimed that it has lost his file, but it the “security office” (an on-campus branch of the Ministry of Intelligence) that is handling the case. He has had contact with the security office and the head of security has told him “we will call you,” but after three months he is still in limbo. He has completed all the degree requirements: he needs only a single signature from a university official. During his studies he was harassed several times, with diverse excuses, summoned to the security office and threatened with expulsion. His Bahai identity must have been known to the security office when he enrolled, since in August 2014 his family was in the national news when the administration at the government-run Martyr Khonsari secondary school in Shiraz refused to enroll his children, because the family are Bahais. This was in contravention of explicit legislation regarding civil rights, the right to education and the ban on investigating people’s religious beliefs. Moreover, Mr. Ardekani provided a copy of an official letter stating that Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa stating the Bahai ex-prisoners of war and disabled veterans are entitled to the rights of other veterans and ex-POWs.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled in Isfahan

Shahrvandyar (Facebook), September 26, 2018. –

Shaqayeq Shouqi (شقایق شوقی), a student of applied chemistry in her sixth semester of study at the Isfahan University of Technology, has been expelled because of her Bahai beliefs. She discovered she had been expelled on the last day of the term exams, when she found that her access to her student profile on the University’s web site was blocked, and there was no way to re-enroll for the coming semester. When she enquired with university officials she was told that she would have to pursue the matter with the national office of educational assessment. When she did so, officials said that they were sorry, and that she had done nothing wrong, but the system is based on regulations that bar Bahais from entering universities. She was not given any documentary evidence that she had been expelled, and officials have refused to return the high school certificates she submitted when she first enrolled unless she provides a form saying she has withdrawn from university voluntarily.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Student denied his diploma in Urmia

Hamid Rezataghpour (citing HRANA), Semptember 19, 2018. –

Mithaq Aghsani (میثاق اغصانی), an undergraduate student at the Payam-e Nour University in Urmia (Urumiyyeh), has been denied his Bachelor’s diploma and barred from further education because of his Bahai beliefs. His father is a veteran and war prisoner from the Iran-Iraq war, which, if he were not a Bahai, would give his son privileged access to university in Iran. The business of his father and grandfather have both been closed by the authorities for the past 14 months, because they are Bahais. They are continuing to work, on the footpath in front of their workplaces, in the heat of summer and cold of winter.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled in Karaj, 58 excluded from enrolling

Adian Bashariyat (relaying HRANA), September 20, 2018. –

Anahita Horr (آناهیتا حر), a Bachelor’s student of architectural drawing at the non-profit Rasam University in Karaj has been expelled because of her Bahai beliefs. She was able to enroll in 2016 (around August), and has completed two years of study.

HRANA continues to monitor the number of Bahai students who have completed the University Entrance examination successfully, but are barred from enrollment because their Bahai beliefs are known to the Ministry of Intelligence. Thus far, this year’s total is 58. At about this time last year, 115 Bahai students were known to have been excluded at the gate, and in October 2016 the figure for that year was 129.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled from Tehran technical college

Hamid Rezataghipour, September 19, 2018. –

Nikan Sheydan-Shaydi, a Bahai student in the third semester of an Intermediate study in moulding technology at the Technical College of Tehran, has been expelled because of his Bahai beliefs. He began his studies in February 2017. He was summoned to the Institute’s security office [a branch of the Ministry of Intelligence] and asked why he had enrolled, since he was a Bahai? “There is no place for Bahais here, just like the universities.” However he was told that he could change the religion field in his student records, and continue with his studies.

In recent days the number of Bahai students who have just passed the University Entrance examination, and find they are excluded from tertiary education on the excuse of “incomplete file,” has risen beyond 50. In previous years the total has been above 100 each year.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

More students excluded for their Bahai beliefs

Mahvash Zaeri, September 15, 2018. –

More Bahai students who passed the University Entrance examination with good marks have learned that they are excluded from tertiary education because the authorities — who according to the Constitution are not permitted to inquire into religious beliefs — know they are Bahais. The new names (in addition to those I listed yesterday) are Sahand Qa’emi (سهند قائمی), Faran Abbas-Pouli (فاران عباس پولی), Basiz Zayn-`Ali (?) Baghini (بصیز زینلی باغینی), Sadaf Mithaqi-Sisan (صدف میثاقی سیسان), Yahya Mousavi Tang-rizi (یحیی موسوی تنگ ریزی) from Karaj, Anita Rastegar (آنیتا رستگار), Nabil Bashi-Ardestani (نبیل باشی ارد ستانی), Tara Bahamin (تارا بهامین), Bita Chorkhzarin (بیتا چرخ زرین), Arman Golzar (آرمان گلزار), Pegar Sirusian (پگاه سیروسیان), Nariman Movafeq-Evali (نریمان موفقی ایولی), Nuna Qadiri-Nafarest (نونا قدیری نُفرست), Sayeh Aqa’i (سایه آقائی), Farhud Bashi (فرهود باشی) from Tehran, Parsa Shaykhzadeh (پارسا شیخ زاده), Foruzan Nuredel (فروزان نوردل) from Tabriz, Hadi Hedayat (هدي هدايتي) from Semnan, Sina Tala`i (سینا طالعی), Aryan Baqa’i (آرین بقایی) from Sari, Wafa Nobakht (وفا نوبخت) from Sari and Adib Rahmani (ادیب رحمانی) from Sari. This brings the total of the new cohort of Bahai students who have been excluded this year to 33.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student deprived of her Intermediate diploma

Tavaana (twitter), September 15, 2018. –

Sheqayeq Dhabihi (شقایق ذبیحی), a Bahai from Karaj who has completed her Intermediate year in Architecture at the non-profit Rasam University in Karaj, applied to receive the Diploma. However she was summoned to the offices of the national Educational Assessments Bureau, and told that, because of her Bahai beliefs, she could not be awarded the Diploma and would not be allowed to continue her studies.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Ten Bahai students excluded from education

Hamid Rezataghpour, September 13, 2108. –

As the academic year begins in Iran, reports show at least ten Bahai students who gained passing grades in the nation-wide University Entrance Examinations have been excluded from enrolling in a university or technical institute, with the excuse “incomplete file.” The names of the excluded students known thus far are Shamim Eydelkhani (شمیم ایدلخانی) from the Moghan [sic, مغان] in Ardabil Province, Farniya Ilyazadeh (فرنیا ایلیازاده) from Tehran, Parmida Hoseynpuli-Mamqani (پارمیدا حسینپولی ممقانی), Servin Adhar-Shab (سروین آذر شب) from Tehran, Parand Mithaqi (پرند میثاقی), Shahrzad Tirgar (شهرزاد تیرگر), Melina Qumi-Nik (ملینا قوامی نیک) from Tehran, Tarannom Mo`tamedi-Borujeni (ترنم معتمدی بروجنی) from Shahenshahr in Isfahan, Wahid Sadeqi-Sisan (وحید صادقی سیسان) and Shaqayeq Qasemi (شقایق قاسمی).

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Another Bahai student expelled in Tehran

Hamid Rezataghpour, August 19, 2018. –

Roumina `Asgari (رومینا عسگری ), an undergraduate student at the Tehran Central campus of Iran’s Free University, has been expelled because of her Bahai beliefs. She has completed four semesters of her degree. Unusually, she was informed of her expulsion in writing, the reason given was “abnormal social behaviour, efforts to undermine the order, peace and security of the nation.” Yet she has not actually been attending classes in the last 6 months, having taken a one-semester suspension of her studies.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled from University in Isfahan

Shahrvanyar (Facebook), July 27, 2018. –

Sarir Mauqen (سریر موقن) has been expelled from the Azad University in Isfahan because of her Bahai beliefs. She learned of her expulsion on May 23, 2018, just before the final exams, when she was told by telephone that her file was incomplete and she should go to the Office of Education. She later found that she was barred from the University’s web site. When she went to the Office, she was told “you are a Bahai and should not have entered the University.” She was also denied a certificate showing the grades she had achieved.

Ms. Mauqen began her studies in 2014, and listed her religion as “Bahai” in the registration form. When she was expelled she in the last semester of a Master’s degree in Architecture, having already gained 135 of the 145 study point required for the degree. She had not promoted her Bahai beliefs during her time as a student (a policy issued by the secretariat at the Bahai World Centre in 2015 states that there is no objection to Bahai students signing a pledge not to teach their Faith at university).

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

 

Bahai student expelled in Kerman

Shahrvandyar (Facebook), July 18, 2018. –

Houman Emani (هومن ایمانی), a student of graphic arts at the Free University in Kerman, has been expelled because of his Bahai beliefs. His expulsion occurred almost a year ago, but was not previously reported on Sen’s Daily.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled in Karaj

Melliun Iran (citing HRANA), July 15, 2018. –

In May, 2018, Sogol Dhabihi Sissan (سوگل ذبیحی سیسان), a student of Graphics at Rasam University in Karaj, was expelled and denied certificates for the courses she has already passed, because of her Bahai beliefs. She was in the fourth semester of an undergraduate degree. She discovered that she had been expelled when the university’s site blocked her access, needed to obtain the entry card for term exams. When she followed up, she was referred to the national “Educational Appraisals Agency.” The Agency branch in Karaj refused to allow her to enter the building, but told her by telephone that she had no right to higher education because she was a Bahai, so she had been expelled. She was told to submit a request in writing, which she did. She returned to the office for further information four times over the following two months, without even obtaining a copy of her course results, and received no response to her letter.

Bahai student expelled in Zanjan

Centre for Human Rights in Iran, June 12 (?), 2018. –

Soha Izadi (سها ایزدی), a student of Information Technology Engineering at the University of Zanjan, was expelled from the University on March 14, 2018 due to “being Bahai.” She had completed almost one year of studies, and was in the midst of the end-of-semester examinations when university officials contacted her to say they had received a letter from the “moral standards” section of the national “Educational Appraisals Agency” which meant that she could not continue education. She was removed from the student register and her access to the university web site was blocked. When she pursued the matter, the university officials told her the only way she could be re-admitted was to renounce her Bahai religion. An indication of how long this educational apartheid policy has endured in Iran is that both her mother and her father were also excluded from enrolling in tertiary education, using the “incomplete file” excuse (that is, the religion section did not say “Muslim” so the file was “incomplete”).

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Bahai student expelled in Gorgan

Hamid Rezataghipour, May 29, 2018. –

Shakib Teymouri (شکیب تیموری), a graduate student in mechanical engineering at Gorgan University, was expelled on May 27. University officials excluded him from the university web site and from registration. The university refused also to document the Bachelor’s degree he had already achieved. He began his studies late in the autumn of 2014, and entered the Master’s course in 2016.

Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older news is here.

Iran’s Court of Administrative Justice confirms apartheid in education and employment

HRANA, May 29, 2018. –

Iran’s Court of Administrative Justice has formally confirmed that Bahais in Iran have no right to public service employment or tertiary education. This policy was set out in the 1991 “Golpaygani Memorandum,” drawn up by the Iranian Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council (ISRCC). The memorandum calls for Iran’s Bahais to be treated in such a way “that their progress and development shall be blocked.” It specifies that all Bahais should be expelled from universities; that they shall be denied positions of influence, and that “employment shall be refused to persons identifying themselves as Bahais.” The exclusion of Bahais from universities was reiterated by Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in 2006. The latest court decision confirms that the 1991 policy remains in place: it cites the 1991 memorandum in confirming that Hanan Har (حنان حر), a Bahai student who scored well in the university entrance examination in 2016, and was accepted at a university in Babol, but was excluded because of his Bahai beliefs. In 2017 he appealed to the Court of Administrative Justice, which investigated and ruled that the appeal could not be processed because “Bahais are not only excluded from government employment, they are also deprived of the right to study.” The decision was communicated to Hanan Har in the past few days.

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