On March 31, the state-run ILNA news agency published a report on the dismissal of university professors across the country. The state-run outlet wrote that on Sunday, March 31, dismissed faculty members of Farhangian University from across Iran, who say they were unlawfully terminated, gathered in front of the Ministry of Education.
As professional protests continue in various sectors of Iran’s education and higher education systems, the gathering was held in protest against the continued dismissal of professors and the refusal of regime officials to implement legal rulings and directives issued by authorized bodies.
According to published reports, the professors participating in the gathering stated that they have been seeking reinstatement for months. They emphasized that the process of dismissing faculty members from Farhangian University was carried out in violation of laws and regulations. According to the protesters, the government’s legal affairs office and Mohammad Reza Aref, the first vice president under Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, have issued opinions and directives in recent months supporting the return of these professors, but the Ministry of Education and the management of Farhangian University have so far refused to implement those decisions.
The protesters also criticized the way regime agents have treated faculty members. They said that instead of receiving clear explanations about why the law has not been implemented, they have faced insulting behavior and inappropriate language. According to the professors at the gathering, their only demand is the implementation of the law and the restoration of the legal rights of faculty members.
Continued Protests Over the Dismissal of Professors
The dismissed professors stated that their gatherings over recent months have been entirely peaceful. They stressed that they have made no demands beyond their legal rights. Nevertheless, according to them, similar gatherings by faculty members in recent weeks have also been met with inappropriate treatment by the regime’s repressive agents.
The dismissal of professors from Farhangian University has become one of the most controversial issues in Iran’s higher education sector in recent months. Protesters say that more than 300 faculty members have been removed from their positions. They also report that their salaries, benefits, and other compensation have been completely suspended for approximately 10 months.
According to these professors, “Numerous follow-ups have been conducted through legal channels, and in various cases, documentation and legal rulings have been issued in their favor. Despite this, the dismissal of professors continues, and no practical steps have been taken to return them to the university.”
Dismissal of Professors and Growing Concerns in the Academic Environment
The protesters believe that the continuation of the current situation has not only caused economic hardship for faculty members but has also negatively affected the educational environment at Farhangian University. They argue that the large-scale removal of academic and professional personnel has created serious challenges for the university’s educational quality.
During Sunday’s gathering, participants once again called for the full implementation of the law, an end to the dismissal of professors, and the reinstatement of faculty members to their positions. They emphasized that they will continue their professional and legal efforts until their lawful demands are met.
The gathering took place while the issue of faculty dismissals at Farhangian University remains unresolved. Protesters say that despite various authorities confirming the legitimacy of their claims, officials at the Ministry of Education and the university’s administration continue to refuse to implement the relevant laws and rulings.
At a time when professional protests are increasing among various sectors of society, the gathering of dismissed Farhangian University professors has once again brought issues of employment rights, professional security, and the status of faculty members within Iran’s educational system to the forefront of public attention.
