Sharif University of Technology has once again become the focus of disciplinary actions and student expulsions. According to the published report, the university’s disciplinary committee has issued preliminary expulsion rulings against three more students. With these rulings, the number of students who have received expulsion orders at Sharif University has reached 10. According to reports published by state-run media, the number of student expulsions may continue to increase.
Ariana Kouchaki, a 2021 undergraduate Industrial Engineering student, Ali Alirezaei, a 2023 undergraduate Mathematical Sciences student, and Arash Hatami, a 2023 undergraduate Physics student, are the three students who have recently faced disciplinary rulings.
Educational Disaster in Iran: 70% of Students Suffering from Learning Poverty
According to the published information, Ariana Kouchaki and Arash Hatami have each been banned from studying at all universities across the country for one year. The disciplinary committee has also imposed a five-year nationwide study ban on Ali Alirezaei.
These rulings are still at the preliminary stage, and legally they can be appealed. However, an expulsion order can have severe consequences for a student’s academic path and future career. For this reason, the right to a defense and a fair review process are fundamentally important in such cases.
Student Expulsions and the Expansion of Disciplinary Measures
Before these latest rulings, seven other Sharif University students had also received expulsion orders. Among these cases, Reza Dalman’s ruling has become final. According to the available information, the remaining rulings are still at the preliminary stage.
The state-run Mehr News Agency also reported on August 16 that another Sharif University student had been served with an expulsion order. These reports indicate that disciplinary actions against students are not limited to a single case or a specific period. In a report published on June 20, the state-run Fars News Agency linked the expulsion rulings to cases involving gatherings, slogans, social media posts, and accusations such as acting against national security.
The same report named Sepanta Saeidi, Hossein Shadman, Masiha Bagheri, Fatemeh Khakpour, Fariborz Kohanzad, and Parnian Khodabakhshi. Some of these rulings include not only expulsion but also multi-year bans on continuing their education.
According to Fars’s account, the cases of three of these students were primarily related to activity and content published on social media. The cases of the others were linked to participation in gatherings and the January uprising. In one case, the disciplinary committee imposed a two-semester suspension on a student whom Fars claimed had been carrying a bladed weapon on campus. The nature of this allegation differs from the cases involving protest activity and the publication of content.
The Right to Education Versus Severe Punishments
The repeated expulsion of students has also raised concerns about educational security and freedom of expression at universities. Under such circumstances, transparency regarding the allegations, case evidence, and review procedures becomes even more important.
Taken together, these cases show that disciplinary action against students at Sharif University is continuing. From a legal perspective, the fundamental principle in every case is the right to a defense and a fair review. From a social perspective, the university cannot be separated from society.
Ultimately, expelling students because of protest-related activities, if carried out without a transparent review process and guarantees of the right to a defense, ceases to be merely an educational decision. Such rulings can become a symbol of repression, the shrinking of university space, and the widening gap between students and the power structure.
