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Iran: End Ban on Access to Higher Education- Human Rights Watch |
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Intelligence Ministry Behind Campaign to Punish Political Beliefs, Activism
(New York, October 19, 2006)
� Human Rights Watch called on Iran to immediately revoke bans on
students from attending university because they hold political beliefs
not to the government�s liking, and to allow registered students to
exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association.
In a briefing paper released today, entitled �Denying the Right to Education,�
Human Rights Watch documents how the government barred at least 12
students from university registration this past year, despite the fact
that graduate programs had accepted them on the basis of successful
competitive entrance examinations. The briefing paper also documents
the cases of another 54 students who were allowed to register only
after agreeing to sign statements that they will refrain from peaceful
political activities.
�This policy is a blatant attack on freedom of expression
and the right to education,� said Joe Stork, deputy director of Human
Rights Watch�s Middle East and North Africa division. �The authorities
want to coerce university students, the bedrock of critical thinking in
any society, into silence and submission.�
According to documents obtained by Human Rights Watch, the
Ministry of Information, which performs intelligence functions, is
orchestrating the campaign to deny student activists their right to
education. The documents make clear that the decisions are solely based
on the students� political background, not on any educational
standards. With the exception of one, all of the banned students are
outspoken activists or work with the Islamic Students Association on
their campuses.
 Iran's Minister of Information, Mohseni Ezhei. © 2005 Human Rights Watch
The campaign to bar
certain students from access to higher education intensifies an ongoing
official campaign to persecute student activists. Since July 2005, the
Judiciary has convicted and sentenced 24 students to prison terms for
their political activities. The authorities have prosecuted another 11
students on politically motivated charges, but have not yet announced
the verdicts.
During the same period, university disciplinary committees
suspended 32 student activists from continuing their studies for up to
two semesters, and university supervision boards suspended or banned 10
student associations from operating on campuses. The student
associations have engaged solely in peaceful political activities.
Iran is a party to both the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). As a party to the ICCPR,
Iran has undertaken to respect the rights of freedom of expression and
association. Under the ICESCR, Iran has undertaken to make higher
education equally accessible to all without discrimination.
�By excluding students from universities on grounds of
their political opinions, Iran is directly violating its clear legal
obligations under both covenants,� Stork said.
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