Arash Aramesh

Kalameh, the official website of Mir Hossein Moussavi, published a letter on February 9, which was signed by 116 members of the faculty in Tehran’s Tarbiat Modarres University, and sent to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressing their deepest concerns about the harsh treatment of students and professors.

The letter begins by pointing out that members of the “academia have always offered constructive solutions to consolidate the regime and the revolution by providing fair criticism of all political factions in the country.” These professors asserted, “Despite encouraging professors and students to participate in different matters concerning the nation, we have witnessed in recent months an irrational and abnormal treatment of the academia and centers of science.”

The authors of this letter complained about the treatment of students and professors by the security forces. The letter stated: “In order to encourage students and the faculty to entertain various thoughts and ideas, it was promised at one time that a safe political and social atmosphere will be maintained on university campuses; militaristic and security-minded behaviors abstained from; security forces banned from entering campuses; and matters concerning universities only followed through legal means. The current situation, however, is not as such.

“Entering campus grounds by forces [plain-clothed security forces and the Basij] whose identity is claimed to be a secret to most officials[those officials in charge of the nation's security such as the police chief and ministers of interior and intelligence] and detention of students and members of the faculty are among matters of grave concern. “

In this letter, which is directed at Khamenei, Iran’s commander- in-chief, the professors expressed that pluralism of voices [opinions] should not be a matter of concern and what must be feared is the silence of universities. They emphasized that the detention and termination of students and faculty will have an irreversible impact on Iran’s scientific potential and growth.

“Frightening and threatening professors and students will undoubtedly have a destructive impact on the country’s scientific progress,” the letter stated.

In another segment of the letter, the signatories expressed their concern about the critical situation in Iran and added, “We also think the current situation in the country is worrisome and believe that our nation must move towards stability and calm through adopting moderate and wise policies.”

This group of Tarbiat Modarres University’s faculty members urged the Supreme Leader to release those members of academia who are in prison particularly Alireza Beheshti, Moussavi’s chief advisor, and Ghorban Behzadian, a prominent Iranian scholar. It was also reported late last night that Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, the chairman of the Assembly of Experts, and Grand Ayatollah Abdolkarim Moussavi-Ardebili, Iran’s chief justice in the 1980s, met with the Supreme Leader and urged him to release Alireza Beheshti. The government did not confirm whether these meetings took place, but Fars News, pro-government news agency with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported that Alireza Beheshti was released temporarily and he was spending time at home with his family.