Hard times for freedom of thought and speech in Iran. During the last few months there have been several reports accounting pressure on journalists, scholars, students, and groups not-aligned with Ahmadinejad’s regime. Iranian journalists complain about the escalation of pressures and media restrictions. Several publications have been suspended and an ever-increasing number of journalists have been imprisoned. Even though during Mohammad Khatami’s presidency journalists were used to intimidation and harassment, Ahmadinejad’s regime has been drawing new lines that reporters are forbidden to cross. According to an online daily Rooz, the Iranian National Supreme Security Council has recently announced new restraints on the media. In particular, there have been admonitions to avoid publishing political analysis that diverge from the regime’s official policy. In other words, newspapers cannot write against the nuclear program or even be critical otherwise the National Security Council commands their suppression. On 12 April, Iranian General Prosecutor, Saied Mortazavi, who was reportedly involved in the murder of Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian photojournalist, declared: “Freedom of press and speech is not absolute and subject to the rules of Sharia and the law”.
Restraints and limitations are also affecting University campuses. Vanna Vannuccini, correspondent for the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, reported that Adbollad Momeni, a former leader of Thahkim and Vahdat students’ association, had declared that: "The student movement no longer exists. They (the Iranian regime, editor’s note) have taken control of the universities." Nevertheless, while the head of the Tehran prison organization, Sohrab Suleimani, was announcing Ramin Jahanbegloo’s arrest and his detention in the infamous political prison Evin, about 400 students were protesting against the expulsion of some graduates from Tehran University. Peyman Aref and Mehdi Aminizadeh, former members of Iran’s largest reformist student group (Daftar-I Tahkim Vahdat), were expelled from school because they were “lacking of general and ideological competence”. Peyman had been imprisoned in 2004 by Iranian police. There have been reports of students’ suspensions, summons, and jail sentences. Some professors were dismissed. Mohammad Maleki, former dean at Tehran University, said: “It’s similar to the Cultural Revolution. They want to create a climate of fear and cut down all forms of criticism and opposition. Their ultimate aim is to crush the pro-democracy movement.”
As a matter of fact, “since an extremist from the Holy City of Qom was appointed Dean” remarks Vanna Vannucini “former student activists’ expulsions are an everyday occurrence. No student is allowed on the university council, and the Basij (Iranian para-military group) now have free access to the campus”. In what is believed to be an attempt to bring extremists groups into universities, authorities have also began burying remains of unknown soldiers killed during the Iran/Iraq war in university campuses. The right to study, as well as freedom of thought, is being undermined. In a statement released to Radio Farda after his expulsion from school, Mehid Aminizadeh said: “Continuing my studies is my right. It is possible that there will be opportunities to study outside the country but that doesn’t mean that whoever is [politically] active in this country can be kept by the Intelligence Ministry from studying and be forced to leave the country.”
According to a government-conducted survey, cited by the Chicago Maroon, Chicago University’s independent student newspaper, “45 percent of young Iranians indicated that, given a chance, they would leave Iran for a life of exile”. In a country where the median age is 24.8 yrs, students represent a significant portion of the population representing a vital social force that Ahmadinejad’s regime is trying to hush up.