The University of the Arts Bremen joins the collective decision of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) on the current events in Iran.
The University of the Arts Bremen joins the collective decision of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) on the current events in Iran.
16.11.2022
HRK General Assembly condemns violence against university members in Iran
At its meeting in Jena yesterday, the General Assembly of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) expressed its dismay at the continued state violence in Iran against peacefully protesting citizens, including many students and academics.
The assembly of German university leaders declared their solidarity with the Iranian university members and those protesting for human rights and explicitly for women's rights and equality. It appealed to the Iranian leadership to immediately refrain from the use of violence, to seek dialogue and to respect the freedom of expression and of science.
In the course of the nationwide demonstrations for the respect of human rights, there have been strikes in numerous Iranian universities in recent weeks; for example, at the University of Tehran, Amirkabir University of Technology, Sharif University of Technology, and Islamic Azad University. Although the campuses of universities in Iran are under special protection by law, the police and other security forces have repeatedly used violence against peacefully protesting university members and some university campuses have been stormed. Among other things, there have also been reports on arrests of numerous students by armed security forces in civilian clothes, and attacks by Basij militias on various universities, such as the University of Sistan and Baluchestan in the Sunni southeast and the University of Kurdistan in the northwest of the country.
"Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of science are being violated on a significant scale in Iran. We condemn the massive violence, which is also being used against university members in particular, who are concerned about the present and future of their country," said HRK President Prof. Dr. Peter-André Alt. "At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude for the solidarity that students and researchers from Iran are currently experiencing at German universities. Iranian students represent the fourth largest group of international students from outside Europe in this country. Their concern for relatives and acquaintances in Iran is great."
Scholars at Risk (SaR), the international network for the protection of endangered scholars, is deeply concerned about the excessive violence, particularly against Iranian students, lecturers and researchers. SaR calls for support for Iranian students and scholars through admission agreements and in the fight for academic freedom.
