A Second Cultural Revolution? Iran’s Purge of Universities

As Iran prepares for the anniversary of the September 16, 2022 killing of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, the regime is carrying out a “purification” of institutions of higher education. This purification, which is in practice a purge of critically thinking academics from universities, is a reminder of the 1980-83 “cultural revolution,” during which Iranian universities were closed, academic staffs were purged of “Western elements,” and curricula were rewritten to conform with the regime’s Islamist ideology. While the scope of the ongoing purge is not yet known, reformist media is openly criticizing the replacement of seasoned professors with religious cantors and propagandists and warning of the dire consequences of lowering academic standards in Iran.

• September 5: In an interview with reformist Etemad Daily, Bijan Abdolkarimi, a professor of philosophy, warned against purging universities and delivered an elitist critique of the Iranian regime as vulgar and anti-academic:
  • “The Iranian Revolution was a popular mass revolution, which has its own qualities but also shortcomings and dangers. One of the greatest threats to Iran’s revolution is a rebellion of the masses and radical elements,” referencing the regime, which he now perceives as plebeian, “against the elites. The current moves to purify the ranks of the academic staff are a rebellion of the masses against the elites and experts … Individuals and political currents that do not possess elite attributes are trying to infiltrate the universities … Still worse, among the top leadership of the Islamic Republic, there is not a single individual with a cultural background.”
  • Turning to what he called the “policing of universities,” Abdolkarimi continued: “Technocrats and bureaucrats who do not believe in civilizational, revolutionary, and religious values have imposed a securitized policing atmosphere on the universities … This trend further depresses the society and slows down scientific advances … But the authorities are imposing this cost on the society because they are probably concerned about the anniversary of the passing of Mahsa Amini. It is as if some individuals and currents intentionally want to throw fuel on the fire of the anger of the youth.”
  • Concluding the interview with proposed solutions, he said: “We are awaiting a messiah who promises love and reconciliation. We are in need of a national reconciliation … Stability cannot be achieved by militarist approaches.”

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