Iranian students barred for beliefs, says campaigners
CNN / Catriona Davies
15-Oct-2011 (4 comments)

(CNN) -- Iranian student Puyan Mahmudian scored the sixth highest marks in his year group in his entrance exam, but was rejected for a Masters degree in chemical engineering at Amirkabir University in Tehran.

The problem was not his academic record, but his political background, according to human rights groups, which note that Mahmudian had previously been jailed for being editor of a student magazine that was critical of the government.

Mahmudian, now 25, believes he is one of hundreds of so-called "starred students," whom campaigners claim are denied access to university or expelled because of their religious or political beliefs.

A report called "Punishing Stars" by the non-governmental organization International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran names 217 students who it says have been deprived of education because of their religion or political activism in the last five years. It says the real number is much higher as many did not want to be named.

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Statistics.

by comments on Sun Oct 16, 2011 04:51 AM PDT

Many years ago 30 students out of 40 of my own class were rejected because of something that was called "Tahghigh" at that time.  Some of them left Iran and some of them found "Parties" to fix the issue, which let them enter the university 2 years later.  What my case was, was a secret:)

My statistics was for that time.  I assumed this year statistics based on CNN news, which is usually stays in an assumption.


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Ruhi

wrong statistics!

by Ruhi on Sat Oct 15, 2011 08:20 PM PDT

Among my relatives and family members 2 nephews and one niece were barred from higher education this year!


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Ali Najafi

I am not sure about your statistics

by Ali Najafi on Sat Oct 15, 2011 07:44 PM PDT

Dear Comments, I am not sure about your statistics. However, increasingly, over the past several years, we have seen the IRI deprive young people from their education based on their beliefs. This is especially evident with the number of students thrown out of school after the 2009 elections.

Since the Islamic Revolution, in particular, young Baha'is have been barred from entering universities. For 30 years, this has been the policy of the IRI. This is certainly more than "a single student."

The implication of depriving young people from having an education is that they are denied their futures and the whole country is deprived of the benefits of educated minds.

www.educationunderfire.com has information that may be helpful to you.


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comments

Progress report card?!

by comments on Sat Oct 15, 2011 04:20 PM PDT

About 20 years ago more than 70% of students barred for their belief or a small action including selling a newspaper of opposition group just once.  All acheived and had no problem with their entrance examination record.

Have we progressed that there is only a single student barred this year!? 


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