Iran (IMNA) - To the Presidents of Universities, Academic Leaders, and Scholars,
Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Campus wishes to express its deep concern regarding the targeted assassinations and systematic attacks against scientists, researchers, and intellectuals in various countries — particularly those carried out by Israeli military forces and intelligence agencies.
In recent years, there have been numerous documented cases of targeted killings of scientists, including nuclear physicists, engineers, medical researchers, and academic scholars, who were assassinated solely for their intellectual contributions and national affiliations. These acts are not only grave violations of international law and human rights, but they also represent a direct assault on the principles of science, education, and global progress.
We condemn the cowardly terrorist crime against Dr. Tehranchi and six Iranian scientists and affirm that:
- Scientists must be protected, not persecuted, regardless of nationality or political context.
- Targeted violence against academics undermines the universal values of knowledge, peace, and development.
- The pursuit of science should never be criminalized or weaponized as a justification for assassination.
As the president of Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Campus, I call upon the international academic community to:
1. Publicly denounce all forms of state-sponsored violence against scientists and scholars.
2. Support the protection and asylum of persecuted scientists at risk.
3. Refrain from academic collaboration with countries complicit in such policies until accountability is ensured.
4. Advocate UNESCO and the United Nations to investigate and prevent further attacks on scientific communities.
5. Condemn the assasination of Dr. Tehranchi, the president of Islamic Azad University, Iran.
We invite all university presidents, chancellors, and academic institutions worldwide to join us in signing this statement and to stand united in defense of science, reason, and humanity.
Let us reaffirm our shared commitment to the principle that knowledge must build bridges, not barriers — and that no scientist should ever be hunted for their intellect.
Sincerely,
Dr Payam Najafi
President of Islamic Azad University
Isfahan, Iran
The statement is ready for download here.
Your Comment