05 October 2022

In a statement from the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), the Swedish academic world has expressed its profound concern about events in Iran, with escalating violence directed at citizens in general, and teachers and students in particular.

Man (Jan-Ingvar Jönsson) in staircase
Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson at Linköping University condemns the violence. Thor Balkhed

"SUHF is deeply concerned by the current situation for students and staff at Iranian universities. The student protest in Iran continues. The demonstrations against the regime started after Mahsa Jîna Amini was detained by the Iranian moral police and later died in custody the 16 September. International media report today that Iranian security forces have surrounded students at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, shooting at them and firing tear gas towards them.

SUHF is strongly committed to democratic and human rights including the right to free expression and non-violent protests. Current violations of these rights for university students and staff in Iran are deeply concerning."

Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson at Linköping University condemns the violence, and believes that the academic world must always support the peaceful campaign for democracy and human rights.

“What we are witnessing in Iran is unacceptable, and deeply worrying. The way in which peaceful protests are being violently suppressed goes against everything we stand for. This must be condemned.”

Translation: George Farrants

More about the protests in Iran

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