Baha’i Student Expelled in Mazandaran

Editor’s Note:  The following account is by Faran Khavan-Yaghma, a Baha’i student recently expelled from a university in Mazandaran because of his religion.  This account is provided below in translation by Iran Press Watch.

In the name of truth and justice!

After my Numerical Analysis class on Saturday, March 7, 2009, our esteemed professor read everyone’s name on the class register, but I realized that my name was no longer on his list. I went to the university’s main office and asked for an explanation.  They responded that my record had been closed and marked “Termination of Education”.

To pursue the matter, I went to the central office of the university and spoke with the person in charge of registration and students’ affairs.  I inquired about the change of status on my record and was told, “The Security section has instructed us to remove your name from the list of students and to terminate your enrollment.  They have not given us a reason.”

However, he continued, “To get a clarification on this issue and learn the details, you must refer to the deputy administrator of this office, as he will be able to tell you the reason.”  I went to the deputy’s office, but apparently he was in a meeting and unable to speak with me.  Therefore, it was agreed that I would return the following day for this discussion.

Next day I went to the same office to see the deputy, but once again he was in a meeting and unable to meet with me.  I waited from 9 AM to 12 noon for his meeting to end.  Finally, we met and I inquired about the situation and reason for what I had been told at the campus.  It was interesting that he had no idea about any of these events, and asked for my name and particulars so he could pursue the matter.

I then went to the official in charge of registration and informed him of the deputy’s lack of knowledge.  In response, very briefly, he stated, “The reason for your dismissal is that you are a Baha’i.”

He then contacted others in the office to advise the deputy about the reason for my expulsion from the university.

Eventually, despite my efforts to pursue the matter, on Saturday, March 14, 2009, according to the deputy administrator of the university’s central office, the Organization for Evaluation and Assessment issued formal instructions for my dismissal based on the reason that I am a Baha’i.

Yes, indeed.  Solely for being a Baha’i, after 3 years of education and the completion of 6 semesters in pure mathematics, I was dismissed from Mazandaran University.

A society with a slogan that calls for unity of hearts, a government that aims at increasing friendship and kindness among souls, whose primary pillar is based on the objective of creating a society of compassionate justice, and which (according to what has appeared in the nation’s Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) believes in freedom of belief and speech — how soon has it forgotten the light of justice lit by Imam Ali and has instead unsheathed the sword of tyranny!

Is this the meaning of freedom of speech and belief?

Is this the meaning of justice, compassion, kindness and unity among hearts?

Is this the meaning of service in our society?

Is this how this society intends to establish justice and equity in its midst?

You be the judge!

Faran Khavan-Yaghma.

[Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 on http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/056309.htm and http://hra-iran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=717:5156&catid=160:6954&Itemid=368. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]