"Student movement in the last decade in Iran"

Montreal-Concordia University, Sunday Dec. 10, 2006 @ 5:00-7:00pm
Guest speaker: Mr. Hassan Zarehzadeh Ardeshir ,student leader and human rights activist

Iran watch canada : Student movement will show itself when there is an undemocratic regime. University was established in Iran in 1934 at the time of king "Reza" . The Islamic Republic regime have planned and still is planning to bridge between " Houzeh"( school of theology) and universities.After cultural revolution in Iran which suppressed independent students as well as students with partisan politics, most especially the leftist students, and during the time of prime minister "Musavi" s' cabinet, differences came to existance and these division could be seen as left and right, it was from this time that some of the officials started to support students movement , and we can say this was the start of the student movement with a critical view to the Islamic system. After the war when "Rafsanjani" positioned himself on the top post of government, his government was known as " rebuilding government " , and he tried to strengthen his government economically and in order to make his government strong he helped for the creation of "Islamic Student Association" and " Daftare Tahkime Vahdat " .These student organizations in the 2nd round of Rafsanjani's presidency took distance to his government and when "Tabarzadi" ( one of the student leader ) criticized his government , Rafsanjani's government started to bann their student publications or close their offices and at the end Mr. Tabarzadi was arrested and was imprisoned and by his arrest this problem finally was set aside. After this, Inside " Daftare Tahkim Vahdat" progressive ideas was formed and this student organization stood against the officials , after few other governments came to power and gone , new generation entered in the university and students demands went toward the freedom , in the presidential election of 1997 " Daftare Tahkime Vahdat " supported Khatami and as a result many voted for Khatami , in previous years students were used as a tool , but this time they demanded for freedom, and because of these demand many vote was given to Khatami and he was elected. This was a general picture up to " Dovome Khordad" (the start of reformist government of Khatami ). After " Dovome Khordad" there were two major groups in student movement ,1- " Daftare Tahkime Vahdat " supported by reformists and had office in the universities 2- United Student front .The 2nd organization didn't have offices in universities, Tabarzadi belonged to this front, ministry of information tried to defame him. At that time , passing Khatami was a red line, and because the members of the 2nd organization wanted to pass this red line most of its members were arrested." Daftare Tahkime Vahdat " every year had meeting on " Dovome Khordad" ( when Khatami was elected as president ) and " Shanzdahe Azar" ( Student Day in Iran ) and Khatami was invited to these meetings for speech. Gradually " Daftare Tahkime Vahdat " became stronger and as well the reformist government and since reformist government after taking power wasn't paying attention to " Daftare Tahkime Vahdat" , so "DTV " became critical to the government of Khatami especially in his 2nd term . Because of this the security organizations were advicing them to stop their criticism of Khatami . When the leader like Ali Afshari was arrested, from Khatami's office a call set him free after 2-3 hours of detention.It was right after this that "DTV" became more radical and more arrest came on: "Ahmad Batebi" , "Akbar Mohammadi " , myself and ..... were arrested. At that time we were in "Touhid" prison , our families thought that we may be executed and the government wnted to see the student movement under control. After the release ,some of the student became united and the government could see that the students movement is becoming stronger. When students were demonstrating , teachers also went on demonstration and the Ministry of Information infiltrated inside "DTV" , because of this and other problems " DTV" was divided to two faction, in one side was "DTV- Alameh" and the other "DTV -Shiraz" . At present "DTV " doesn't have any affiliation with government. Today there is demonstration in Amirkabir University . Student movement must go ahead . More than 100 student publication was banned. Ministry of Information has planned for another cultural revolution like before, but unique in its kind. So far We have witnessed arrest, imprisonment, expulsion and we are also witnessing the regime is making students with stars beside their name , they use different tactics, like; they do contact with families of students , specially the mother and they ask her to put pressure on their childeren.They want to bring and continue an atmosphere of intimidation and fear.This is part of the speech and not all.