Iran’s Science, Research, and Technology Ministry sent orders to the country’s academic institutions on how to suppress the September 2023 protests, which broke out on the anniversary of the regime’s murder of Mahsa Amini, according to documents newly released by the Amirkabir NewsLetter, a student-run media outlet.
The ministry, in a letter addressed to the heads of universities, higher education institutes, and research institutes across Iran, demanded that protests be met with a harsh response.
“Rioting must come with a cost, and a passive stance will embolden the rioters,” Ebrahim Hosseini, then-director general of the Office for Coordinating Administrative Misconduct Committees for Employees and Faculty Members, wrote.
افشای دستور محرمانه وزارت علوم برای سرکوب وحشیانه دانشجویان و اساتید
بر اساس اسناد افشا شده که نسخهای از آن به دست #خبرنامه_امیرکبیر رسیده است، وزارت علوم تحقیقات و فناوری در تاریخ ۵ شهریور ۱۴۰۲، طی نامه ای به روسای دانشگاهها و موسسات آموزش عالی سراسر کشور، پژوهشگاهها و… pic.twitter.com/YwDwR2Lrnt
— Amirkabir NewsLetter خبرنامهٔ امیرکبیر (@autnews_org) July 19, 2026
The letter explicitly called for institutions to follow directives issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, including the suppression of demonstrations.
“Distinguished university presidents can also have a preventive aspect; explaining the results and effects of these measures in making educational and research environments healthy will play a significant role in strengthening and influencing the concept and position of the rule of law in the process of investigating violations.
“Therefore, it is hoped that the preparation of the requested report and its submission will be put on the agenda as a matter of urgency,” Hosseini wrote.
Women, Life, Freedom protests followed Amini’s killing by regime’s security forces
Protests broke out across Iran a year after 22-year-old Amini was killed by the regime’s security forces for not wearing her head covering properly.
Her father, Amjad Amini, was briefly arrested on the anniversary of her death, and security forces surrounded the family home to prevent them from attending a graveside ceremony, sparking further public outrage.
In the Women, Life, Freedom demonstrations that followed Amini’s murder in 2022, more than 500 people, including 71 minors, were killed, hundreds were injured, and thousands were arrested, according to multiple human rights groups.
