Statement of International Studies Association by Mehdi Zakarian

  The conditions and concern about the condition of Dr. Mehdi Zakarian, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of Azad University, caused the International Studies Association to issue a statement in support of this professor.

In a statement on October 30, 2025, this association expressed its deep concern over the harassment and pressures inflicted on Dr. Mehdi Zakarian, associate professor of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of Islamic Azad University, and considered these actions to be a clear violation of scientific freedom and human rights.  in

This statement states that scientific freedom - that is, the right of researchers to research, teach and express scientific views without fear of punishment - is one of the fundamental principles of the scientific progress of any country and the world community, and it is emphasized in international documents, including Article 19 of the Declaration of Human Rights and Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The statement of the ISA committee states that the pressure on Dr. Zakarian has a long history.  He was also arrested in 2008, which was mentioned in Amnesty International's report as an example of the repression of Iranian academics.

On June 25 and again in September 2025, Dr. Zakarian received calls from Azad University, which summoned him to attend the central committee for dealing with violations.  He was accused of supporting Western thinking and holding meetings with students outside the university without permission, which ISA sees as a sign of criminalizing scientific and intellectual interaction with the world, which is contrary to academic principles and academic freedom.

The statement warns that Dr. Zakarian's case is part of a broader pattern of restrictions on academic freedom in Iran. Many university professors face similar pressures, but the atmosphere of fear has prevented other cases from being publicly disclosed.  Such an atmosphere causes self-censorship, academic stagnation and isolation of Iranian academics.  The ISA Academic Freedom Committee wants the Islamic Azad University to adhere to Iran's international obligations and protect the academic freedom of its faculty members.

With 8,000 members from more than 100 countries, the International Studies Association is one of the world's largest academic organizations and emphasizes its commitment to support researchers and academics against political and ideological repression.

Signed: Siban Zatiolagrovogui (Chairman) Carolyn Shaw (Chairman of the Academic Freedom Committee) MJ Busia (Director of the Executive Committee) Transcript: BBC World News Agency France Press Ambassador Amir Saeed Irwani Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations New York Farideh Shahid, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Education.