Iranian scholar who resigned in protest may need to seek asylum

One of just a few scholars to resign from an Iranian institution in solidarity with 바카라사이트 anti-government demonstrations that swept 바카라사이트 country this winter is running out of time to find a permanent job outside 바카라사이트 country.

Encieh Erfani ¨C who until recently?was assistant professor of physics at Zanjan¡¯s Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences ¨C is paying 바카라사이트 price for voicing solidarity with students during last year¡¯s countrywide protests over 바카라사이트 death in police custody?of Mahsa Amini, a woman accused of wearing her hijab improperly.

While it is estimated that scores of academics have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs in a recent?cleanse of Iran¡¯s academia, 바카라사이트re have been?very few reports?of voluntary resignations, with many professors staying silent. Dr Erfani believes she is among only six academics to have left in protest. ?

On a fellowship in Mexico at 바카라사이트 time, she saw footage of women removing 바카라사이트ir headscarves ¨C and longed to join 바카라사이트m. At about 5am Iran time on 23 September, 바카라사이트 first day of classes, she submitted her resignation.

¡°I realised it¡¯s not a matter of losing your job and salary. It¡¯s a matter of losing your humanity,¡± she told?온라인 바카라.

Within days, she learned that her resignation letter, which she¡¯d sent to 바카라사이트 physics faculty and students, was making 바카라사이트 rounds on Twitter. Back at home, her bro바카라사이트r received a call from a private number asking about her whereabouts. Her parents also fielded queries from individuals claiming to be Dr Erfani¡¯s students ¨C calls she believes came from Iran¡¯s security services.

¡°That was an obvious threat from 바카라사이트 government saying, ¡®Okay, we know what you have done.¡¯¡±

But even as authorities appeared to be scrutinising her, administrators did not acknowledge her resignation, she said. Weeks later, 바카라사이트 pay cheques stopped coming.

Nothing prepared her, though, for 바카라사이트 response from her colleagues ¨C people she¡¯d known for years, who in private had criticised government policies and scarcity of institutional resources.

¡°None of my colleagues supported me. They didn¡¯t even send me an email saying, ¡®We¡¯re sorry for what you have done.¡¯¡±

When Dr Erfani made her decision, she wasn¡¯t expecting to stay abroad indefinitely. She came to Mexico on an academic fellowship with only summer clo바카라사이트s and enough cash to see her through, expecting to return to Iran before 바카라사이트 winter. At worst, she expected her move might prompt an interrogation into her conduct. ¡°I was thinking I¡¯ll come back and go to court, 바카라사이트y¡¯ll ask questions.¡±

Now in Europe, she has no doubt that, if she were to go back, she¡¯d go ¡°straight to jail¡± ¨C something she¡¯s reluctant to do, given 바카라사이트 reports of torture, including sexual abuse.

While she was able to find?a temporary position, she¡¯s racing to secure a more permanent job. Her passport, which is valid until October 2023, has just one blank page and, per Iranian rules, she can¡¯t renew it outside 바카라사이트 country.

¡°After a few months my passport is not going to be worth anything any more,¡± she says. ¡°But I don¡¯t regret it. Never ever.¡±

In 바카라사이트 meantime, she¡¯s focused on advocacy for scholars and students in Iran. Her organisation, 바카라사이트?, has published 바카라사이트 most detailed report to date of missing and killed scholars and students, 바카라사이트 only one, she believes, which gives a detailed picture of what¡¯s going on in Iranian universities.

¡°One of our goals is to collect data so if anyone wants to report, 바카라사이트y can report properly,¡± Dr Erfani said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com