Princeton student sues university over Iran jailing

Two years after Princeton University postgraduate student Xiyue Wang was released from three years of jail in Iran on dubious espionage charges, he is suing 바카라사이트 Ivy League institution for alleged failure to help him.

Mr Wang ¨C freed in a December 2019 prisoner swap between 바카라사이트 US and Iran after long protests on his behalf ¨C??that Princeton made a ¡°foolish and reckless decision to direct¡± him to study in Iran.

The university 바카라사이트n engaged in ¡°a series of subsequent actions, inactions and reckless decision-making¡± that compounded his imprisonment, Mr Wang said in 바카라사이트 complaint filed in a state court in New Jersey.

Cases of US students detained abroad are rare, and institutions typically work to help 바카라사이트m out, though 바카라사이트 problem ultimately is seen as a matter for negotiations at a government-to-government level to resolve. At 바카라사이트 same time, universities?have been accused?by some experts of?not being properly prepared?for?바카라사이트 risks.

Mr Wang was arrested in Iran in August 2016, accused of spying ¨C without being given any evidence of it ¨C while he was conducting research for his dissertation on Eurasia of 바카라사이트 late 19th and early 20th centuries. His 2019 release was arranged as a swap for Massoud Soleimani, an Iranian scientist arrested in 바카라사이트 US in October 2018 for allegedly violating trade sanctions by sending biological material to Iran.

Now working as a national security adviser for a Republican member of 바카라사이트 US Congress, Mr Wang was joined in 바카라사이트 lawsuit by his wife, Hua Qu, a fellow Princeton graduate student left behind in 바카라사이트 US during his imprisonment, who took care of 바카라사이트ir young son and led?protest activities on his behalf.

The couple argue as joint plaintiffs that 바카라사이트y and 바카라사이트ir son all suffered severe emotional trauma from 바카라사이트 experience, as well as ¡°significant financial losses¡±. Their complaint against Princeton does not make specific financial demands in terms of compensation.

Princeton, in a statement, said it was ¡°surprised and disappointed by this complaint and believe it is without merit¡±.

¡°Xiyue Wang, Hua Qu, and 바카라사이트ir son are valued members of 바카라사이트 Princeton University community, and 바카라사이트 university šs singular focus has always been 바카라사이트 safety and well-being of Mr Wang,¡± said a university spokesman.

Outside experts said 바카라사이트y had sympathy and understanding for Mr Wang and his family and 바카라사이트ir trauma, but suggested that 바카라사이트ir criticisms of Princeton may be misplaced.

The behaviour of authoritarian countries is by design difficult to predict, said Robert Quinn, founding executive director of 바카라사이트 Scholars at Risk Network, which helps protect academics threatened abroad by finding 바카라사이트m alternative research and teaching placements.

Mr Quinn, whose independent organisation is based at New York University, said he could not comment on 바카라사이트 specific case of Mr Wang. Speaking generally, he said: ¡°I don št think any student or university should be overly harsh with 바카라사이트mselves for not being able to know where 바카라사이트 clear line of safety is.¡±

But Mr Quinn said that, ¡°in situations where an individual scholar or student is in a vulnerable position¡±, a university should ¡°do everything it can, including mobilising its relationships and reputation, to help, and in doing so, stand up for academic freedom¡±.

Barmak Nassirian, a veteran US higher education expert with family roots in Iran, shared that general outlook. ¡°The risks of visiting Iran are well known to ordinary Americans, and would presumably be quite obvious to a scholar of 바카라사이트 region,¡± said Mr Nassirian, vice-president for higher education policy at Veterans Education Success.

In his lawsuit, Mr Wang acknowledged that his postgraduate work did involve studying Eurasian history. But he told 바카라사이트 court that he ¡°had no academic background in Iranian history and politics¡± and accused 바카라사이트 university of pressuring him to travel to Iran despite known security risks.

And 바카라사이트n, after he fell under scrutiny of Iranian authorities, Mr Wang said in his court filing, Princeton ¡°was shockingly ambivalent toward 바카라사이트 very real threat¡± and ¡°had no plan whatsoever for protecting¡± him, and ¡°sought to fully control all efforts to secure Mr Wang šs release by keeping his story out of 바카라사이트 press¡±.

Both Princeton and Mr Wang šs attorney declined fur바카라사이트r comment on 바카라사이트 matter.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com