The deprivation of Baha’i women from their education has become a continuing process in Iran.
Shaghayegh Zabihi Amri, a Baha’i student at the Department of Architectural Drawing of the Non-Profit University of RASAM in Karaj, was denied an associate degree and barred from continuing her undergraduate studies.
Ms. Zabihi had been previously summoned by the security department of Karaj Azad University and questioned regarding her Baha’i beliefs. Nevertheless, the interrogation did not lead to her dismissal from school, and she continued her studies until graduation. Upon completion of her studies, when she went to receive her associate degree, she was handed a letter by the Evaluation Organization. She had to personally refer to the Evaluation Organization, where she was verbally told that she could not receive her degree, and that she could not continue her studies for a Bachelor’s Degree because of her faith in Baha’ism.
Baha’i students, including Baha’i women, are systematically denied higher education in Iran. The records of dozens of Baha’is who successfully passed the competitive National University Exam to continue their education at university level have been flagged “deficiency on file,” because of their faith, rendering them ineligible to apply for college.
The number of Baha’i students who have been deprived from pursuing higher education this year has so far exceeded 50.
From September 15-18, 2018, the names of twelve more Baha’i women were among the students barred from continuing their education: Foruzan Noordel from Tabriz, Hoda Hedayati, Kiana Rastak, Negar Ighani and Sahar Mohebpour from Shiraz, Hanan Hashemi Dehej, Hasti Maleki, Tina Hamidi Fard from Tehran, Rojhan Khouniki, Sahba Imani, Mahsa Sotoudeh, and Saba Fazli from Karaj.
Earlier, the names of nine Baha’i women deprived of pursuing their education due to their faith had been announced: Taranom Motamedi Borujeni from Shahin Shahr, Isfahan; Shamim Idelkhani from Moghan, Ardebil; Farnia Iliazadeh, Sarvin Azarshab, Shahrzad Tirgar, and Melina Ghavami Nik from Tehran; Parmida Hossein Pooli Mameghani; Parand Misaghi, and Shaghayegh Ghasemi.
