Iranian Universities Appeal to the Global Academic Community for the Protection of Human Life, Cultural Heritage, Civilization, and Human Dignity

In recent days, the world has witnessed an unprovoked, unlawful, and overwhelmingly unjust assault upon the Iranian nation. The United States and Israeli aggressors have carried out indiscriminate attacks against innocent civilians, as well as numerous schools, medical centers, research laboratories, sports facilities, civil infrastructures, and even sites of cultural heritage across the country. 

The atrocities committed by the aggressors evoke the darkest chapters of human history reminiscent of the medieval Crusades, tragic episodes one might have hoped humanity had long outgrown. In merely one instance, on the first day of this imposed conflict, an attack on an elementary school in Minab led to the senseless and brutal killing of 167 innocent children. 

For millennia, the Iranian nation and its ancient civilization have served as a cradle of human advancement, a pillar of regional stability, and a source of inspiration for intellectual and cultural progress. Iran’s rich heritage has contributed immensely to the collective history, culture, and achievements of humanity. 

Throughout its long history, Iranian civilization has demonstrated unwavering commitment to cultivating excellence in human capacity, dedicated to scientific discovery, technological innovation, and the elevation of human life and dignity. This enduring dedication has been reflected in its substantial contributions to global scientific development over the past decades. 

The war imposed upon the Iranian nation by the United States and Israel seeks the systematic devastation of one of the world’s oldest and most vibrant civilizations. It aims to destroy the very fabric of a cultural and historical legacy that belongs not only to Iran, but to all of humanity. Any effort to weaken or dismantle this civilization is, therefore, a betrayal of humanity itself and a peril to its collective future. 

 This letter is issued by the Presidents of Iranian Universities to their free-spirited counterparts and esteemed scholars across the world, as a call to fulfill their humanitarian obligations and to urge their peoples and governments to stand firmly against the unrestrained massacre and destruction of civilization under unjust and unfounded pretexts.

We call upon our colleagues, scholars, and public figures of conscience everywhere to unite in the pursuit of ethics, dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and justice, in the face of the expansionist and subversive policies of the United States and Israeli administrations.

The experience of recent years has demonstrated that many international institutions have regrettably lost even the minimal effectiveness required to uphold justice and protect nations from aggression. While Iran’s armed forces courageously defend our land and people against this brutal assault with every means at their disposal, and our citizens endure the hardships and atrocities inflicted by the aggressors with dignity and pride, we consider it our academic and moral responsibility to raise global awareness. We appeal to the good conscience of scholars and intellectuals worldwide to take meaningful action against the brutality perpetuated by these war-driven governments. If such unethical conduct remains unchallenged by the international academic and cultural community, Iran will tragically not be the last victim.

We earnestly hope that our academic colleagues around the world will serve as the voice of human culture and civilization, joining efforts to protect human life, preserve dignity, and safeguard this precious cultural heritage and civilization for future generations.

“Human Beings are members of a whole 

In creation of one essence and soul 

If one member is afflicted with pain 

Other members uneasy will remain 

If you have no sympathy for human pain 

The name of human you cannot retain.” 

By Sa’adi of Shiraz, Iranian poet of the 13th century

Respectfully, 

Signed by the rectors of 15 Top-Tier Universities of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Iranian Universities 

Prof. Mohammad Hossein Omid; President of the University of Tehran 
Prof. Masoud Tajrishy; President of Sharif University of Technology 

Prof. Abbas Soroush; President of Amirkabir University of Technology 
Prof. Seyed Mohammad Reza Aghamiri; President of Shahid Beheshti University 
Prof. Shoja Ahmadvand; President of Allameh Tabataba’i University 

Prof. Hamid Reza Taghirad; President of Khaja Nasir Toosi University of Technology 

Prof. Zafarollah Kalantari; President of Isfahan University of Technology 
Prof. Rasoul Roknizadeh; President of University of Isfahan 

Prof. Abdolreza Javan Jafari; President of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 
Prof. Yousef Hojjat; President of Tarbiat Modares University 

Prof. Alireza Afsharifar; President of Shiraz University 

Prof. Mahmoud Mehrdad Shokriyeh; President of Iran Science and Technology University 

Prof. Mohammad Taghi Alami; President of University of Tabriz 
Prof. Hossein Nezamabadi Pour; President of Bahonar University of Kerman 
Prof. Ali Hossein Hosseinzadeh; President of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz