As our University academic year here in Toronto is coming to an end and my students (of 3 courses at York University and the University of Toronto - Munk School of Global Affairs) and I celebrated the successful culmination of our classes with reflections/feedback and drinks/snacks together and some quality/special moments together - the US/Israel have struck over 30 Iranian universities during this tragic/illegal war of aggression against Iranians and Iran. Iranians like myself and all freedom-loving humans around the world are mourning this and other such tragedies inflicted upon the peoples of Iran.
This violation of all International Norms (and thus a War Crime) is particularly tragic when you consider that Iran (Persia) has had some of the oldest Universities in human history (Jondhi Shapur University for example, considered one the most ancient universities in the world) and also some of the best Universities in the Region and even internationally, especially in scientific and technical fields. It is also particularly tragic when you consider that Iran has had gender parity in Higher Education and in fact, has had more female University students than male ones. This is inspite of the immense pressure by the Regime on independent/progressive Professors, Administrators and students, and the heavy price students and Professors have paid in the past 47 years of resistance and standing up for academic and political freedom and social justice.
Iranians like myself who studied at Iranian Universities for at least a few years of our overall educational life - in my case - Shiraz University - this is a very personal onslaught. Our times at University were definitely not easy and we studied through the Revolution, the "Cultural Revolution", 8 years of Iran-Iraq war and the arrest, torture, execution and dismissal/silencing of us students and our protests at the time - but nevertheless - the struggle continued and was continuing before this crazy/senseless and destructive/ruthless US/Israeli attack has/is destroying all that could provide Iran/Iranians with a meaningful future one day and setting back the struggles of Iranian Civil Society perhaps for decades.
Shame!!!! End this war!!! Women, life, freedom.
This violation of all International Norms (and thus a War Crime) is particularly tragic when you consider that Iran (Persia) has had some of the oldest Universities in human history (Jondhi Shapur University for example, considered one the most ancient universities in the world) and also some of the best Universities in the Region and even internationally, especially in scientific and technical fields. It is also particularly tragic when you consider that Iran has had gender parity in Higher Education and in fact, has had more female University students than male ones. This is inspite of the immense pressure by the Regime on independent/progressive Professors, Administrators and students, and the heavy price students and Professors have paid in the past 47 years of resistance and standing up for academic and political freedom and social justice.
Iranians like myself who studied at Iranian Universities for at least a few years of our overall educational life - in my case - Shiraz University - this is a very personal onslaught. Our times at University were definitely not easy and we studied through the Revolution, the "Cultural Revolution", 8 years of Iran-Iraq war and the arrest, torture, execution and dismissal/silencing of us students and our protests at the time - but nevertheless - the struggle continued and was continuing before this crazy/senseless and destructive/ruthless US/Israeli attack has/is destroying all that could provide Iran/Iranians with a meaningful future one day and setting back the struggles of Iranian Civil Society perhaps for decades.
Shame!!!! End this war!!! Women, life, freedom.
Senseless bombing destroying the future of children for what purpose?
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