After the 1979 Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran, one of the main challenges of the government was the control of universities and the dominant atmosphere within them. The government attempted to monitor, intervene, and tightly control the university environment through various methods, and this thinking was also referred to as the “Cultural Revolution,” which resulted in universities being closed for a period of time. In addition, during the Cultural Revolution, many professors and students who did not align with the ideology of the Islamic government were expelled from universities. The government carried out these actions under the supervision of an institution called the “Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution” and focused on purifying and Islamizing the education system. In fact, this council was responsible for policy-making and monitoring universities and the education system, and played a significant role in controlling universities and developing educational policies. It is now considered one of the main institutions in the field of monitoring and controlling higher education.

After the closure of universities (from 1980 to 1983) and their reopening, the government took control of the university space by establishing the student Basij and the Office of the Supreme Leader’s Representative. Through the continuous presence of security forces under the name of “guardianship”, they exerted strict control and supervision over the universities. Although the guardianship forces officially operate under the management of the universities in Iran, they are practically in contact with the country’s security and intelligence institutions. In fact, this institution is considered a part of the internal security structure of the university and its duties include monitoring security issues, protecting university property and individuals, as well as controlling political and cultural activities within the university. Despite being officially considered a part of the university and accountable to the university president, in practice, it has close relationships with security institutions such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the Revolutionary Guards’ Intelligence Organization. These institutions oversee the recruitment, training, and activities of the guardianship forces and

In recent years, the presence of security forces in universities and strict control over the academic and social space of these institutions has significantly increased. This trend, especially after various political and social protests such as the protests of 1388, 1396, 1398 and the protests of 1401, has become more intense. It can be said that universities, as one of the most important arenas for intellectual gatherings and social protests, have always been under the supervision and control of security forces and guards, but in recent years, this control has become increasingly strict and severe. Student activities, including gatherings, speeches, and even student association meetings, are closely monitored by security forces and university guards, and the activities of students and professors on social media and virtual platforms are also closely monitored by security institutions. Critical posts and activities have led to summoning, detention, or expulsion of individuals from universities, and in some cases, security forces have entered universities and even dormitories to arrest protesters and suppress protests

In addition, the government has always tried to justify its actions by using the law and in fact, by using the law, it violates the legal rights of individuals. In recent years, with the approval of the new disciplinary regulations for students (November 1401), the scope of control and monitoring over students has greatly expanded and includes all aspects of students’ activities in political and social fields, and even their privacy. One of the key changes in these regulations is the expansion of the control of university monitoring bodies (security bodies) over students’ activities outside the university environment, which may subject students’ behavior on social networks, their participation in gatherings or protests outside the university, and even expressing their opinions and views in public spaces to disciplinary measures by university disciplinary bodies. From a legal perspective, this expansion of surveillance is a clear violation of the right to privacy and freedom of expression. While universities should have limited control over their internal space, attempting to control behaviors outside the university is considered a violation of students

It can be said that the negative attitude of the government towards universities, treatment of critical and protesting professors and students, and overall performance of the government in this regard, not only violates Articles 23, 27, and 30 of the Constitution, but also contradicts the “Law on Objectives, Duties and Organization of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology” which clearly emphasizes the independence of universities from security and political institutions. The government, under the pretext of security and maintaining public order, has not only taken away the academic and critical space from universities, but has also violated the legitimate and fundamental freedoms of students and professors; while according to Article 9 of the Constitution, no authority has the right to infringe upon the fundamental freedoms of citizens under the pretext of security.