Introduction
Over the past 45 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has exhibited a persistent neglect toward the welfare of students and researchers, a disregard that is starkly reflected in the deteriorating conditions within university campuses. This systemic oversight has been a significant catalyst for the emigration of intellectuals and scholars over the past four decades. Notably, grievances related to student welfare have frequently ignited broader protests, especially during periods of heightened repression. In the past decade, economic disintegration, unprecedented inflation, and international sanctions have exacerbated these issues, leading to a marked decline in the quality of student services, particularly in the provision of campus meals. During the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, such welfare-related grievances, including hunger strikes, played a pivotal role in sustaining university-based protests.
Neglect of Student Welfare and Escalating Food-Related Incidents
Hunger Strike in Response to Serial Food Poisoning of Students at 6 Universities in Iran – December 2022
The Iranian government’s approach to student welfare has been largely superficial, often opting to suppress dissent rather than address underlying issues. A concerning manifestation of this neglect is the series of food poisoning incidents across universities, which have led to hospitalizations and, in some cases, fatalities. For instance, in December 2022, over 1,200 students from six universities exhibited symptoms of severe food poisoning, including vomiting and hallucinations, coinciding with planned anti-regime protests. The timing and scale of these incidents have led to allegations of deliberate attempts to stifle student activism.
Despite these alarming events, the government’s response has been to obfuscate the issues and silence those attempting to shed light on the crises. This pattern of denial and repression underscores a broader strategy of avoiding accountability and suppressing student activism.
Intensification of Issues in 2024 (Iranian Year 1403)
The First Hunger Strike of Students in the New Iranian Year – Amir Kabir University of Technology – April 16, 2024
The onset of the Iranian calendar year 1403 (March 2024) saw a significant increase in food-related health incidents among students, despite intensified crackdowns on student movements following the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. In March 2024, students at Amir Kabir University suffered repeated food poisoning episodes, mirroring incidents from the previous year. In response, on April 16, 2024, students initiated a hunger strike, which was met with the deployment of over 50 plainclothes security personnel to suppress the protest.
Mandatory Receipt of Student Meals via Facial Recognition System at Shiraz University – October 2, 2023
Concurrently, university administrations, in coordination with the Ministry of Science’s security apparatus, implemented new surveillance measures in student dining facilities. Facial recognition systems were introduced for meal distribution, ostensibly to enhance security but raising significant concerns about privacy and the potential for increased monitoring of student activities. Notably, on April 30, 2024, Shahrood University of Technology announced that students would henceforth receive meals only through facial recognition systems, a move replicated by other institutions in subsequent months.
Persistent Challenges and Governmental Apathy
The election of Masoud Pezeshkian as President, following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, briefly kindled hopes for substantial reforms within the academic sector. However, by the fall semester of 2024, it became evident that systemic issues persisted. Economic constraints led to measures such as the elimination of meal subsidies for part-time students at Al-Zahra University, resulting in a threefold increase in meal prices. Simultaneously, reports of substandard food quality surged, with incidents of expired food and foreign objects, including insects, being found in meals. On November 4, 2024, students at Al-Zahra University discovered cockroaches in their salads, exemplifying the deteriorating conditions.
Presence of Cockroaches in the Meal Salad at Al-Zahra University – November 4, 2024
Escalation of Food Poisoning Cases
Over 40 Students Hospitalized at Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences Due to Food Poisoning – November 24, 2024
The fall semester of 2024 witnessed over 240 students across various universities experiencing severe food poisoning, necessitating hospitalizations. On November 2, 2024, students at Hamedan University of Technology staged a hunger strike to protest widespread food poisoning incidents, highlighting the administration’s failure to ensure food safety. A week later, on November 9, 2024, over 70 students from Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University in Tehran were hospitalized due to food poisoning. Subsequent incidents at other institutions further underscored the pervasive nature of the crisis.
Medical Certificate of Food Poisoning for Shahid Beheshti University Students – January 8, 2025
Underlying Causes of Increased Food-Related Health Issues
Several factors have contributed to the rise in food-related health incidents among students:
Economic Strain: Worsening economic conditions, characterized by inflation and rising food costs, have led to the procurement of lower-quality ingredients and compromised food safety standards.
Administrative Failures: Mismanagement within the higher education system has resulted in lapses in food preparation and hygiene protocols, increasing the risk of contamination and foodborne illnesses.
Suppression of Student Advocacy: The dismantling of student unions and the repression of welfare-related protests have removed critical oversight mechanisms, allowing negligence and corruption to flourish unchecked.
Conclusion
The Iranian government’s persistent neglect of student welfare, coupled with its repressive responses to legitimate grievances, has precipitated a crisis within the nation’s universities. The alarming increase in food-related health incidents not only endangers student well-being but also reflects deeper systemic issues stemming from economic mismanagement and authoritarian governance. These compounded grievances, particularly within the student body, hold the potential to ignite the next wave of protests in Iranian universities. Addressing these challenges necessitates a comprehensive reassessment of policies toward higher education and a genuine commitment to safeguarding the rights and health of students to prevent further unrest.