Medical Student Sit-Ins

The female medical students of Fatemieh University of Medical Sciences, in the holy city of Qom, are refusing to attend classes and are staging sit-ins. The students are objecting to their segregation from men in universities, and say they receive an inferior medical education to their male peers (cf. the London Guardian 28/01/00).

As the London Guardian explains, "women were encouraged to attend medical school after the revolution so they could treat female patients, in line with conservative readings of Islamic teachings. But these opportunities no longer satisfy women in modern Iran." In response to a law passed in 1998 to segregate health services, Fatemieh dismissed all its male staff, as a result of which the quality of education has suffered. The best facilities and teaching chairs, students told the paper, went to the men.

As the conflict dragged on, on the 9th of Esfand (27th of February), the students moved their assemblies and sit-ins to the capital. One could now meet them - day after day - huddled on the sidewalk in groups, all along the secretariat of the High Council, with their pamphlets, picnic lunches, and enormous handwritten banners explaining the event to passers-by.

Recently, it seems, the students have not been making complaints regarding the policies of segregation as such - be it for tactical/political reasons - but are generally accusing the board of trustees of crass mismanagement and authoritarianism.

In a decision announced on the 8th of March, the High Council of the Cultural Revolution encouraged the students to put forth and document their grievances, and promised disciplinary action would be taken against the school board. Their demand of placing the university under the auspices of the government, however, was rejected as a "useless whim" on their behalf (Asr-e Azadegan, 19/12/78).

TZ


Declaration of the Students of Fatemieh University of Medical Sciences, Ghom. Addressed to the medical society of Iran, and particularly to the students of the medical science schools throughout the country:

It's been seven years that the officials of Fatemieh have been deceiving the participants in the entrance exam by claiming that this is a semi-public university, and concealing the fact that it is a non-profit and non-governmental institution.

It's been seven years that the students of this university have had to sign an official, notarized written commitment - which has no legal basis - according to which they forego all their rights and their guarantor's rights indefinitely, in the interest of the officials of the university.

It's been seven years that these officials, under the pretext of religion, and using the holy name of Hazrat-e Fatemeh, have been hurting the fundamental beliefs of the committed students at this university.

It's been seven years that the university officials have been abusing the high position of the Supreme Leader under the pretext of supporting and directly backing him, and so covering their vague objectives and undesireable, abusive behavior.

It's been seven years that all the criticisms and suggestions offered by the students have been repressed, and the students stigmatized with political, religious, and moral accusations, in an inhuman, anti-Islamic and unethical manner.

It's been seven years since the clear and lucid articles and regulations of the Ministry of Education have been ignored in this university, and in their place, irrational regulations based on whim and fancy have been approved and executed inconsiderately.

It's been seven years that the voice of untrue and deceiving propaganda of this university has 'deafened the world like a hollow drum' (persian expression).

It's been seven years that the voices of protest and the request for help on the part of these students have been stifled by the powerful and influential owners of this private and unregulated property.

It's been seven years that the only equipped and central hospital in Ghom has been eradicated from the treatment chain in the province of Ghom. This has been done due to poor management, prejudice, and inflexibility in the execution of some of its objectives. Without the necessary conditions and opportunities, the good people of this province have been deprived of care, which is the obvious right of all human beings, and their lives have been endangered.

It's been seven years since the officials of the university, including the president and the board of trustees, have been ignoring the weaknesses in the quality of education, especially in the clinical realm, and ignoring the protests of the students and other groups.

It's been seven years since the medical courses are only offered in the form of theory, and the clinical courses without the presence of patients. The students have successfully and painstakingly, and depending only on their volition, been able to perform outstandingly in the nation-wide exams, and have adjusted themselves to the clinical standards. Obviously, with the soaring increase in the number of students- 600 students for every 60 hospitalized patients- the preservation of the educational quality is not only impossible, but also potentially tragic in the realm of medical sciences.

Considering the aforementioned points, the medical community of Iran, and the students in the medical field throughout the country are asked to not be indifferent towards this ethical and religious duty, and to hear and believe our rightful demands and help us prevent a huge catastrophe in the medical society. It should be noted that the students of this university have completed taking legal and administrative action to solve their problems, and within the last month, by their massive assemblies in Tehran, have requested a fundamental solution to this significant problem. It's important to remind you that in the face of false propaganda on behalf of the officials concerning their objectives and demands, the students have only become more determined .

If, after the specified date of Saturday, 11/16/78 has passed, and no practical measure is taken by the officials, it would be appropriate for the students to assemble again in Tehran. And if they have not taken that step yet, it has been because of their concern for national security, and their respect for the wish of the Leader to uphold peace during this sensitive period. But there's a limit to patience and tolerance.

Therefore, we remind the responsible officials, including the Ministry of Health (that so far has followed up on the resolution of the problems of this university) and the High Council of the Cultural Revolution, that the only way of solving the problems of this university is by getting rid of the owners of private properties under any name or title, and placing the students in a system directly supervised by the government and public laws. Under the present system, a number of actors will be able to prevent any solution to this problem.

In the end, we declare our commitment to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the to the Supreme Leader, the government, and the law, while emphasizing that we do not belong to any political group or faction.

(transl.: XX, MS)