WANA (Dec 14) – A US media outlet has reported that an Iranian assistant professor of political science at the University of Arkansas has been dismissed following allegations related to her public statements in support of Iran and criticism of Israel, amid heightened scrutiny linked to the immigration policies of President Donald Trump and strong US support for Israel.
The New York Post reported on Saturday (local time) that Shirin Saeidi, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Arkansas, was accused of praising Iran’s supreme leader using official university letterhead and of criticizing Israel.
According to the report, evidence also suggests that Saeidi, who headed the university’s Middle East studies program, expressed support for Hamid Nouri, an Iranian national who had been detained in Sweden.
The New York Post added that lawmakers and a group of Iranian opposition activists have urged university administrators to increase pressure on Saeidi, who, according to a university spokesperson, was removed from her position on Friday.
The report states that Saeidi is accused of using university letterhead to call for Nouri’s release. Nouri was convicted by a Swedish court in 2022.
The media further reported that in posts published on the social media platform X in November, Saeidi praised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offered prayers for his protection, and described him as “a leader who kept Iran intact during the Israeli attack, God protect him.”
According to the New York Post, Saeidi also referred to Israel as a “terrorist” and “genocidal” state in her posts.
The report added that Saeidi did not respond to requests for comment from the New York Post.
University of Arkansas. Social media/WANA News Agency