Khamanei Rules to Nationalize Free University of Iran- UPDATE

In a major blow to Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s attempt to maintain the status of Iran’s Islamic Free University as an endowed private institution, the country's supreme leader today ruled that the university, the country’s largest, is a public institution and should be managed by government’s Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution [Mashreq Website, 11 October]. Rafsanjani is the founding chairman of the university’s board of trustees and now has to relinquish his authority to President Ahmadinejad who chairs the Supreme Council.

The ruling supported Ahmadinejad’s argument that the Free University should be state-owned and managed like other institutions of higher learning in Iran. But Rafsanjani argued that the university was founded privately in the early years of the Islamic Republic and has been managed by its own board of trustees for nearly three decades, growing into the largest university in Iran and in the region, with campuses across Iran, UAE and Britain. Khamaeni’s ruling against Rafsanjani effectively nationalizes the Free University. The move is also seen as yet another indication of Khamenei’s siding with Ahmadinejad on important issues against his political opponents.

UPDATE: Immediately after Khamenei’s ruling on Azad University’s status, Rafsanjani’s website posted a historical note saying Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, had personally donated 1 million toumans to the university. It also quoted Rafsanjani of reporting to Imam Khomeni that there were forces that wanted to nationalize the university and Khomeini told him not to worry, to continue keeping the university private, and he (Khomeini) would take care of the opponents.

Uskowi: This issue has all the markings of a major power struggle centered on the fate of a university.