The Iranian regime has unveiled an alarming plan to deploy “school judges” across the country, a move that has sparked tensions and concerns among parents, teachers, and students. According to Asghar Jahangir, the spokesperson for the regime’s judiciary, “The plan of the school judge is on the agenda this year in the whole country, both to identify these damages and not to allow them to pollute its environment.”
The stated purpose of this plan, according to government officials, is to “manage students’ behavior.” However, many perceive it as a blatant attempt to suppress the voices of students who challenge the status quo and express dissent against the regime’s policies.
The decision to place judges in schools has been taken by the regime’s institutions involved in the repression of the people, including the judiciary, the Ministry of Intelligence, and other security agencies. This move has raised alarm bells among many parents, teachers, and students who fear that schools, which should be places of education and personal growth, will become environments of judicial control and oppression.
Asghar Jahangir, has tried to justify this plan by claiming that it is necessary to combat “aggressive subcultures from other countries” and prevent “indecency, recklessness, carelessness, and even the promotion of immorality” among the youth, particularly in large cities. He argues that if left unchecked, these perceived threats could have “destructive effects on the Iranian-Islamic society” and create an “intergenerational gap between children and parents.”
However, critics argue that such actions will undermine students’ self-confidence and sense of security. Schools should be nurturing environments where teachers and educational staff guide students’ behavior and provide positive role models, not places where judicial rules are administered. Replacing these established methods with judicial actions could have negative impacts on the learning process and character development of children and youth.
The introduction of school judges is seen as a direct response to the regime’s fear of youth protests, particularly in the wake of the nationwide uprisings in 2022, where young people and students played a pivotal role in organizing and leading the demonstrations. The regime’s operatives have already resorted to despicable tactics, such as attacking girls’ schools with gas, leading to the poisoning of numerous students, in an attempt to create an atmosphere of terror and deter student participation in protests.
Jahangir claims that the “school judge” project aims to “hold training courses suitable for the school environment, especially schools that are more at risk and where crimes and injuries are reported from them.” However, this justification is seen as a thinly veiled attempt to suppress students’ voices and prevent further protests against the regime’s oppressive policies.
Critics argue that these repressive measures are not only a violation of educational principles but also a sign of a regime that has lost touch with the aspirations of its people and is increasingly resorting to desperate tactics to cling to power. Such tactics, however, are unlikely to succeed, as history has shown that no government has guaranteed its survival through repression alone. Instead, these measures are likely to further fuel anger and dissatisfaction among students, who have proven their resilience and determination in the face of oppression.
