Sadreddin Shariati, the controversial head of Allameh Tabatabai University, was removed from his position on Monday by the caretaker of Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Jafar Tofighi.
ISNA reports that on Monday September 2, Hossein Salimi was appointed as the president of Allameh Tabtabai University and will begin his tenure on September 3.
Salimi told ISNA that “providing peaceful and friendly relations between the administration and the students” is one his top priorities as the new head of Allameh University.
Shariati served at the helm of the university for eight years and, in the past years, especially following the controversial 2009 election, he generated controversy with the forced retirement or dismissal of faculty members and the establishment of unorthodox bursaries.
Last week, hundreds of students called for Shariati’s removal in an open letter to President Hassan Rohani.
Shariati announced last month that in the new academic year, 98 percent of classes will be segregated by gender.
Shariati’s removal has been challenged by hardliners in the government and Basij student groups, who accuse the caretaker of Science Minister of extremism.
