WANA (June 17) – Iran’s judiciary rejected the news that Sadegh Ziba Kalam, one of the political activists and professor at the university, was suffering from an illness in prison.

 

According to the judiciary’s announcement, Sadegh Ziba Kalam has been ill for a long time, and if needed, he can use legal leave for his treatment.

 

A few weeks ago, a Tehran University professor was sentenced to nearly two years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the system” and “publishing false information.”

 

Zeba Kalam is one of the few university professors in Iran who supports establishing full relations with America, opposes Iran’s nuclear activities, and implicitly supports part of Israel’s behavior.

 

The reformists’ apparent disregard for Dr. Sadegh Ziba Kalam’s plight has been widely viewed as a disappointing sign of their attitude toward this influential political figure.

 

Many have interpreted the reformists’ lack of attention to Dr. Sadegh Ziba Kalam’s situation as the cowardice of this political current toward him.

 

Hossein Dehbashi, one of the well-known figures on social media, criticized the reformists in a sharp tweet and called them unauthentic people with opaque DNA for ignoring Zabakalm’s critical condition in prison.

 

Despite his growing popularity among government critics, Sadegh Ziba Kalam’s activism has not garnered significant support from his peers in political science and social science, raising questions about the academic community’s stance.

 

When this university professor was imprisoned previously, His supporters, including university professors, did not show any reaction or rally outside the judiciary building to demand his release. This inaction raises questions about the reformists’ loyalty to his friends.

 

The intensity of Ziba Kalam’s anger towards governance has dramatically influenced his analysis in recent years. His critiques in recent years have had less scientific weight and more of a show-off aspect to gain an audience. Many consider his political activism similar to that of Instagram celebrities.

 

Apparently, in the reformists’ stronghold, the differences between the leaders are far beyond imagination. The staged display of unity cannot hide the power struggle within this front. Many Iranian reformist leaders neither trust nor believe each other.

 

These days, the reformists are trying to test their luck once again to return to power. They are involved in advertising for Dr Massoud Pezeshkian in the upcoming presidential election competition held on June 28, 2024. Meanwhile, no one expects them to think about their fellow prisoners like Tajzadeh, Faezeh, and Ziba Kalam…

Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent Iranian political commentator and former professor at the University of Tehran / Social Media / WANA News Agency

Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent Iranian political commentator and former professor at the University of Tehran / Social Media / WANA News Agency

WHO IS ZIBAKALAM?

Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent Iranian political commentator and former professor at the University of Tehran, has been recently detained and sentenced to prison. Zibakalam, who is known for his critical stance against the Iranian government, has been charged with spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic and making false statements. He will serve an 18-month sentence in Tehran’s Evin prison.

 

His arrest coincided with the scheduled launch of his new book, “Why Don’t They Arrest You and What Will Happen Afterwards?”, at the Tehran International Book Fair​

By WANA team