American University Expels Daughter of Ali Larijani After Widespread Pressure
In a move that sparked widespread controversy between the United States and Iran, Emory University announced the expulsion of Fatemeh Ardshir Larijani, daughter of the Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, following escalating campaigns for her dismissal.
The decision came just days after the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on her father for his public calls for the use of violence against Americans and Iranian protesters.
Fatemeh was working as an assistant professor in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Emory University, focusing her research on "discovering new therapeutic targets and identifying mechanisms of immune resistance in lung cancer," but her biography page disappeared from the university's official website after the expulsion decision.
Although the university did not clarify whether the decision was directly related to the U.S. sanctions, it confirmed that hiring practices are conducted in accordance with state and federal laws.
In contrast, U.S. Congressman from Georgia, Buddy Carter, called for her dismissal and the revocation of her medical license, stating that her family ties to a senior Iranian security official "pose risks to patient safety and trust in institutions and national security."
The campaign was not limited to official channels, as social media witnessed gatherings and demands from Americans and Iranians for her removal, and a number of Iranians organized a protest in front of the Winship Cancer Institute affiliated with the university, in protest of her father's role in suppressing protests within Iran.
It is worth noting that the U.S. Treasury Department had imposed sanctions on Ali Larijani over a week ago, accusing him of coordinating authorities against protesters and his public calls for force to suppress the protests.
