Driving the news:
The national conference was held at Islamic Azad University’s Tehran Central Branch as part of Iran’s Research Week, bringing together senior scholars, cultural figures, and research officials to examine strategies for confronting systematic scientific exclusion imposed by dominant global powers.
Why it matters:
Scientific apartheid is not merely an academic concern but a tool of domination that reinforces global inequality, sustains sanctions regimes, and deprives independent nations of their right to development, technological sovereignty, and scientific self-reliance.
The big picture:
Participants described science and technology as decisive factors in shaping global power balances, arguing that Western countries increasingly weaponize knowledge, data, and innovation to preserve political, economic, and military dominance while marginalizing other nations.
Key points:
- The conference is the third event leading up to the International Conference on the Global Coalition Against Scientific Apartheid, scheduled for November 2026 (Aban 1405) in Tehran.
- It was organized by the World Assembly of Islamic Peace, Islamic Azad University, and several scientific and cultural institutions.
- The event focused on the link between science, justice, peace, and the emerging global order.
- The conference outlined several core objectives, including:
Explaining the relationship between science, peace, development, justice, and global security
Promoting scientific justice as a prerequisite for lasting global peace
Identifying manifestations of scientific and technological apartheid
Building coalitions among global scientific elites to counter scientific exclusion
Examining scientific apartheid within the context of modern colonialism and global domination
What he is saying:
Alireza Firoozfar, head of Islamic Azad University in Tehran province, identified four practical strategies to counter scientific apartheid:
"Strengthening Islamic cooperation, breaking the monopoly over scientific publishing, preventing brain drain, and pursuing active scientific diplomacy."
He said, "In the debate on scientific apartheid, inequality, segregation, and deprivation speak for themselves. Scientific deprivation may be the most condemning term for the system of domination."
Firoozfar emphasized, "Any form of deprivation in science, by itself, condemns the system of domination.
Citing Islamic teachings, he added, "Knowledge is the key to dignity, power, and national security. We regard science as a divine trust, a collective duty, and a strategic asset for overcoming threats."
Referring to the well-known narration ‘Seek knowledge even if it is in China,’ he stressed that borderless knowledge is itself a battlefield against scientific apartheid.
Mohammad Es'haqi, university professor and deputy head of education and research at the Islamic Revolution Institute, examined "Scientific monopolization and scientific justice from the perspective of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei."
He highlighted Western scientific exclusivity and various dimensions of justice as articulated by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Davoud Ameri, Secretary General of the World Assembly of Islamic Peace, said, "Peace is only possible through justice. The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought peace and justice solely for itself; its outlook is global."
He warned, "The greatest threat to the future world is scientific apartheid, because the most transformative developments of the future are rooted in science and technology."
Ameri stressed that science and technology will shape future power structures and said Iran can play a leading role in emerging global value chains.
Book unveiling:
During the conference, the book “The Sacred Union of Iran” was unveiled. Authored by Davoud Ameri, the book provides a documented and analytical account of 12 days of resistance and victory by the Iranian nation against the joint aggression by the Israeli regime and the United States.
The eight-chapter work examines leadership, national unity, narrative warfare, international law violations, and the concept of a “Strong Iran.”
Zoom in:
Conference panels addressed six major themes:
Scientific apartheid and scientific justice
Science in the service of peace, development, and security
Terrorism, sanctions, unilateralism, and just peace
Unilateralism and the future global order
Scientific justice, international law, and sanctions
Legal strategies to confront scientific apartheid
Zohre Khazaee - Zohre Khazaee
