Indian Medical Students Stranded in Iran as Universities Withhold Passports
The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association has raised serious concerns about the welfare of Indian medical students currently based in Iran, alleging that several universities are deliberately withholding their passports. This troubling situation persists even as many of these students have expressed a strong desire to return to India amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.
Academic Coercion and Distress Among Students
According to the association, which maintains regular contact with the affected students, numerous individuals—many hailing from Jammu & Kashmir—find themselves effectively immobilized. The prolonged closure of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, coupled with the authorities' refusal to return travel documents, has left these students stranded against their will. Nasir Khuehami, the national convenor of the association, stated that university authorities have avoided responsibility for several days, delaying the return of passports and forcing students to remain in place.
Continuation of Exams Despite Broader Postponements
Compounding the distress is the continuation of semester examinations at some universities, even though most academic institutions across Iran have postponed their exams until March 24 in response to the rapidly deteriorating situation. This inconsistency in academic scheduling has created additional anxiety among students and their families back in India, who are already worried about safety concerns.
Urgent Appeal to Indian Authorities
In a formal letter addressed to the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday, the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association highlighted what it described as a convergence of concerns requiring immediate intervention. The association urgently requested the ministry to engage with Iranian authorities, the Indian Embassy in Tehran, and relevant university administrations to secure the prompt return of the students' passports.
The appeal also called for:
- Postponement of ongoing examinations to align with Iran's broader national academic response to the crisis.
- Flexibility in academic requirements to accommodate the extraordinary circumstances.
- Direct action to address what the association terms academic coercion.
When contacted by Times of India regarding these allegations, the Ministry of External Affairs had not issued a response by the time of publication. The situation remains fluid, with students caught between academic obligations and personal safety concerns as geopolitical tensions continue to mount.
