Iranian Professor at University of Oklahoma Arrested in the United States
According to the english section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, Vali Nasr, a professor at Johns hopkins University, announced on Monday night that Vahid Abedini, an assistant professor of Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Nasr wrote on X (formerly twitter) that Abedini, who works at the Burnett College of International Studies at the University of Oklahoma, was detained without cause by immigration officers while traveling to attend the middle East Studies Association conference in Washington.
He emphasized that abedini is an accomplished researcher and lecturer whose work visa remains valid according to university officials.
Nasr added that he and several colleagues and students are calling for Abedini’s immediate release and return to his academic post.
joshua Landis, director of middle East studies and the Center for Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma, also posted on X stating that this respected professor was arrested on November 22 while boarding a flight to attend the conference in Washington and subsequently taken into custody.
Landis declared the detention unjustified since Abedini holds a valid H-1B visa-a nonimmigrant work permit designated for specialized occupations including higher education roles.
