Disgraced pro-Iran professor threatens activist who exposed alleged plagiarism
Sadegh Saeedinia, manager of the Saeedinia café chain, received a prison term exceeding 12 years and had his property confiscated after being convicted of propaganda against national security.
Shirin Saiedi, a former professor at the University of Arkansas removed for pro-Iran statements, announced on X that she would target activist Lawdan Bazargan and his Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists with an “army.” Bazargan, who helped reveal alleged plagiarism in Saiedi’s publications and her support for the Iranian regime, said the threats have left him fearful and filed a letter with the FBI citing concerns about third-party criminal involvement.
Saiedi also threatened to locate and desecrate the grave of Bazargan’s brother, Bijan Bazargan, a victim of the 1988 Iranian prison massacre. In August, Cambridge University began an investigation into Saiedi’s PhD thesis after her supporters claimed the allegations were fraudulent. Saiedi compared her situation to the late Cambridge scholar Jason Arday, who died after a plagiarism probe, and a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $15,000 for her legal costs.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTThe camps focus on different stories: Left-leaning coverage highlights the ongoing executions of Iranian protestors and alleged torture, centrist coverage details the sentencing and asset seizure of a café chain chief for alleged protest support, while right-leaning coverage reports a disgraced pro-Iran professor threatening an activist.
LEFT
Iranian protestors are facing execution, denied lawyers, and subjected to torture-derived confessions.
CENTER
A café chain chief was sentenced to over 12 years and stripped of assets for propaganda and alleged protest coordination.
RIGHT
A former professor removed for pro-Iran statements threatens an activist and his family, prompting FBI involvement.
The left emphasises
- dozens of protesters facing death sentences or charges like “enmity against God”
- families say detainees lack access to chosen lawyers
- confessions obtained under pressure and torture used as primary evidence
The right emphasises
- professor threatens activist with an “army” and to desecrate his brother’s grave
- activist filed a letter with the FBI citing fear of criminal involvement
- Cambridge University opened an investigation into the professor’s PhD thesis
