Universities not allowed to refuse Iranian students

Educational institutions are no longer allowed to refuse Iranian students and scientists. The sanction regulation that was being used in the Netherlands against Iranian students was declared non-binding by the Dutch Supreme Court.

The sanction regulation prohibited Iranian residents to follow education that can contribute to nuclear activities in Iran and to the development in Iran of systems for the distribution of nuclear weapons. According to the Dutch Supreme Court, the sanction regulation is in conflict with the provision on prohibition of discrimination of the European Convention on Human Rights.

A student, PhD and a professor objected to the sanction regulation. They were living in the Netherlands and have the Dutch nationality as well as the Iranian nationality (which cannot be denounced). The minister of Education then argued in the House of Representatives that in practice, no Iranian students were withheld from their access to study. However, the Dutch Court of Appeal decided that the regulation actual did hinder the three respondents in their career possibilities. Therefore, it declared the regulation non-binding on the ground of discrimination.