About 116 professors from the Tehran University sent an open letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei protesting the expulsion of students, threatening of teachers and dominance of fear, Iran's opposition leader Mir Hussein Mousavi's official Web site Kaleme.org reported.
Detention of faculty by unknown persons worries the teachers. Threats against students and faculty, their removal from work, school and other activities impede the development of science in the country, the letter says.
The letter expressed the hope that upon the supreme leader's order the safe atmosphere will be restored as well as development of science in the country's universities.
Opposition supporters and police clashed on Ashura Day Dec. 27 in Tehran.
According to international news agencies, the riots resulted in the deaths of 15 people. Police arrested 550 people. According to official information, the clashes killed eight people, including one woman and 300 people were arrested.