Campaign Intensifies to Oust Daughter of Former Iran President From Teaching Job at U.S. University

In the wake of widespread unrest and a brutal government crackdown in Iran, online activists have turned their attention to the families of regime figures living abroad. A growing social media campaign is calling for the dismissal of Leila Khatami, daughter of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), from her reported position as a mathematics lecturer at a New York-based institution. The push gained momentum following the recent termination of Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, daughter of Ali Larijani, a top Iranian security official, from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

The campaign, primarily unfolding on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), accuses Khatami's daughter of benefiting from her family's regime ties while Iranians suffer at home. Activists argue that academic institutions should not provide safe havens or legitimacy to relatives of officials involved in suppressing dissent. Posts from Iranian dissidents and expatriates highlight the hypocrisy: regime elites condemning protests as foreign plots while their children enjoy freedoms and opportunities in the West. A self-described Iranian doctor advocating against the regime, stated: "They built a prison for millions in Iran, label dissent a 'conspiracy,' then send their kids to become professors in American universities... How long will this hypocrisy last? Time to hold them accountable." Others have directly tagged the institution, urging reviews and expulsions, with hashtags like #IranMassacre, #IranRevolution2026, and #IRGCterrorists amplifying the message.

Although the original report mentions Union Theological Seminary in New York, a theological school affiliated with Columbia University, social media posts and activist claims point to Union College in Schenectady, New York, where Leila Khatami is listed as a mathematics professor. According to details shared online, she left Iran in 2004 and has since studied and taught in France, Italy, and the United States, building a career in mathematics far from the political turmoil.

The backlash is fueled by Mohammad Khatami's recent statements on the ongoing Iranian protests, which erupted in late December 2025 over economic collapse and evolved into calls for regime change. On January 16, 2026, Khatami described the uprising as a "major, premeditated conspiracy" orchestrated by Israel and the United States, claiming statements from Israeli officials and U.S. support left "no doubt" about external involvement. This echoed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's narrative blaming foreign "sedition," including the U.S. and ISIS, for the unrest. Critics, including human rights groups, say such rhetoric deflects from the regime's violent response, which has killed thousands, estimates range from 3,400 officially to over 30,000 according to activists and medical sources.

The precedent for this campaign was set by Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani's case. An oncologist and assistant professor at Emory's School of Medicine, she was removed from her position earlier this month amid pressure from U.S. lawmakers and activists. Her father, Ali Larijani, heads Iran's Supreme National Security Council and has been sanctioned by the U.S. for human rights abuses. Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) led calls for her ouster, citing her "familial ties" to a regime advocating violence against Americans. Emory confirmed her departure but provided no further details, sparking debates on whether individuals should be punished for family connections. A Change.org petition even demanded her deportation from U.S. soil.

As of now, there's no indication that Union College (or Seminary) has responded to the demands regarding Leila Khatami. The campaign reflects broader frustrations among Iranian dissidents, who see these expatriate family members as symbols of the regime's double standards—preaching austerity and piety at home while enjoying luxuries abroad. Some posts have conflated her with other regime offspring, like unverified videos claiming to show Khamenei's daughter partying, further fueling outrage.