Anti-Mahallati group adds support for increased compensation for Oberlin College professors

OBERLIN — A protest group that has repeatedly called for the termination of an Islamic studies professor at Oberlin College is now backing a push for increased compensation for the institution's employees. Asking for raises and a better medical insurance plan, professors and students have rallied in recent months. They've leveled accusations of mismanagement against the college, and have branded board of trustees members as hypocrites for their treatment of union of employees while sitting on a $1 billion endowment. Joining the fray is the Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists, which sent a letter to the college last week backing "better work conditions, health benefits and adequate remuneration" for Oberlin faculty and staff. The group of alumni, human rights activists and Iranian-Americans has demanded since October 2020 that the college fire religion professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati. He was Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in the 1980s during the state-sanctioned execution of untold thousands of political prisoners. At question is whether Mahallati was aware of and helped cover up evidence of the killings. Amnesty International lists Mahallati among those the organization claims "were actively involved in denying the mass killings in media interviews and exchanges with the U.N. to shield those responsible from accountability." Oberlin College claims it reviewed a 2018 Amnesty International report in which accusations were leveled against Mahallati and engaged professional investigators to evaluate what role he may have played. Mahallati denies the allegations, and the college said its inquiry didn't find proof to corroborate them. The college has not bowed to the Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists' demands despite repeated protests. Another is being planned for June 5. "We have requested that the college initiate a transparent and independent investigation into professor Mahallati's cover-up of the 1988 prison massacres," said a release provided by activist Lawdan Bazargan. "All our calls have remained unanswered; all the documents we submitted to corroborate Mahallati's role have been ignored. Our repeated demands for justice and accountability have been dismissed." The group said Oberlin College has failed to live up to its ideals of fighting for social justice and defending human rights. Scott Wargo, director of media relations for the college, did not provide any new comment. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.