Khajeh Nasir Toosi university dismisses Dr Qasem Exirifard on the grounds that his voice would lead to ridicule in classroom, he tells reformist newspaper

A top physics professor in Iran has lost his job because he was told he has a feminine voice that prevents him from effectively communicating with his university students.

Qasem Exirifard has been dismissed from Tehran’s Khajeh Nasir Toosi university after its academic committee, in charge of examining staff’s qualifications, deemed his voice was effeminate and said it could lead to students ridiculing him in the classroom.



According to the reformist Shargh newspaper, 40-year-old Exirifard is a former national physics olympiad medallist who has a doctorate degree from Italy’s International School for Advanced Studies (Sissa). Shargh described him as a genius in physics with great academic achievements.



He began teaching at the institution in February 2014 but his contract, which was up for renewal last month, was not extended due to the university committee’s ruling.



I felt as if I was living in a cartoon world … I have a simple request from the authorities. I want my job back Dr Qasem Exirifard

“I was disqualified, why? Because I have a high-pitched voice, what they [the university] call a feminine voice,” Exirifard was quoted as saying. “They said I would not be qualified to communicate scientific contents to students because they said my voice was effeminate.”



Teachers in Iran go through an agonising procedure before they qualify. This includes questioning them about Islamic theology to make sure they are observant Muslims and loyal to the principles of the Islamic Republic.



When facing the academic committee, Exirifard told Shargh he also had to answer a series of questions about God. “As the last question, they asked what will I do if students ridicule the professor in the classroom,” he said. “But my students had never ridiculed me.”

Faced with discrimination at work, Exirifard said he had even sought treatment for what doctors told him was not a medical condition. “The doctor refused to treat me, he said you have a healthy voice, your vocal cords are fine. The doctor asked me: why should I do a surgery on you?”

“Imagine a professor who is bald or is hugely obese, or maybe a professor with crossed eyes – should they too be stopped from teaching?” he asked.

In a separate interview with Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad, Exirifard said he was deeply saddened when he heard about the university’s decision. “I felt as if I was living in a cartoon world… I have a simple request from the authorities. I want my job back.”



Exirifard’s dilemma, which was first highlighted by Shargh, has shocked many in Iran. Some have gone online to express solidarity with him and voice outrage at the university’s decision.



“It’s enough to spend 10 minutes with Dr Exirifard and be totally taken by his great knowledge,” one of his students, Mina Ghodsi, wrote on her Facebook page. Another of his students said: “I’m completely in shock. He was so nice, I don’t know what to say.”