To the Kellogg School of Management Administration,
I am writing to share my deep concerns regarding the decision to host Farnaz Fassihi as a speaker on January 28.
While academic institutions should always value diverse perspectives, giving a platform to individuals who have helped circulate misleading Iranian regime narratives is incredibly problematic—especially given the current climate of systemic violence, torture, and the suppression of women’s rights in Iran.
A specific example of this concern is Ms. Fassihi’s 2022 claim that the Iranian "morality police" had been disbanded. This was factually incorrect and was widely viewed as a piece of state propaganda intended to quiet international outrage while Iranian women were still being brutalized in the streets. Far from being abolished, the morality police actually ramped up their enforcement shortly after those reports surfaced.
Hosting this talk isn't just an exercise in free speech; it’s a matter of institutional ethics. By providing a prestigious platform under these circumstances, Kellogg risks legitimizing a narrative that masks state-sponsored violence.
I strongly urge the administration to reconsider this invitation. Moving forward with this event risks alienating the Iranian community and undermines the moral clarity we expect from a world-class institution.
Respectfully,
