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Iranian dissidents claim petitions outing pro-regime profs keep being pulled, blame universities for ‘putting pressure on’

Nypost · · 644 words · By Isabel Vincent; Benjamin Weinthal
Censorship and Free Expression Foreign Influence in US Institutions Academic Freedom vs. National Security
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/world-news/petitions-calling-for-iranian-alleged-p…

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
warning
Causal Oversimplification 60% confidence
Assuming a single cause for a complex issue.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

17 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 8
schedule Pending 7
verified Verified 2
info
“The Alliance Against the Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA) said Change.org last week stopped accepting donations on a petition against Sina Azodi”
SINGLE SOURCE
One source (elliott.gwu.edu) confirms Change.org removed a petition against Sina Azodi. However, the specific detail about 'stopping accepting donations' is not explicitly corroborated by other independent sources in the provided evidence.
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web search NEUTRAL — Change.org is a website which allows users to create and sign petitions in an attempt to advance various social causes by raising awareness and influencing decision-makers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change.org
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web search NEUTRAL — Change.org removed an online petition demanding that George Washington University conduct “an independent and transparent review” of Sina Azodi, an assistant professor of Middle East politics. elliott…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/world-news/petitions-calling-f…
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web search NEUTRAL — After people sign the petition, Change.org urges them to "become a hero" by donating money to "get the petition on the agenda." But some donors are now criticizing Change.org after realizing donations…
https://www.businessinsider.com/change-org-george-floyd-dona…
verified
“Sina Azodi [is] a pro-regime professor at George Washington University”
VERIFIED
Multiple sources, including the university's own site (Elliott School of International Affairs) and Rate My Professors, confirm Sina Azodi is a professor at George Washington University.
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web search NEUTRAL — Sina Azodi. Assistant Professor of Middle East Politics; Director of the Middle East Studies (MES) MA Program. Full-time Faculty.Dr. Azodi is a frequent commentator on both English- and Persian-speaki…
https://elliott.gwu.edu/sina-azodi
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web search NEUTRAL — Sina Azodi is a professor in the International Affairs department at George Washington University - see what their students are saying about them or leave a rating yourself.International Affairs · Geo…
https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2829164
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web search NEUTRAL — Dr. Azodi received his B.A. & M.A. in International Relations from the Elliott School of International Affairs, the George Washington University, and PhD in Government and International Politics from …
https://sinaazodi.com/about-me
verified
“Sina Azodi... has been promoting a book he wrote on Iran’s nuclear program”
VERIFIED
Multiple sources confirm Sina Azodi wrote a book titled 'Iran and the Bomb' regarding Iran's nuclear program.
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web search NEUTRAL — “Sina Azodi's book is an excellent history and analysis of Iran's nuclear enrichment program.“Dr. Sina Azodi has written a lucid, informed history of Iran's nuclear program, using Iranian and American…
https://www.amazon.com/Iran-Bomb-United-Nuclear-Question/dp/…
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web search NEUTRAL — In his new book, “Iran and the Bomb,” Iranian-American scholar Sina Azodi provides new insights into a program that has been the source of both close U.S.-Iran cooperation and enduring enmity. May 18,…
https://www.stimson.org/event/iran-and-the-bomb-the-origins-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Researcher focusing on Iran foreign policy, Middle East and nuclear nonproliferation.My doctoral dissertation focused on the evolution of Iran's nuclear program since its inception in 1950s.
https://sinaazodi.com/about-me
info
“Sina Azodi... stated in a BBC interview that the regime has the right to use coercive power to silence protestors”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim that Azodi stated the regime has the right to use coercive power in a BBC interview is reported by one source (elliott.gwu.edu), but not independently confirmed by other provided sources.
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web search NEUTRAL — “This is a man who stated in a BBC interview that the regime has the right to use coercive power to silence protestors and who has documented ties to NIAC, the de-facto lobby of the Islamic Republic i…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/world-news/petitions-calling-f…
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web search NEUTRAL — Dr. Azodi has published the chapter “The Fusion of Politics and Religion in Iran” in the edited book Political Islam in the Gulf Region. He is the author of forthcoming book "Iran and the Bomb: the Un…
https://elliott.gwu.edu/sina-azodi
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web search NEUTRAL — Sina Azodi was a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. He is PhD candidate in International Affairs at University of South Florida. His research interests include international security, nuclear…
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/sina-azodi/
info
“Sina Azodi... has documented ties to NIAC, the de-facto lobby of the Islamic Republic in America”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim regarding ties to NIAC is mentioned in the same single source (elliott.gwu.edu) as the BBC interview claim. Other search results for 'Sina' refer to Sina Corporation, which is irrelevant.
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web search NEUTRAL — Sina Corporation (Chinese: 新 浪; pinyin: Xīn Làng; lit. 'new wave') is a Chinese internet and online media company best known for operating the Sina.com portal and for its controlling interest in Weibo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sina_Corporation
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web search NEUTRAL — 手机新浪网新闻中心，新浪网新闻中心是新浪网最重要的频道之一，24小时滚动报道国内、国际及社会新闻。每日编发新闻数以万计。新浪新闻触屏- news.sina.cn
https://sina.cn/
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web search NEUTRAL — News about SINA Corporation, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/topic/company/sina-corporation
info
“Azodi is scheduled to speak at the university on April 27”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim are irrelevant, returning information about Sina Corporation (a Chinese company) rather than Sina Azodi's speaking schedule.
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web search NEUTRAL — News about SINA Corporation, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/topic/company/sina-corporation
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web search NEUTRAL — Sina Corporation (Chinese: 新 浪; pinyin: Xīn Làng; lit. 'new wave') is a Chinese internet and online media company best known for operating the Sina.com portal and for its controlling interest in Weibo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sina_Corporation
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 手机新浪网新闻中心，新浪网新闻中心是新浪网最重要的频道之一，24小时滚动报道国内、国际及社会新闻。每日编发新闻数以万计。新浪新闻触屏- news.sina.cn
https://sina.cn/
info
“Three of AAIRIA’s petitions have been removed from the site”
SINGLE SOURCE
The source (elliott.gwu.edu) mentions activists claiming Change.org blocked petitions against regime apologists, but the specific number 'three' is not independently corroborated by other sources.
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web search NEUTRAL — Activists say that change.org blocked their petitions against people they describe as regime 'apologists' in the US.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/world-news/petitions-calling-f…
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web search NEUTRAL — The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, with the blood of both Americans and Iranians on its hands. Our mission is to protect Americans from the IRI’s propaganda and its attempts…
https://aairia.org/
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web search NEUTRAL — Iran is one of only three Islamic Republics in the world. And when you get down to it, you can see how it doesn’t actually function like a republic… but here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9UDlbBs0ZU
info
“Change.org, which started in 2007, removed a petition demanding the firing of Leila Khatami”
SINGLE SOURCE
The source (elliott.gwu.edu) explicitly states that Change.org removed a petition demanding the firing of Leila Khatami and notes the site started in 2007.
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web search NEUTRAL — Change.org is a website which allows users to create and sign petitions in an attempt to advance various social causes by raising awareness and influencing decision-makers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change.org
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web search NEUTRAL — Earlier this year, Change.org, which started in 2007, removed a petition demanding the firing of Leila Khatami, a professor of mathematics at Union College in Schenectady and daughter of Iran’s former…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/world-news/petitions-calling-f…
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web search NEUTRAL — Change.org has removed a petition which called for the destruction of mosques in response to the toppling and removal of statues of the slave traders Edward Colston and Robert Milligan .
https://tellmamauk.org/change-org-removes-petition-calling-f…
info
“Leila Khatami [is] a professor of mathematics at Union College in Schenectady”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the 'Evidence gathered' section for claim 8 says 'No evidence found', the evidence for claim 7 explicitly identifies Leila Khatami as 'a professor of mathematics at Union College in Schenectady'.
info
“Leila Khatami [is the] daughter of Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami”
SINGLE SOURCE
Similar to claim 8, the evidence for claim 7 explicitly identifies Leila Khatami as the 'daughter of Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami'.
schedule
“Change.org also took down a petition calling for an investigation into Zeinab Hajjarian”
PENDING
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“Zeinab Hajjarian [is] a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell”
PENDING
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“Zeinab Hajjarian [is the] daughter of Iranian intelligence officer Saeed Hajjarian”
PENDING
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“Saeidi was suspended in December for her attacks on Israel and using university title letterhead to praise Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, then fired from the university earlier this month”
PENDING
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“Shirin Saeidi [was the] former director of the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies at the school [University of Arkansas]”
PENDING
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“Shahin Farrokhnia [is] an employee at BlueHalo, a US defense contractor “engaged in classified projects for the Department of Defense””
PENDING
schedule
“Farrokhnia is married to Negar Mortazavi, a Washington, DC-based journalist who is the host of “The Iran Podcast” and a former communications assistant at the NIAC”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.