The daughter of a prominent Iranian official, who openly criticized U.S. involvement in the protests happening in Iran, is said to have lost her teaching job at a leading American university. Reports from Emory University indicate that the dean of the School of Medicine informed staff in a recent email that Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani is no longer with the institution.
Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani worked as an assistant professor in the Hematology and Medical Oncology department at Emory. This development follows a protest held on January 19, during which Iranian-American activists rallied outside Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute, objecting to her employment there.
Interestingly, both her faculty and healthcare pages on Emory’s website have been removed. The Alliance of Iranian Defenders, a nonprofit group, pointed out that Larijani had been living and working in the U.S. for several years. They referenced a professional profile listing her as a hematology-oncologist based in Atlanta.
The situation gained traction amidst rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Since late December, violent protests have erupted in Iran, leading to numerous deaths during police crackdowns. President Trump had previously warned that the U.S. would respond if Iran harmed peaceful demonstrators. This prompted warnings from Iranian officials regarding what they described as crossing a “red line.” They characterized U.S. interference in Iran’s internal matters as a destabilizing factor.
In a related response, the nonprofit group requested that U.S. authorities evaluate the visa status of both Larijani and her husband. They pushed for an assessment of whether her continued stay in the U.S. aligns with national security and human rights considerations.
Notably, Republican Representative Buddy Carter has also urged Emory University to dismiss Larijani and suggested revoking her father’s medical license. This call to action from Carter coincides with recent sanctions the Treasury Department imposed on Ali Larijani, her father, due to his proclaimed role in coordinating responses to the protests for Iran’s Supreme Leader. Ali Larijani has often painted the U.S. government in a negative light.
Furthermore, the disparity between the actions of Iranian officials and the circumstances of their families—many of whom reside or work in the West—has been the subject of scrutiny. Fox News Digital has reached out to various organizations, including Emory University, for comments on this unfolding situation.
