Univ. of Arkansas fires professor over alleged support of Ayatollah, anti-Israel remarks

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Dr. Shirin Saeidi, former director of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Center for Middle East Studies, has officially been fired following alleged pro-Iranian regime stances and anti-Israel remarks.

Saeidi was given a warning letter in July from the Dean of the Fulbright College, Brian Raines, after she allegedly used the school’s letterhead to campaign for the release of Hamid Nouri, who was convicted by a Swedish court in 2022 for ordering the execution of thousands of political prisoners at Gohardasht Prison in 1988.

Saeidi was suspended in December 2025 following posts on X in support of Palestine and former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referenced in the letter sent to Saeidi.

Raines expressed that her posts could be harmful to the university, especially its Israeli and Jewish students.

I am very concerned by your repeated statement that Israel, a nation recognized by the United States, must be ‘dismantled’, including being ‘dismantled by international forces,’” Raines wrote. “This could be taken as advocacy for a military invasion and destruction of a U.S. ally, which is not similar to criticism that would be voiced against any other nation.

Such statements are likely to create a chilling effect on many Israelis or Jews considering involvement with our Middle East Studies Program, and others, as well,” Raines added. “It also undermines any perception of our program as a scholarly and objective source of research and information rather than indoctrination.

I am also concerned that your actions reflect lack of judgement and are requiring repreated involvement from my office, creating unnecessary controversy and distracting from other university priorities.

Saeidi’s X account is suspended, and previous posts cannot be found.

Raines said that her actions could “undercut any notion of diverse intellectual opportunity when it comes to one of the most important political issues in the Middle East.”

In February 2026, the University of Arkansas Faculty Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure voted unanimously to restore Saeidi to her position as associate professor of political science at the university.

Despite the unanimous vote, on March 30, UofA President, Dr. Jay Silveria, overruled the unanimous decision, terminating Saeidi effective immediately.

In his written response, Silveria cited concerns that the university could lose funding as a result of Saeidi’s comments.

I am also concerned that the University could suffer a reduction or elimination of funding under Ark. Code Ann. 6-16-2004 if its responses to antisemitism are determined to be inadequate,” Silveria wrote. “Moreover, other institutions of higher education have endured funding losses at the federal level due to their insufficient responses to antisemitism under Title VI. Such an outcome could be devastating to the University of Arkansas—not just disruptive.

Saeidi and her legal team are expected to appeal the decision.