The state-run daily E’temad acknowledged that the reason of cancellation of Ahmadinejad’s speech at Tehran University was his fear of repeating angry student protest similar to what happened last year at Polytechnic University.

This daily wrote while the student activists were preparing themselves to question Ahmadinejad, the presidency public relations suddenly informed on Sunday night of cancellation of this ceremony without any explanation.

This daily added that after his speech at Columbia University, Ahmadinejad was supposed to speak at Tehran University. In response to a question regarding pressures on students and professors in Iran at Columbia University, Ahmadinejad had said explicitly: ” Freedom in Iran, if not unprecedented, it is rare because all opinions can be expressed in Iran.”

E’temad wrote: “These President’s remarks are at a condition the Science Ministry officials have dismissed 43 critic student organizations including craft councils, cultural centers and Islamic associations and had sent 550 students to the “Punishment committees”. 70 members of the union have been arrested and many of critic students have been debarred of the right of education.”

The daily added: “but apparently the President’s advisor preferred him not to show up at the University because the condition is not suitable for his attendance whatsoever.”