According to Khabaronline news agency, in a message to the 5th International Conference of the “Global Coalition Against Scientific Apartheid”, the President stated: One of the most worrying manifestations of scientific apartheid is the boycott, threats and assassination of scientists, researchers and scientific and research centers. Science should not be a tool for domination and supremacy, but should serve to solve human problems, reduce development gaps, promote public welfare, and strengthen peace and understanding between nations.
According to ISNA, the text of the message President Masoud Bizikian as follows:
Science is one of the most fundamental common human capitals and one of the most important bases for the progress and development of human societies. Scientific and technological achievements can serve humans and improve the quality of life of societies when they are based on principles such as moral responsibility, international cooperation, and fair access for all to opportunities to produce and benefit from knowledge. From this point of view, scientific justice is not only one of the requirements of sustainable development, but also one of the fundamental pillars of just peace and human security in the world.
Today, despite the ever-increasing connection of nations’ destinies through science and technology, there is still inequality in access to scientific resources, research infrastructures, advanced technologies, and opportunities to participate in knowledge production.
Scientific and technological apartheid does not only mean depriving some nations of scientific facilities and achievements, but also includes any discriminatory use of science, technology and research capacities to create monopoly, dependence and inequality among countries. Such an approach is in conflict with the cross-border nature of science and the principles of scientific ethics. Science should not be a tool for domination and supremacy, but should serve to solve human problems, reduce development gaps, promote public welfare, and strengthen peace and understanding between nations.
One of the most worrying manifestations of scientific apartheid is the boycott, threat and assassination of scientists, researchers and scientific and research centers. The martyrdom of a group of our country’s scientists during the recent imposed wars made the need to protect the safety of scientists and the protection of scientific and research environments an important issue in the international arena. A scientist, regardless of nationality, religion and political geography, is an asset belonging to human society, and an attack on their life and security is considered a damage to the scientific heritage and the capacity of humanity to progress.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on its scientific and academic capacities, has always emphasized the development of international cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and technology, and the equitable benefit of nations from scientific achievements. The experience of our country has shown that foreign restrictions cannot destroy the will of a nation to accumulate knowledge, innovate and participate in the production of science. However, sustainable scientific progress requires constructive interaction and removal of unfair barriers in the international system of science and technology.
We believe that sustainable peace is not possible without justice and global justice will not be realized without justice in the production, access and benefit of science and technology.
Holding the fifth international conference “Global Coalition Against Scientific Apartheid; For the justice of science and technology in the new world order” by the efforts of the World Islamic Peace Forum and with the participation of universities and scientific centers of the country, it is a valuable step in the direction of expanding the scientific dialogue and planning this global necessity.
I hope that this conference, by taking advantage of the views and experiences of domestic and international thinkers and experts, while explaining the various aspects of scientific apartheid, will lay the groundwork for providing practical solutions, strengthening transnational scientific alliances, and forming effective mechanisms to realize the justice of science and technology.
In the end, while paying respect to all mujahids in the path of science and enlightenment, I honor the memory and high position of martyred scientists and I appreciate the organizers, professors, researchers, thinkers and participants of this scientific event. I pray for everyone’s success in the path of expanding knowledge, realizing scientific justice and establishing a stable and just peace for all nations from God Almighty.”
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