Tehran, Sept 26, IRNA-Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi on Monday issued a directive to grant freedom or leave of absence to jailed students.

Jailed student Ahmad Batebi

He said in a meeting with Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi that students are the most popular class of society and should not be used as tools in the hands of political parties outside the campus.

"University is cradle of science and thought and it should not turn into a club for political parties," Ayatollah Shahroudi said.

Ayatollah Shahroudi called on Zahedi to provide the Judiciary with a list of students kept in prisons immediately to free them or grant leave of absence to them.

He said that the students should enjoy Islamic mercy under the current circumstances that understanding and love to fellow citizens prevail in the Iranian society.