Regime Official’s Daughter FIRED From Cancer Institute

Envelope with YOURE FIRED and pointing finger.

Emory University fired a top Iranian security official’s daughter from its cancer institute after protesters exposed the shocking family ties amid a deadly regime crackdown.

Story Snapshot

US Rep. Buddy Carter demanded her dismissal, citing national security risks to patients.
Iranian-American protesters rallied outside Emory on January 19, 2026, with signs calling her an “enemy of the USA.”
Emory confirmed her removal on January 24, scrubbing all traces from websites within hours.
Her father, Ali Larijani, faces US sanctions for orchestrating violent protest suppressions in Iran.
This swift action sets a precedent for accountability in US institutions during geopolitical tensions.

Iran Protests Ignite Scrutiny on Larijani Family

Nationwide protests erupted in Iran on December 28, 2025, with activists reporting over 5,000 deaths during government crackdowns. Ali Larijani, former parliamentary speaker turned top security advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, defended the regime’s force. He posted on X blaming US interference under Trump for regional instability. US Treasury sanctioned Larijani in early January 2026 for repressing demonstrators. These events spotlighted his daughter Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani’s role at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Protests and Congressional Pressure Force Emory’s Hand

Iranian-American protesters gathered outside Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute on January 19, 2026. They demanded Fatemeh Larijani’s removal, waving signs like “Enemy of the USA welcomed by Emory.” US Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), whose district includes Emory, wrote letters that week to university leaders and the Georgia medical board. Carter argued her position posed risks to patient safety and national security given her father’s sanctioned role in violence against civilians. AAIRIA, a nonprofit opposing Iranian regime apologists, exposed her employment and urged visa reviews.

Emory Executes Rapid Dismissal

Emory School of Medicine Dean Sandra Wong emailed faculty on January 24, 2026, stating Fatemeh Larijani no longer worked there. Winship Cancer Institute confirmed to reporters: “A physician who is the daughter of a senior Iranian government official is no longer an employee of Emory.” By January 25, her faculty profile, biography, and healthcare pages vanished from Emory websites. The university framed it as a personnel matter, avoiding public debate on geopolitics.

Rep. Carter praised the outcome, calling her continued role unacceptable amid her father’s advocacy for crackdowns. No response came from Larijani or Iranian officials. Georgia medical board review of her license remains possible, alongside activist pushes on her immigration status.

Daughter of top Iranian official ousted from Emory University following massive public outrage https://t.co/O3Ee8Lbhov pic.twitter.com/m0XxI3vzdu

— New York Post (@nypost) January 26, 2026

Implications for Security and Accountability

This dismissal creates a short-term precedent: US institutions must respond swiftly to ties with sanctioned foreign officials in sensitive fields like medicine. Long-term, academic and healthcare sectors face tighter vetting for hires linked to adversarial regimes. Iranian-American communities gain amplified voice against hypocrisy, where regime elites send family to America for privileges denied their own citizens. Patient trust at Emory may suffer temporarily from the controversy.

Politically, the episode strengthens hardline US stances on Iran amid warships in the Middle East and threats. Common sense aligns with Carter’s view—physicians access vulnerable patients, making security risks intolerable. Facts support protesters’ push: no place for regime defenders’ kin in American healthcare during active suppressions.