(CWUR) in 2019-2020 as rank 27 in Iran, and globally rank 1626. PNU is not ranked as one of the "Best Global Universities in Iran" in the U.S. News & World Report. The QS World University Rankings does not rank PNU. Academic Ranking of World Universities does not rank PNU. Notable alumni Notable academics Controversies Iranian universities faced criticism in early 2007 about their treatment of students who follow the Baháʼí Faith. Although religious identification has been removed from entrance exam papers, the state sanctioned persecution of Baháʼís has led to students reportedly being expelled once their religion is discovered. The controversy specifically focused on Payame Noor University when an official university letter confirmed the expulsion as government policy. Over 30 Baháʼí students have been expelled under the policy. Additionally, in 2008, the university declared that Arabic will be the "second language" of the university and that all its services will be offered in Arabic, concurrent with Persian. PNU has been accused of being part of Iran's "publication bazaar," with local politicians and diplomats receiving advanced degrees without efforts or attendance. Locations As of 2020, PNU has 502 campuses, which include locations in Iran and globally. Nationwide locations Tehran headquarters: Nakhl St, Lashkarak Highway, Tehran 19569 Karaj: Ghalamestan Street, Karaj, Iran (in the Gohardasht neighborhood) Shiraz: Lashkarak Road, PO Box 19395–4697, Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran Zanjan: Imamat Street, Russell Square, Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran Global locations Azerbaijan: Baku, Khatai zone, Nobel 14, Walie Asr Educational complex, Embassy of I.R. of Iran, PNU University Building Erbil, Kurdistan: Fazel miranist, Shoresh Milan, Italy: Milano mantova strada cisa, N. 99 Tajikistan: Dushanbe, Nemat Gharbayov 5,21 House Turkey: Şenlikköy Mahallesi, Hürriyet Caddesi, Karabay Apt. A Blok, No. 3/2, Florya, Bakirköy, Istanbul, Turkey Oman: Muscat, Al-Arabia zone, 3060 AV. , No 302 Qatar: Dafnah, cultural consultation of I.R. of Iran Kuwait: Salemia, Abuzar ghafari Av. , Unit 12, No 6 Georgia: 1 a Evgeni Mikeladze str., 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia Malaysia: c8-3 dataran palma ampangpoint jalanan ampong selangor France: Paris - Numéro 11 Rue PACHE Canada: 1120 7905 Bayview Ave, Thornhill, Ontario L3T 7n3 See also Higher education in Iran List of universities in Iran References External links Official website, in Persian and English Education in Iran Educational institutions established in 1987 Payame Noor University 1987 establishments in Iran