Haleh is Free
As Barnett Rubin notes at the Global Affairs blog, Haleh Esfandiari has been allowed to leave Iran and has met her husband, Shaul Bakhash, in Vienna. I am so happy that my friend is free, though I regret the continued imprisonment of three other Iranian-American intellectuals (not to mention many, many prisoners of conscience.) And, my delight at Haleh's release is tempered with continued anger that she was imprisoned in the first place, on frankly paranoid and silly charges. AFP implies that she is technically just out on bail. Since she obviously is not going back to be tried, she may forfeit the over $300,000 bail money, which means that this episode functioned among other things as a shakedown.
The Iranian government is facing increasing isolation in the world, and there are lots of people who would like to do to Iran what was done to Fallujah. It is highly unwise of Tehran to retreat into North Korean-style isolation and to draw the ire of the global human rights community. The poor human rights record of the Saddam Hussein regime made it difficult for anti-war forces to mobilize in 2002 and early 2003.
Labels: Iran
posted by Juan Cole @ 9/04/2007 12:09:00 AM
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The Iranian government is facing increasing isolation in the world, and there are lots of people who would like to do to Iran what was done to Fallujah. It is highly unwise of Tehran to retreat into North Korean-style isolation and to draw the ire of the global human rights community. The poor human rights record of the Saddam Hussein regime made it difficult for anti-war forces to mobilize in 2002 and early 2003.
I think that you are taking US wishes for reality. Iranian isolation isn't much bigger than US isolation. Here in the EU, the opinion sees clearly into the US agenda concerning regime change in Iran. If Bush has found a new poodle in Sarkhozy, it doesn't mean that all the EU leaders are following him on Iran. Especially after the IAEA has issued a new report denying the fact that Iran would soon have 3000 recycling unit to produce enriched uranium. For EU citizen, the US has become the biggest cause of instability and war in the world. Its propaganda and quest for dominating the world doesn't go down well. We are for multilateralism and respect of all other countries.
After the US record concerning regime change in Iraq, all US citizen should stop giving free advices to other countries on how to respect human rights and get democracy; they should rather be busy promoting human rights and the respect of the Geneva Conventions by their own authorities (whether these are acting in the US, or abroad). This single fact may do more for the progress of human rights in the world.
the last paragraph is all wrong Juan, seem to recall many a protest to stop the war, bush and blair just did not have to listen, and so did not. as for the iranians what are they supposed to do, they are not breaking any laws regarding their nuclear program yet are being sanctioned internationally and demonised, yet you know all this so what is that last paragraph about
Regarding the Haleh Esfandiary situation, note the irony: if the tables had been turned and Esfandiary was accused by the US of working for an outfit that received funds from the Iranians to overthrow the US regime, Esfandiary would still be sitting in a Gitmo prison cell with perhaps no chance of a trial.
It is highly unwise of Tehran to retreat into North Korean-style isolation and to draw the ire of the global human rights community.
On the other hand, that appears to be precisely what this US administration aims to achieve with all of it's sabre-rattling. ...And I hate to be cynical, but the Democrats will be no better.
Since 2001, it has become very hard to separate Human rights abiding countries and those non- abiding. Starting with the US massacres in Afghanistan, the mistreatment of prisoners, Gitmo, secret prisons, you name it, even Canada has become accomplice to the big American fit of rage. The very notion of human rights was forced under National Security. In the end, we destroy human rights to defend our way of life, "soi-disant" based on the inalienable right to life. Killing people to protect people. Wow, this is some evolution from Neanderthal.
So, where do you think the money from the Bush administration's $75 million program to promote democracy in Iran is going? As we know, many good people are sucked into US hegemony programs. A good fraction of our country is. With all due respect for Dr. Esfandiary, I can certainly see several reasons why Iran detained her. It is good that apparently she has not been tortured, American style. Which brings to mind the fate of the five embassy-related Iranians arrested in Irbil, about whom very little has been heard since.
good article.
It is highly unwise of Tehran to retreat into North Korean-style isolation and to draw the ire of the global human rights community
very nice blog .Thanks
It is highly unwise of Tehran to retreat into North Korean-style isolation and to draw the ire of the global human rights community
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