PAASZYUW RUEHDIR0014 3331716-SSSS--RHMCSUU.
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P R 291716Z NOV 06
FM IRAN RPO DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHDIR/IRAN RPO DUBAI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI
RUEHAD/USDAO ABU DHABI TC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 IRAN RPO DUBAI 000014 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/IR; LONDON FOR GAYLE; 
PARIS FOR WALLER; BERLIN FOR PAETZOLD; 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  11/29/2026 
TAGS: IR PREL PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: IRANIAN ACTIVISTS LAUD US HUMAN RIGHTS PRESSURE, ADVISE 
AGAINST IMPOSING DEMOCRACY 
 
REF: RPO DUBAI 0013 
 
RPO DUBAI 00000014  001.3 OF 003 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: JILLIAN BURNS, DIRECTOR, IRAN REGIONAL PRESENCE 
OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (D) 
 
1.(S/NF) SUMMARY: IRAN REGIONAL PRESENCE OFFICERS MET NOVEMBER 
22 WITH A GROUP OF PROMINENT DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
ACTIVISTS, IN DUBAI FOR VISAS FOR A US CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE 
OF REFORM IN IRAN.  ON ONE HAND, THE ACTIVISTS LAUDED SUPPORT 
FROM THE US FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN.  FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER 
HASHEM AGHAJARI CITED US PRESSURE, AS WELL AS PRESSURE FROM 
OTHER SOURCES, AS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE OVERTURNING OF HIS DEATH 
SENTENCE AND HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON.  ON THE OTHER, THEY 
EXPRESSED CONCERN THE US WOULD TRY TO IMPOSE DEMOCRACY IN IRAN, 
OR CONVERSELY FORGET ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IF IT REACHED A DEAL 
WITH THE CURRENT REGIME.  THEY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR US CULTURAL 
AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE EFFORTS CENTERED IN DUBAI AND 
ENCOURAGED GREATER US UNDERSTANDING OF IRAN.  THEY SAID UPCOMING 
ASSEMBLY OF EXPERTS ELECTIONS CARRY LITTLE IMPORT FOR ELITES AND 
INTELLECTUALS, BUT POORER IRANIANS ARE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE. 
BY CONTRAST, THEY NOTED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. 
 THEY NOTED INCREASING LIMITS ON THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THEIR 
DISAPPOINTMENT IN PRESIDENT KHATAMI.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.(S/NF) ON NOVEMBER 22, IRPO DIRECTOR AND IRPOFFS MET WITH A 
GROUP OF FOUR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO WERE IN 
DUBAI APPLYING FOR US VISAS.  POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AND 
FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER HASHEM AGHAJARI, STUDENT ACTIVIST 
ABDOLLAH MOMENI, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST MARZIEH MORTEZA 
LANGEROUDI, AND JOURNALIST ALIREZA RAJAI (STRICTLY PROTECT ALL 
NAMES) PLAN TO ATTEND A FEBRUARY 2007 CONFERENCE ON DEMOCRACY 
AND REFORM, ORGANIZED BY FORMER MP FATEMEH HAGHIGHATJOO AT MIT. 
WHEN ASKED THE TOPIC OF HIS PRESENTATION, AGHAJARI SAID HE WOULD 
ADDRESS THE TOPIC OF DEMOCRACY AND RELIGION IN IRAN, AND THE 
ROLE OF RELIGION IN REFORM AND DEMOCRACY.  (NOTE: RAJAI MADE NO 
SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS DURING THE MEETING. ENDNOTE) 
 
GRATEFUL FOR US PRESSURE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, FUTURE CONCERNS 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
3.(S/NF) WHEN ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT BROUGHT ABOUT THE 
OVERTURNING OF HIS DEATH SENTENCE AND HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON IN 
2004, AGHAJARI CITED BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, 
INCLUDING FROM THE US, FROM GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS MASS MEDIA. 
WHEN ASKED IF HE THOUGHT PRESSURE FROM THE US CAN HAVE A 
DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON A HUMAN RIGHTS CASE, HE DISAGREED. 
NONETHELESS, SEVERAL ACTIVISTS WERE SUSPICIOUS OF THE US 
COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.  AGHAJARI FELT THE US 
APPLIED PRESSURE SELECTIVELY ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
ASKED WHETHER THE US WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS IN 
IRAN IF THE TWO COUNTRIES CAME TO AGREEMENT ON OTHER KEY ISSUES. 
 IRPO DIRECTOR REITERATED THE US COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHT AND 
DEMOCRACY, EXPLAINING THAT PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY IN US FOREIGN POLICY. 
 
US AND DEMOCRACY IN IRAN 
------------------------ 
 
4.(S/NF) WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST LANGEROUDI MAINTAINED THAT HAD 
IT NOT BEEN FOR THE US SPONSORED 1953 COUP OF PRIME MINISTER 
MOHAMMAD MOSSADEQ, SHE WOULD BE LIVING TODAY IN A DEMOCRACY. 
SHE COMMENTED THAT IN A TRUE DEMOCRACY, THE PEOPLE DETERMINE 
WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM, AND THAT THE ALTERNATIVE, WHERE LEADERS 
MAKE ALL THE DETERMINATIONS, IS CALLED "SULTANISM."  SHE ALSO 
EXPRESSED SUSPICION THAT US MOTIVES IN IRAQ WERE FOCUSED ON OIL, 
NOT DEMOCRACY.  AGHAJARI ADDED THAT DEMOCRACY SHOULD COME FROM 
THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY.  IRAN IS A RELIGIOUS COUNTRY, LIKE 
THE US, AND THAT DEMOCRACY IN IRAN MUST HAVE A RELIGIOUS 
ELEMENT.  HE STATED THAT A COMPLETE SECULAR DEMOCRACY WOULD 
INSULT IRANIANS' RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. 
 
5.(S/NF) AGHAJARI CONTINUED THAT IRANIANS ARE NOT AGAINST THE US 
AND, AS DEMONSTRATED IN THE PUBLIC OPINION POLL THAT GOT ABBAS 
ABDI THROWN IN PRISON, THE MAJORITY SUPPORT RESTORATION OF TIES 
WITH THE US.  NONETHELESS, THE IRANIAN PEOPLE ARE PROUD AND WISH 
TO BE INDEPENDENT AND MAINTAIN THEIR NATIONAL DIGNITY.  IRANIANS 
ARE SUSPICIOUS OF INTERVENTION, HE COMMENTED.  HE ADVISED THAT 
THE US SHOULD NOT TAKE STEPS THAT LOOK LIKE IT WANTS TO 
INTERVENE OR DICTATE.  HE CLAIMED THAT IRANIANS ARE CURRENTLY 
TESTING THE US, AND THAT IF US POLICIES ARE CONTRADICTORY OR IF 
IT APPEARS THE US IS DOING THINGS FOR ITS OWN BENEFIT IN THE 
REGION, THERE WILL BE DISTRUST AND SUSPICION.  NOTING THE GREAT 
IMPORTANCE OF THE NUCLEAR ISSUE, HE SAID THAT UNDERSTANDING 
WOULD BE GOOD FOR BOTH SIDES, WHILE CONFLICT WOULD BE BAD FOR 
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RPO DUBAI 00000014  002.3 OF 003 
 
 
BOTH SIDES.  IN GENERAL, HE ADDED, IT WOULD BENEFIT THE US IF 
THERE WERE AN END TO WAR AND TERROR IN THE REGION AND IF THE 
REGIONAL COUNTRIES HAD GREATER CAPACITY, RATHER THAN POVERTY. 
 
SUPPORTIVE OF INCREASED FOCUS ON IRAN 
------------------------------------- 
 
6.(S/NF) AGHAJARI EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA OF DUBAI AS A 
CENTER FOR US CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES WITH IRANIANS. 
HE COMMENTED THAT THE US GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN OUTSIDE OF IRAN FOR 
OVER 27 YEARS AND SHOULD IMPROVE ITS KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRY. 
AGHAJARI ASSERTED THAT BETTER US UNDERSTANDING OF IRAN WOULD 
HELP TO BRING PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN THE REGION. 
 
POORER IRANIANS MORE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
7.(S/NF)  REGARDING THE DECEMBER 15 ELECTIONS FOR THE ASSEMBLY 
OF EXPERTS, THE BODY THAT SELECTS AND NOMINALLY SUPERVISES THE 
SUPREME LEADER, AGHAJARI COMMENTED THAT URBAN ELITES AND 
INTELLECTUALS DO NOT TAKE THE ELECTIONS SERIOUSLY.  ON THE OTHER 
HAND, PARTICIPATION IS LIKELY TO BE HIGHER AMONG THE LOWER 
CLASSES, WHO TEND TO BE MORE RELIGIOUS.  AGHAJARI NOTED THAT 
ALTHOUGH THE ASSEMBLY OF EXPERTS ELECTIONS HOLD LITTLE 
IMPORTANCE, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ARE OF SOME 
SIGNIFICANCE.  THE COUNCILS HAVE GREATER PUBLIC SUPPORT THAN 
THAT ASSEMBLY OF EXPERTS, HE NOTED, AND FOR THIS REASON THE 
GOVERNMENT HELD THE ELECTIONS FOR BOTH BODIES CONCURRENTLY, IN A 
BID TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION.  AGHAJARI COMMENTED THAT 
REFORMISTS ARE UNLIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS BUT MADE 
NO MENTION OF AN ORGANIZED ELECTION BOYCOTT BY REFORMISTS. 
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST LANGEROUDI TOLD IRPOFFS THAT SHE WOULD 
NOT VOTE.  ASKED ABOUT VETTING OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MUNICIPAL 
COUNCIL ELECTIONS, MOMENI CONFIRMED THAT CANDIDATES ARE BEING 
VETTED BY THE MAJLES, RATHER THAN THE GUARDIAN COUNCIL OR THE 
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR. (NOTE: IRANIAN DOMESTIC PRESS REPORTS 
INDICATE THAT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CANDIDATES ARE BEING VETTED BY A 
MAJLES-APPOINTED "CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR MONITORING COUNCIL 
ELECTIONS." AS OF NOVEMBER 29, NO NAMES OR FIGURES HAVE BEEN 
RELEASED REGARDING QUALIFICATION OF MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES. 
ENDNOTE) 
 
INCREASED RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON ACTIVISTS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
8.(S/NF) THE ACTIVISTS NOTED INCREASED LIMITATIONS ON ACTIVISTS 
(ALTHOUGH THEY NOTABLY DEFLECTED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEY 
EXPECTED REPERCUSSIONS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE MIT 
CONFERENCE).  CITING A PERSONAL EXAMPLE, AGHAJARI SAID THAT 
DIRECTORS OF ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS ARE USUALLY CHOSEN BY THE 
DEPARTMENT STAFF, BUT WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN TO HEAD THE HISTORY 
DEPARTMENT, THE GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY 
INTERVENED AND APPOINTED SOMEONE ELSE.  AGHAJARI ALSO NOTED A 
FREE SPEECH RALLY HELD IN LATE NOVEMBER BY STUDENTS AT TEHRAN 
UNIVERSITY, SAYING THAT HE WAS PREVENTED FROM SPEAKING AT THAT 
EVENT, BUT OTHERS SPOKE ON HIS BEHALF.  (NOTE: SEE REFTEL FOR 
MORE ON INTERFERENCE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS. 
ENDNOTE) 
 
IRAN'S DISAPPOINTED REFORMISTS 
------------------------------ 
 
9.(S/NF) STUDENT ACTIVIST MOMENI, WHO DESCRIBED HIS OWN FIVE 
YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND 50 DAYS 
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, DETAILED REFORMISTS' DISAPPOINTMENT 
WITH PRESIDENT KHATAMI.  MOMENI DID NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT MANY 
PROTEST LEADERS WERE RELEASED FROM PRISON DURING KHATAMIS 
PRESIDENCY.  HE SAID STUDENT SUPPORT FOR KHATAMI IN THE 1997 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN HIS ELECTORAL 
SUCCESS.  KHATAMI HAD TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL TO BRING ABOUT 
REFORM, BUT HE DISAPPOINTED HIS SUPPORTERS AND SIDED WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT.  THE STUDENTS WITHDREW THEIR SUPPORT FOR KHATAMI IN 
THE 2001 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BECAUSE OF HIS INABILITY TO STAND 
UP TO THE GOVERNMENT.  NONETHELESS,  MANY STILL REGARD KHATAMI 
AS OPEN-MINDED AND A TRUE INTELLECTUAL, IN CONTRAST TO 
AHMADINEJAD OR RAFSANJANI, MOMENI SAID. 
 
10.(S/NF) COMMENT:  IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT EVEN AMONG  IRANIANS 
WHO ARE CRITICAL OF THEIR GOVERNMENT, THERE IS STILL SKEPTICISM 
OF THE MOTIVATIONS OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND A FEAR OF FOREIGN 
INTERVENTION. AMONG IRANIANS, THIS SKEPTICISM HAS HISTORICALLY 
BEEN DIRECTED TOWARD RUSSIA AND GREAT BRITAIN, BUT ALSO EXTENDS 
TO THE US, AS THE MENTION OF THE 1953 COUP AGAINST MOSSADEQ 
INDICATES.  IT IS ALSO INTERESTING  THAT A PERSON SUCH AS 
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RPO DUBAI 00000014  003.3 OF 003 
 
 
AGHAJARI, WHO HAS BEEN PERSECUTED AND IMPRISONED BY THE CLERICAL 
GOVERNMENT FOR HIS VIEWS OF ISLAM, CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR A 
ROLE FOR RELIGION WITHIN A FUTURE DEMOCRATIC IRAN. 
 
11.(S/NF) COMMENT CONTINUED:  MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE 
RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE ON THE TOPIC OF POSSIBLE REPERCUSSIONS FOR 
THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE MIT CONFERENCE.  AGHAJARI AND MOMENI 
DISMISSED THE QUESTION, CLAIMING THEY HAD NOT THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT 
IT.  AGHAJARI SAID SIMPLY THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT THE 
BEHAVIOR OF AHMADINEJAD'S GOVERNMENT.  THEIR RELUCTANCE MAY HAVE 
BEEN DUE TO CONCERNS THAT THEIR RESPONSES WOULD AFFECT THEIR 
VISA APPLICATIONS BUT BEARS MENTIONING NONETHELESS. 
BURNS 
B T 
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