Haleh Esfandiari is an academic who has been recently detained in Iran while visiting her mother. She is accused of involvement in regime change, or as Iranian television put it, in seeking to "soft toppl[e] the country." She's been denied legal representation. This article here sums up why Middle East scholars find such accusations chilling. There are also links to petitions asking for her release.
2 comments:
The Iranians are using this woman as an example to others. They will use her as a bargaining tool, as they will the former FBI (or is it CIA) agent they are presumed to have in custody.
I think it's a very bad idea.
Debbie,
Yes, the Iranian government is doing that. I agree it's a bad idea especially as Esfandiari herself is concerned.
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