June 30, 1998
The Iranian

A group of Iranian journalists, writers, scholars and artists living abroad have issued a statement condemning those opposition groups who use "hezbollahi" tactics to silence those who think differently. (see links to full Persian text below)

"The repressive actions perpetrated by these groups in the U.S. and Europe in recent months are disturbing manifestations of the thinking and tactics of those who, on the surface, claim to believe in free and democratic speech by every one living abroad," the statement said.

"[However] by disrupting lectures, beating up individuals who think differently, intellectual discrimination, shouting hostile slogans against intellectual opponents and discrediting individuals with lies and accusations are in fact the same tactics widely used by Hezbollahis inside Iran."

The statement did not mention any group by name. But Mojahedin Khalq supporters have recently been accused of disrupting a number of conferences and lectures abroad to express their opposition to the Islamic Republic.

The following two pages include the full text of the free-speech statement (in Persian):

Related links

* What about MY rights?
Silencing speakers you don't like? Not here.
By Siamak Namazi

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