---

April 1997
The Iranian

On April 12, 1997, members of THE IRANIAN TIMES mailing list were asked questions about a German court ruling that the 1992 assassination of an Iranian opposition figure and three others in Berlin was ordered by the "highest state levels" in Tehran. The following is the result of this survey, compiled on April 14. To see comments from survey respondents, click here.

SURVEY STATISTICS
===================================

Number of persons on THE IRANIAN TIMES mailing list..... 1,491
Number of those on the list who are in Iran.................... less than 20
Number of non-Iranians on the list................................... less than 20
Total number of responses to the survey.......................... 86

SURVEY RESULTS
===================================

Do you consider the German court decision to be fair?

87.2 % Yes
7.0 % No
3.5 % Not sure
2.3 % No response

The German court decision will...

55.8 % Not have a significant impact on Iran's behavior
25.6 % Discourage Iran from killing its opponents abroad
5.8 % None of the above. Iran has been falsely accused
5.8 % Not sure
4.7 % Increase Iranian-sponsored terrorism abroad
2.3 % No response

Because of the German court decision, you will...

89.5 % Will not change the way you introduce yourself to foreigners
3.5 % Be more reluctant to introduce yourself as an Iranian to foreigners
3.5 % Not sure
2.3 % I'm not Iranian
1.2 % No response

The international community should...

41.9 % Put more pressure on Iran
36.0 % Try to change Iran's behavior with diplomacy
12.8 % Step aside and let Iranians themselves take care of their issues
8.1 % Not sure
1.2 % No response

Iran, after 1979, has committed political murders abroad?

52.3 % Yes, and will continue to do so despite internal and external pressure
31.4 % Yes, but will stop under internal and external pressure
10.5 % Not sure
4.6 % Not at all
1.2 % No response

If the Iranian government has killed its opponents abroad, it was...

75.6 % Unjustified under any circumstance
15.1 % Unjustified but inevitable because of post-revolution chaos
3.5 % Justified because its opponents are trying to overthrow it
3.5 % Not sure
2.3 % No response

The German court decision has...

68.6 % Not increased your fear of Iran's security agency
16.3 % Not sure
12.8 % Increased your fear of Iran's security agency
2.3 % No response

Related links

* THE IRANIAN Surveys
* Bookstore
* Cover stories
* Who's who