LOBBYING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF IRANIAN POLITICAL PRISONER

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 003263 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/30/2031 TAGS: PGOV PREL IR PHUM SUBJECT: LOBBYING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF IRANIAN POLITICAL PRISONER JAHANBEGLOO DUBAI 00003263 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE. REASON: 1.4 (d) 1.(C) Summary: An Iranian-American contact heard from a reliable source in mid-May that Iranian intellectual Ramin Jahanbegloo was arrested about two weeks earlier for comments he gave in an interview attacking the supreme leader, and the Iranian government wants to send the message that this is a red line. At that time, Adeli predicted Jahanbegloo would be released soon, but there has been no change in his case to date. Two longtime contacts described to PolEconChief their ongoing efforts to lobby the Iranian government for Jahanbegloo's release, and the second story corroborated the first. The second contact advocates behind the scenes US pressure on Iran. End summary. Reports From Various Sources -------------- 2.(S/NF) In mid-May, a contact told PolEconChief by email that he had heard from former Iranian ambassador to the UK Mohammad Hossein Adeli that Canadian-Iranian intellectual Ramin Jahanbegloo had been arrested some time in late April in Iran because he verbally attacked the supreme leader in a press interview. Adeli claimed the Iranian government wants to send the message that this is a red line. At that time, Adeli predicted Jahanbegloo would be released soon, but to date, there has been no change in his case. Iranian press reports have speculated on possible charges as serious as espionage. 3.(S/NF) Nasser Hadian (please protect),an Iranian political analyst and Tehran University political science professor who recently spent three years at Columbia University told PolEconChief by phone later in May that he is trying very hard to help Jahanbegloo. He said he gave a letter from Jahangegloo's wife to the deputy secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security (possibly Ali Monfared),who told Hadian to have her call him. Hadian described Jahanbegloo as not a "political person," who was arrested "for nothing." 4.(S/NF) In a subsequent meeting May 29 with Iranian political analyst Bijan Khajehpour (please protect),Khajehpour described his and others' efforts to lobby the government for Jahanbegloo's release and confirmed Hadian's intervention at the level of the Supreme Council of National Security (SCNS). Lobbying, Iranian Style 
 -------------- 5.(S/NF) Khajehpour confirmed that Hadian raised the case to the level of the SCNS, saying Hadian had conveyed to SCNS Secretary Larijani that this is an unjust case that could blow up in Iran's face. Larijani purportedly later told Jahanbegloo's wife that "we are grateful for your modesty," meaning her unwillingness to make the case public. 6.(S/NF) Khajehpour said he had prepared a note outlining possible negative consequences the case could bring Iran, which he heard had been distributed within the government. He and "many" others have approached Judiciary Chief Shahrudi and Minister of Interior Pourmohammadi on Jahanbegloo's behalf. Majles Speaker Hadad-Adel, who used to work with Jahanbegloo's father, has also been pushing for Jahanbegloo's release, and Jahanbegloo's wife met with former President Khatami. Khajehpour also approached the head of the new office to investigate corruption, called the Bureau of Investment Security. No Charges Yet -------------- 7.(S/NF) Khajepour said that nothing was known so far about Jahanbegloo's case. Jahanbegloo had been on his way to meet with EU High Representative Solana's staff in Belgium, possibly for an Iran-related scenario exercise, when he was arrested at the airport. (Note: Khajepour mentioned it was common practice in Iran to arrest someone at the airport for an outbound flight. end note) His wife is able to talk to her husband daily but has learned nothing about his case, which Khajehpour said makes it harder for everyone to try to fight back. Hadad-Adel was told by intelligence that Jahanbegloo "was not being held for his views," which Khajehpour was nervous meant they were trying to build a more serious charge of espionage. 8.(S/NF) Khajehpour speculated (and underscored this was speculation) that sometimes in Iran one organization detains someone without a clear plan of what to do with them, and after a public outcry, charges the person to save face. He thinks the DUBAI 00003263 002.2 OF 002 timing of Jahanbegloo's arrest suggests that it was ordered by regime ideologues to undermine others' interest in opening a US-Iran dialogue. They could turn up the pressure with their treatment of his case in order to create a crisis to derail any chance of talks. Possible US Action -------------- 9.(S/NF) Khajehpour's advice to the US on handling Jahanbegloo's case was to apply gradual pressure on the Iranian government. He suggested beginning with private communication via a Swiss channel note to the Iranian government to convey the concerns of outside groups who had contacted the US government for help and to ask the Iranian government for clarification of the situation. This, he maintained, would be less confrontational than a public statement and less likely to make the Iranians overreact for reasons of pride and charge Jahanbegloo, while reminding them the US was watching. 10.(S/NF) He said the Canadian ambassador met with the foreign ministry, but Canada is somewhat hamstrung by the fact that Jahanbegloo's dual citizenry could open him up to charges of disloyalty, as dual citizenship is still technically a crime. Solana has been active raising the case, but Khajehpour expressed disappointment that the Indians, given that Jahanbegloo had just returned from an Indian grant program, were doing nothing. Why Jahanbegloo? -------------- 11.(S/NF) Khajehpour said two factors made it harder for some, like Hadad-Adel, to protect or advocate for Jahanbegloo: Jahanbegloo's avowed secularism and his willingness to antagonize others and not try to preserve allies. 12.(S/NF) Khajehpour said he worked with Jahanbegloo on the journal Goftegoo. According to Khajehpour, when the publication was banned in the mid 1990s under Rafsanjani, Jahanbegloo went to Canada and got citizenship. He later returned to Iran and focused his efforts on bringing preeminent philosophers to Iran and translating into Farsi his interviews with them. Last year he went to India on a six-month grant, which Khajepour believed was related to use of non-violent political tactics. Khajepour said this may have been what aroused Iran's suspicions, at a time of increased rumors in the press of US attempts to overthrow the regime through training activists. However, he said Jahanbegloo's focus is on democratic philosophy, and he is not trying to organize any kind of political movement. 13.(S/NF) Keyhan newspaper had noted Jahanbegloo's involvement with National Endowment for Democracy and the Woodrow Wilson Center, both of which Khajehpour himself has had involvement. Khajehpour indicated perhaps what protects him and allows him the flexibility to travel back and forth to conferences, including in the US, is his less confrontational tactics, including maintaining allies. He also says he goes out of way to be open about his activities, including posting his conference appearances on his website. 14.(S/NF) Hadian also said he did not feel vulnerable at this time. Ironically, he said, he feels even safer than during the previous administration because of his ties to both the president (a school acquaintance) and the SCNS deputy. Comment -------------- 15.(S/NF) Khajehpour's suggestion of a Swiss note to Iran on Jahanpour is worth exploring. Although not the normal subject to be handled in this way, a quiet approach might be more effective than a public one in this period before any formal charges are filed against Jahanpour. DAVIS