Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU773
2008-08-15 05:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

IRANIAN STUDENTS IN BAKU SPEAK OUT

Tags:  AZ PGOV PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1426
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKB #0773/01 2280526
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 150526Z AUG 08 ZDK PAR MULTIPLE SVC
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5836
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BAKU 000773 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: AZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: IRANIAN STUDENTS IN BAKU SPEAK OUT

REF: NONE

BAKU 00000773 001.4 OF 004


Classified By: Acting DCM Rob Garverick

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BAKU 000773

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: AZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: IRANIAN STUDENTS IN BAKU SPEAK OUT

REF: NONE

BAKU 00000773 001.4 OF 004


Classified By: Acting DCM Rob Garverick


1. (C) SUMMARY The Iranian public is keen for more
opportunities to engage with the United States. Three
Iranian students studying in Baku conveyed this sentiment to
polecon officer during two wide-ranging discussions on life
in Iran. Polecon officer outlined the ways the USG reaches
out to the Iranian people, and the students insisted the
United States should do even more to support them. The
students offered their views on other Iran-related issues.
They spoke of the popularity among Iranian youth to study
abroad; told of the Iranian public disgust for the government
and growing apathy toward religion; conveyed little faith
that Iran would change its nuclear policy; and expressed
concern among Iranians the US would soon "attack" Iran. The
students also described the government,s campaign to raise
Persian awareness while increasingly repressing minorities.

Background to students interviewed
--------------

2. (C) On August 7 and 12, polecon officer met with three
Iranian students currently attending university in Baku. Two
were 21-year old men, Samir and Azar, working on politics and
international economic degrees respectively. The third, a 22
year-old woman, Nijar, is studying medicine. The students
are Azeri-Iranians, one from Tabriz and two from Ardebil and
their time in Baku has ranged from one to three years All
three travel back to Iran periodically to see family and
friends. These students did not know each other until meeting
in Baku. Two of the students consider themselves political
activists, promoting the rights of the Azeri-Iranian
population in Iran.

The press for more people-to-people exchange
--------------


3. (C) The students said the USG should do "a lot" more to
reach out to the Iranian people, who are "eager" for exchange
with Americans. The students said the current radio programs
like Voice of America (VOA)-Persian, Radio Farda, and Radio
Free Europe have limited audiences for a few reasons.
According to Araz, the frequencies used for these broadcasts
are spotty and do not reach large swaths of Iran. Samir
argued the radio programs "fail" to resonate with Iranians
because the programs are irrelevant to them. The programming

does not focus enough on the government,s domestic failings
and does not adequately promote western values and explain
why Iranians should want them. Araz said he was particularly
frustrated with US and western media sources scant coverage
of the government,s increasingly repressive policies toward
minorities. He asked why no one covered the major May 22,
2006 uprising by ethnic Azeris in the north or the government
crackdown that followed. According to Araz and Samir, these
were the largest protests since the revolution days. Araz
added, no one is speaking out against the increasing number
of cases of human rights abuses that Baluchis and Arabs have
faced in the past several months. Nijar stated that while
these stations can serve as a good source of information,
radio is no longer a very popular source for information.
She said Iranians watch satellite television, seek out good
DVDs, surf the internet, and rely on text messaging. That
said, the U.S. should use these mediums to target the Iranian
audience.


4. (C) Polecon officer asked the students to submit a list of
suggestions for improving/increasing US-Iran ties. A few of
their ideas are provided below.

--TV programs or documentaries that feature Iranian
US-citizens. These citizens would discuss why they left
Iran, why they enjoy living in the US, and how the US has
provided them many opportunities not available in Iran.

--US through local organizations set up American cultural
centers in cities around the world where Iranians citizens
are residing. These centers should offer English courses and
opportunities to go the USG, provide democracy and human
rights education, and feature events that promote US-Iranian
ties.

--Fund internet sites that target Iranian young by providing
pop music, fashion types, celebrity stories and other things
considered "modern and cool."

--Revamp radio programs to address a wide-range of Iranian
domestic issues and promote western values.
Iranians keen to study abroad
--------------


BAKU 00000773 002.2 OF 004



5. (C) The students said young Iranians are "very
interested" in studying overseas and their government does
not discourage them from pursuing this "dream." The GOI
does, however, have its preferences. Tehran encourages their
young citizens to study in France, Russia, Greece, Syria, and
Armenia. When asked why these nations, the woman said there
were a couple of reasons. In terms of Russia and France,
Iran has a long tradition of sending students to these states
and both are seen as providing world-class education. The
GOI also views educational exchanges with all five nations as
key to advancing their national interests as all five are
considered by Iran as strategic partners. In any cases,
students receive government support to attend universities in
these states. There is a particularly good scholarship
program for Iranians that study in Armenia. According to
Samir and later supported by a local human rights
organization, about 10,000 Iranians are provided financial
support to study in Yerevan.


6. (C) The Araz chimed in that Iran also uses these exchanges
for intelligence purposes, as some students are recruited to
spy for the Iranian state while overseas. The woman, quickly
added that while she believed the regime uses students for
such purposes, the espionage was not against host governments
but rather fellow students. She estimated that of the
approximately 5000 university students studying in Azerbaijan
about one-third of them, are sent by the government to
monitor fellow students.


7. (C) Iran is particularly concerned with Iranians studying
in Azerbaijan and Turkey as the majority of the Iranian
students are of Turkic background rather than of
Persian-origin. The GOI believes these students are most
vulnerable to becoming political activists that threaten the
"great Persian nation" of Iran. According to Samir, the
government discourages students from going to Turkey and
Azerbaijan. They publicize that Turkey is crime-ridden and
has a high rate of HIV infection. They also use the tactic
of not recognizing certain degrees from either state.

The government of disgrace,
--------------


8. (C) On the subject of politics, all three expressed
disgust with the Iranian government. Samir blurted out
thanks to our leaders, Iran is the "grave yard of democracy."
He added the revolution was about freedom but after it
ended, "we gained nothing." Araz lamented that after seizing
power, Ayatollah Khomeini and his government quickly reverted
to repressive "Shah-era tactics," when
they were not executing "the progressive intelligentsia" they
were focused on enriching themselves and their friends.


9. (C) When asked their thoughts on the current Iranian
president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, all three smirked and rolled
their eyes. Nijar stated "if we want a crisis, he is the
right man to lead us to it," while Samir just grimaced and
said everyone thinks the man is "simple-headed." When asked
for comment on a recent poll that suggested that a majority
of Iranians would vote for him again in the 2009 elections,
Samir shrugged and said, it seems reasonable. He surmised
that people interviewed were either scared to speak the truth
for fear of official retribution or they said yes because
they know their opinion does not matter anyway, a positive
response is more like saying whatever.,
Nijar added no one believes their vote in the upcoming
election will count. The winner is always decided by a few
elite factions that are close to the supreme leader.


10. (C) On the subject of the government,s nuclear program,
Samir said not many Iranians believe the
government would build a nuclear weapon. He also said the
people do not believe the government will stop its enrichment
activities as they believe it is the "righteous" thing to do.
The three students projected the current "talks" will fail
and Iran will accept more sanctions. Many Iranians believe
the USG is planning to attack Iran over the issue. On the
subject of impact of sanctions, the
students believe the economy is weakening but the average
person is impacted as the government leaders always finds
ways to make money and stay wealthy. All thought the economy
is getting worse for the average citizen, not only because of
sanctions but as a result of poor government economic policy.
According to Araz, "we are not competitive in any field but
oil." He went on to add, ten
years ago, the people could buy a new computer, now they can
barely afford a used-one.

Iranians are not "religious fanatics,
--------------


BAKU 00000773 003.2 OF 004



11. (C) The students said that Iranians are not the
"religious fanatics" that the government portrays them as to
the outside world. To make this point, Samir reported that
Iranians increasingly do not attend Friday prayer or visit
mosques during other times of the week. Nijar said people
spurn religious television shows and certainly "do not avoid
alcohol or cigarettes." This is particularly the case among
young Iranians. Nijar said many of her friends may act
religious in front of their elders and in public, but among
friends they are just like other youth in Turkey or here
(Baku). They want to be modern-- dressing in the latest
fashions, listening to Turkish pop music, going on dates,
dancing in clubs, and expressing our opinions openly.


12. (C) Araz said the fading religiosity, stems from
citizens, general disillusion of the government.
Amedinejad,s regime has increasingly used religion as an
excuse to crack down on citizens, basic rights such as
freedom of "expression, dress, and political activity." The
repression is especially targeted at minorities. And in
terms of the "clerics," many are viewed as corrupt and only
interested in enriching themselves with Iran,s natural
resources wealth.


13. (C) Araz also said the regime relies on religion as a
foreign policy tool. To maintain good relations with
conservative Muslim states, Tehran plays the religious card,
supporting the Palestinian cause, cursing Jews as "dogs" and
the U.S. as "satan," and supporting an array of Shia
religious causes overseas. Samir added the GOI is a
hypocrite when it comes to promotion of religion as Tehran
supports secular countries like Russia and when it comes to
the Nagorno-Karabakh, Iran supports Christian Armenia rather
than its Muslim brother Azerbaijan.

Access to outside information debated
--------------


14. (C) When asked the extent to which the government
restricts citizens, access to outside media or internet,
Nijar and Ali were not in total agreement. Nijar said the
government is always looking to clamp down on Iranians access
to outside sources of information while Ali said the
government does not really care what citizens do behind
closed doors as long as it does not threaten the regime. He
stated, we can "drink vodka and have prostitutes," watch
satellite television and surf the internet without much
interference. Araz agreed with Samir, adding the government
is particularly lenient toward Persian dominated cities like
Tehran, Qom, and Shiraz. Nijar jumped in saying that while
outside information may be available, the government takes
measures to disrupt and limit access by jamming satellites
and applying filters to internet sites. She agreed with the
others who stressed the citizens are "very clever" about
getting around the censoring methods and the point made by
Samir that the government has all but given up trying to
remove satellites.

It,s all about being Persian in Iran
--------------


15. (C) According to the students, the government is focused
on raising Persian awareness in Iran. While the government
emphasized the importance of religion to the state in the
eighties, since the nineties, it seems promoting Persian
"greatness" to the people is a higher priority. As an
example of this trend, Samir pointed to the regime,s recent
release of a new rial note that interprets a passage from the
Koran as saying something along the lines of "it is only the
Persian who can solve
the most complex scientific problems."


16. (C) The three students agreed the Persian nationalism
message has resonated with the Persian population. They said
discrimination against non-Persians by Persians was just as
bad among the youth as among the older population. Araz added
the regime also has successfully pitted minorities against
other minorities as a way to ensure the groups do not join as
one against the government.

Crackdown on minorities increasing
--------------


17. (C) This emphasis on Persian nationalism has coincided
with a crackdown on minorities, according to the students.
They said since the rise of Amedinejad, Iranian minorities
have faced increased harassment from the police and many have
faced detention and interrogations. Araz said, as an
Azeri, he has been victim. He was detained for six weeks for
his participation in the May 22, 2006 demonstration against
the government for publishing a demeaning caricature of

BAKU 00000773 004.2 OF 004


Azeris. He was not tortured or treated badly but he is still
interrogated every time he travels back to Iran. Araz
expressed his frustration with USG and its media "failure" to
cover Iran,s increasing atrocities
against minorities.


18. (C) COMMENT: It was encouraging to hear three young
Iranians express a strong desire for democratic ideals and an
interest in American society. It was, however, depressing to
listen to these students express little faith that their
government will change any time soon to allow Iranians basic
freedoms and end their isolation from the international
community. Even if policies are changed, it seems, based on
these students, comments, it will take years to undo the
damage done by thirty years of repression, discrimination
against non-Persians, scant civil society, and general
economic failings. Of course, opinions expressed in this
report are likely swayed by the fact these students are
ethnic Azeris from northern Iran and not Persian. That said,
post will continue to seek opportunities to meet with
Iranians of all ethnic backgrounds particularly as different
groups' perspectives on life in Iran may vary. We also will
continue to convey recommendations Iranians offer for
advancing US-Iranian people-to-people exchange. From
discussions with these students, it seems the USG can and
should do more to reach the Iranian people-particularly the
young- through the development of new and improved outreach
programs.

LU