Finding reality in Iran
Frances Harrison (left), the BBC bureau chief in Tehran, is moving to a new assignment. Her reflections on three years in Iran offer some valuable insights into the political environment, and add to the effort begun here some time ago to, Define a moderate in Iranian politics.Her thoughts also bring up questions about how accurately journalists can portray situations and events in an environment where the reporter is shunned and must be suspicious of informants who come forward. As your students read news and analysis from Iran, China, Russia, Nigeria, and even Mexico and the UK, those are good questions to ask.
Farewell to a changed, subtle Iran
"When I first came to Iran the reformists were still in power, not the ultra-conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"But to me as a newcomer, the government then did not seem particularly liberal...
"Reform, I soon found out, was not a euphemism for regime change - it just meant more respect for the rule of law and human rights, in order to preserve the Islamic system of government, not overthrow it...
"The contrast between then and now is huge...
"The atmosphere is now one where Iranians are afraid to mix with foreigners for fear of being accused of spying...
"It gets to a point where you find yourself questioning the motives of anyone brave enough to speak out.
"Either it is a trap or perhaps they are really naive - in which case why are we interviewing them?...
"On the surface, Tehran is a place where you see women swathed in black and there are ugly grimy modern buildings housing rude officials.
"The Islamic system of government has deliberately erased much of what was Persian culture..."
See also Frances Harrison's 2006 description of the BBC journalists' working conditions in Iran, Being 'the enemy within'.
posted by Ken Wedding @ 7:20 AM
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