Submitted by Chester, Jul 28, 2007 09:44

Mr Steyn - I'm a fan of yours - read your articles, have your latest book and listen to you on Hewitt - and enjoy your sense of humor & agree with you almost always. This time I don't think you have the whole story or understand all that's going on.

Most importantly, each one of these Iranian-Americans travelled to Iran on their Iranian passport. Why? Convenience - Because they wouldn't need to apply for a visa. Each one of these educated individuals knew the potential risks of doing so. They'd read and heard what happened to others who had done the same in the past - most recently, Iranian-Canadian Ramin Jahanbagloo . They knew it was a gamble. Iran doesn't recognize dual citizenship. Anyone travelling with an Iranian passport is considered an Iranian, and subject to Iranian law and the regime's whims. They knew that.

Now, in the case of Ms Esfandiari, maybe her mother was in very poor health and she felt she couldn't wait for a visa. If so, then she deserves some sympathy. I'm afraid I have little to none for the others.

The other underlying similarity between these people, besides the passport issue, as I'm sure you're aware, is that each of these individuals has a liberal bent toward Iran or is associated with a liberal organization. Ironic.

It's a very risky time for Iranian-Americans to be entering Iran on Iranian passports. They do so at their own peril. If they'd used their American passports, the regime wouldn't have arrested them - plain and simple. Btw - though I have little sympathy for them, their detention is nothing I'd wish on anyone, though I doubt very much that they're getting the Zahra Kazemi treatment, nor will they. These were planned arrests, very different from Kazemi's case. They're being used just as the British sailors were. The regime is in a ramped up fear mongering mode in order to keep control of the people.

And a word of advice : if you or anyone you know is ever detained in Iran, don't keep quiet about it and think its better not to make waves. In Iran, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so to speak. The more publicity a jailed person gets, the faster the regime wants to get rid of them. That's been proven over and over again by campaigns for jailed Iranians.

How incredibly ignorant and naive these people and their families seem to be.

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