Studying Iran in "English" is just as studing U.S. in "Persian"!! I hope these blog really project the realities.

he he - yes you are quite right. I was encouraged to see the Mianeh site in Farsi. But also, I would say it is not about "studying" so much as it is about connecting people.

Don't be fooled, Read this.

City boy: Thanks. I think your linked post raises one of the key questions in this sort of initiative, which is whether or not a dialogue project should take a position regarding the nature of the state. I strongly suspect you know a lot more about Iran than I do, but I still think there is a valid debate to be had about how to deal with this kind of situation.

On the one hand, any project like Mianeh (especially if it has US-based funders - I don't know if that applies in this case) will be suspiciously received by the Iranian state and, it should be noted, much of its public opinion as well, because similar projects have proved to be a thinly veiled attempt at regime change or (what some might call) interference in another country. I suspect this is what lies behind Mianeh's clearly stated position of neutrality regarding the state. On the other hand, it is difficult to promote the values and practice of dialogue and independent reporting in a state that does not observe them.

If the goal of the project is not about regime change, but mutual understanding, then I think I would prefer it to be effective under conditions of neutrality regarding the state, rather than ineffective because it can be shown to be overtly political. Surely dialogue for its own sake can't be a bad thing under the circumstances?

Looking back at one of your own posts, I think you identified very well the difficulty of thinking clearly in such a polarised atmosphere, where people feel a need to "take sides" with or against the Iranian or US governments. Most people, I suspect, lie well inside these two extreme positions.

How can you say it takes a neutral position to towards the state when it says it fully supports the constitution of the state?!!!

Supporting a constitution that puts clerics above the people?!!

I don't think so. It's a twisted project, and it's infact sponsored by the Islamic Republic itself, otherwise it wouldn't get coverage on the Islamic Republic News Agency.

I think the point is they are presumably neither supporting nor opposing the state, its constitution and clerics. They seem to be just trying to facilitate online dialogue between people, not political or religious systems.

Are you sure it is sponsored by the Iranian government? I would be very surprised if that were the case. I certainly agree the project should not seek to strengthen the position of the current Iranian government.

I understand where you are coming from, but I think that if seeking the overthrow of a regime is a precondition for dialogue with those who live there, then nobody's views are likely to be challenged and we all stay in our comfort zone.

Lee do you not understand simple English? The website says it FULLY SUPPORTS the constitution of the state. That mean's it supports the clerical government.

If you do not know about censorship in Iran, that's not my problem. But let me given you an example, if the media was to report a anti government protest in the street, they would wait until pro-government forces have arrived by bus to the scene and then they would take photos from them instead. They wouldn't promote a foreign supported website on the Islamic Republic News Agency, when the government's constitution which is obvious to anyone with any idea about current affairs, is fundamentally against such idea.