Room for debate in the Islamic Republic

Rasool Nafisi, who teaches the sociology of development and Middle Eastern studies at Strayer University, reminds us that some Iranian journalists were appalled at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent speech at Durban II:

Some Iranian journalists and political activists questioned Ahmadinezhad’s speech. They felt Iran was humiliated by the event. A reporter asked Rahim-Moshaei, the president’s trusted advisor, why he gave speeches that resulted in humiliation for Iran. “What a strange question,” Rahim-Moshaei retorted. “There was a time when [we were so isolated] we were not even allowed to attend conferences. Now we walk in, and others walk out; do you call this our isolation?”

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