First Word ACI protest to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the mysterious disappearance of one of its speakers Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Reply     First Word -  Happy Norouz 1378! The Norouz promise this year like all past Norouz, is one of regeneration and new birth. Its blooming buds bring glad tidings from a     pregnant earth with flowers and happiness for everyone. Nevertheless, this year it also carries another message: A promise for an end to the dark years and medieval thinking A promise that we have entered into a period of free and independent thinking A promise for individual freedom from slavery to dogmatic religious ideology A promise of an escape from unnecessary excitement and anxiety. Finally, a promise that bears logic and intelligence; one that has the best of Iranian wisdom and intellect as its motivation for progress. Without a doubt this positive change has come about with an uninterrupted perseverance. Therefore, It is our duty to see it through to its logical end. The realisation of the above promises needs national unity, steadfastness, and free clear thinking. We pledge our commitment and will endeavour to do our best to achieve them. ACI protest to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the mysterious disappearance of one of its speakers. February 16, 1999 Reference: 27 / M / 108 Michael Axworthy Iran Desk Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH Dear Mr. Axworthy: 'Consequences of 20 years of Revolution 1979-1999' 12, 13, 14 February, 1999 As you are aware the twenty sixth conference of Association of Iranian Researchers - the fifth in conjunction with the Centre of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, SOAS London University - took place on the above dates. On the first day Dr Kasra Vafadari - lecturer at Universit?de Paris 10, Nanterre and previous head of the Zoroastrian Association in Iran - who was to be the first speaker of the conference, arrived at 14:40. During the break at 15:00, he informed us that he was going to speak to two men who had asked to see him earlier. At 15:10, his wife who accompanied him to the Caf?Gallery returned to the auditorium anxious that the two men and her husband had disappeared. When he did not return in time for his speech at 15:30 the University security were informed and at 15:45 the Holborn Police Station was called along with Mr. Runcie of the New Scotland Yard. Subsequently the officers arrived and the process of looking for Mr. Vafadari began. Later his wife along with one of the conference's organisers, Ms Kashefi, went to Holborn Police Station for further investigation. The officers and Ms Kashefi returned to SOAS at 20:00 to ask assistance from the audience and Mr. Vafadari's photograph which was taken by the security cameras was passed around. Around 21:10 at the end of the conference the good news was shared that he was found safe and well. According to the police report, the two men who have not been identified yet had approached Dr Vafadari to prevent his participation at the conference. Following the above incident the Association of Iranian Researches would like to point out that this association takes every precaution in the organisation of its conferences to ensure the safety of its speakers and spectators alike and co-ordinates its activities by informing the police of times and locations of the events. Particularly at this conference, due to experience, we went to the added length of not announcing the name of the speaker from Iran - Dr Hossein Bashiriyeh, lecturer at Tehran University - until he had safely arrived in England. I would like to draw your attention to the following points: 1. The Association of Iranian Researchers is registered in four countries. It is an academic and research organisation dedicated to finding answers for Iran's problems in a scholarly manner. 2. The Association of Iranian Researchers provides a free tribune for experts regardless of their political persuasion to present their findings in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner. To this aim our invitations are always sent to responsible authorities in the Islamic Republic and the Embassies in the host countries are kept informed of our activities. 3. Living and working in countries, which observe the Human Rights Conventions, we expect safety and immunity from threats and intimidation for the experts who work with us as well as ourselves. 4. The fact that Dr Vafadari was threatened and prevented from speaking and how he chooses to peruse the matter is his personal choice, which we fully respect. 5. It is also up to the University how it decides to deal with this incident and future security measures. However, The Association of Iranian Researchers would like to register and draw your urgent attention to the following points: 1. Until this conference, because of the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the fear, and anxiety felt by the participants had been due to indirect threats and intimidation. However, this is the first time that such a direct action has been taken. 2. The Association of Iranian Researchers takes this incident as a serious warning and a direct threat to the safety of its responsible officers and requests that suitable preventive measures are taken to stop any repeat of this or a more serious incident from happening. Finally, I would like to point out that despite the atmosphere of intimidation and fear that governs gatherings both in and out of Iran the Association of Iranian Researchers has been successful in creating an atmosphere of tolerance where people with differing views and political beliefs sit along side each other and the Islamic Republic's representatives who present and introduce themselves to us. This was the first gathering that was not attended by Embassy staff. A separate letter regarding this incident has been sent to Mr. Runcie at the New Scotland Yard. The Association of Iranian Researchers is certain that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will take the responsible route as it has always done in the past and this matter will remain an isolated incident. I would like to thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Respectfully, Dr Hossein Ladjevardi - President Association of Iranian Researchers cc:: Hubert Vedrine - Foreign Minister, France Joschua Fischer - Foreign Minister, Germany Madeline Albright - Secretary of State, USA Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Reply 22 February 1999 Dr Hossein Ladjevardi ACI, BP 75 Paris 75522 Cedex 11 France Dear Dr Ladjevardi Thank you for your letter of 16 February to Michael Axworthy about the recent disappearance of Dr Kasra Vafadari during your conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies on 12 February. We already knew of this incident. The Metropolitan Police are keeping us informed of their investigation. Once the results are known, we will be in a position to consider whether any action is required. I hope that this incident will not deter you from holding similar conferences in the United Kingdom in the future. Yours sincerely Jason Smith Middle East Department