I couldn't agree more with Congressman Moran on this (see his statement below). Iran has been condemned by just about everybody, including Juan Cole and many others, for its outrageous behavior with regard to Dr. Esfandieri. What, is President Ahmedinejad returning Iran to the days of hostage taking, on top of defying the entire international community and threatening to start a nuclear war? Wonderful.
Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, today called on the Iranian government to release Iranian-American scholar, Dr. Haleh Esfandieri, who was detained and imprisoned in Iran while visiting her sick, 93 year old mother. Dr. Esfandieri, Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars Middle East Program has been held by the Iranian authorities since December 30, 2006."Professor Esfandieri is an academic - an accomplished scholar in Persian literature, language and history - not a government agent," said Moran. "She has dedicated her life's work to understanding the Persian culture, not degrading it. I strongly urge the Iranian government to release her at once. The State Department should continue to make her return to U.S. soil a top priority."
Dr. Esfandieri has been detained in the notorious "Evin" Iranian prison known for its human rights abuses. Reports state that she has been through a series of intense interrogations employing pressure tactics and possibly torture forcing her to make false statements against her employer, the Woodrow Wilson Center.Dr. Esfandieri is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Iran. She has been living in the U.S. since 1980. Her husband is a professor at George Mason University, located in Fairfax, Virginia.
P.S. Maybe the Bush Administration negotiators can mention this case while they're doing what they used to say they'd never do, talking to their Iranian counterparts. Heh.
A side note: Nancy Pelosi messed in foreign policy recently in Syria, and heard loud domestic protests from outraged neo-cons. Now Jim Moran. What next? Bushie must be mortified. Perhaps Bill Richardson could lend his talents, since, as usual, Bush is a day (or two) late and a dollar short. Or jesse Jackson, heh... Bush-Cheney-Rice are so out of it that everyone wants to get into the act and help.