I noted this below as a comment, but really wanted all to see it in case it gets skipped o'er. Do letters work? Yes.
U4I has, in the last few months, received emails from foreign ministers and their representatives promising that they will address it with Iran's officials as they visit the countries, that they will continue to pass on the information, and even releasing statements of condemnation.
With Iran, it will ALWAYS remain a PR game, and the end goal is to 1) highlight the cases and 2) get the world community to decry them. Name and shame, assign blame, embarrass Iran. That is their biggest fear, truly.
An example is below of how effective letter writing CAN be.
--
"The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs Verhagen has received a number of emails highlighting the case of the 7 Baha'i Leaders, generated through your website. I would like to inform you minister Verhagen has publicly expressed his concern about their fate:
http://www.minbuza.nl/en/News/Newsflashes/2010/08/Netherland...
_about_fate_of_Iranian_Baha%E2%80%99i_leaders
Best regards,
Bart Rijs
Spokersperson minister of Foreign Affairs
The Hague
The Netherlands
---
So does it work? Yes. Slowly sometimes, but yes. Knowing you're being watched DOES indeed change your behavior. Just ask Roxana Saberi :) Thanks to all, this is quite the community!
U4I has, in the last few months, received emails from foreign ministers and their representatives promising that they will address it with Iran's officials as they visit the countries, that they will continue to pass on the information, and even releasing statements of condemnation.
With Iran, it will ALWAYS remain a PR game, and the end goal is to 1) highlight the cases and 2) get the world community to decry them. Name and shame, assign blame, embarrass Iran. That is their biggest fear, truly.
An example is below of how effective letter writing CAN be.
--
"The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs Verhagen has received a number of emails highlighting the case of the 7 Baha'i Leaders, generated through your website. I would like to inform you minister Verhagen has publicly expressed his concern about their fate: http://www.minbuza.nl/en/News/Newsflashes/2010/08/Netherland... _about_fate_of_Iranian_Baha%E2%80%99i_leaders
Best regards, Bart Rijs Spokersperson minister of Foreign Affairs The Hague The Netherlands
---
So does it work? Yes. Slowly sometimes, but yes. Knowing you're being watched DOES indeed change your behavior. Just ask Roxana Saberi :) Thanks to all, this is quite the community!