An Iranian Dissident's Open Letter to Harvard

As an Iranian-Canadian academic, an international writer and an ex-fellow of Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies who spent 125 days in solitary confinement in the Evin Prison, I am writing to you to express my great concern over the news of extending a fellowship to Hossein Derakhshan. Hossein Derakhshan is a notorious figure among Iranian intellectuals, artists and civil society activists, certainly not because of any achievements in academia or in science and technology, but mainly because of his infamous character of betraying and denouncing his fellow countrymen and collaborating closely with the Iranian security forces. Derakhshan is a curious character. He is very good at manipulating how people see him. He's a good liar. And pretends to be your friend but actually is your enemy. Derakhshan is well known among all of Iranian freedom fighters to have been drilling holes under our boats to get it leaking and finally sinking in the hands of Iranian authorities. Many of us who have been through a harsh time in Iranian prisons fear the atrocities that have been done in the Iranian prisons, but the bigger and real fear is that of a fake “blog-father of Iran” who is sweetest to your face and most vile behind your back. Derakhshan’s blogs and writings on the internet have put many Iranians at risk, especially those like myself or Haleh Esfandiari who were wrongfully incarcerated by the regime.

It goes without saying that having Derakhshan in the United States and especially at Harvard University, the mecca of academic freedom and research, is an insult to all those who believe in freedom of thought and achieving excellence in education. I hope Harvard will reconsider its decision of offering a fellowship to an ungentle and un-academic character like Hossein Derakhshan, but instead should award such fellowships to young Iranian bloggers, intellectuals and civic actors who have elevated the spirit of intellectual freedom and non-violent resistance against tyranny in Iran and in the world.

Sincerely,

Ramin Jahanbeglo

Professor-Vice Dean

Director, Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Peace 

Jindal Global Law School 

Jindal Global University 

Sonipat

India