«Why Teheran is out of the question»

As one of the founders of the International Association of Women Philosophers, I want to add my support to this request that Iran not be selected as the host country for the 2010 World Philosophy Day under the current regime there which has publicly demonstrated its contempt for the free exchange of ideas that is essential to the philosophical enterprise.

I disagree with the petitioners. They have already an fixed idea of what is going to be. Free interchange of ideas is always a welcomed opportunity. Turkey and Marocco were not exactly models of democracy as I suppose they understand it. I believe holding the World Philosophy Day in Iran would be a very good occasion to have a direct view of how life is in Teheran independent of the bad west press and to interchange first hand opinions with all kind of people.

I strongly disagree with the very idea that a country should be "boycotted" because its government practices censorship or even imprisons and tortures people for "thought crimes." When it comes to events like "World Philosophy Day," Teheran is as good a venue as any. Let the thinkers of the world go, speak from their hearts, and share their views with the Iranians, many of whom are living in a state of cultural oppression and the threat of imprisonment. Their presence will be much appreciated as a sign of solidarity. The Cold War is over. It should be clear now that any extremist regime most fears contact between its citizens and those of the outside world; we should be facilitating such contacts, not making them more difficult. The government of Iran is not equivalent to the people of Iran. Why confuse the two? Instead of trying to isolate Iran, I recommend that signatories to this petition buy a ticket, fly to Teheran, take part, and dare to openly call attention to the oppressive practices of the "culture police" in Iran. Speaking truth to power -- when you're criticizing your host country -- isn't easy. But it can be a powerful voice for change.

I too withhold my support from any such boycott. Neda Agha Soltan's murder was heinous, heartbreaking and barbaric; but it was completely unrelated to her philosophical background. The letter seems to me to imply otherwise. Nevertheless, the international community of philosophers could voice its commitment to the principles for which Neda died by assembling, as she had done, in Teheran. And would not such a gesture counter, rather than reinforce, the isolation from the international community that the Iranian people suffer under the current sanctions? If the association Reset-Dialogues on Civilizations persists in its attempted boycott, its directors ought to consider a change of name.