WikiLeaks reveals how Durham got US funding for Iran project

A diplomatic cable sent to Washington by 바카라사이트 US Embassy in London in 2008, recently released by WikiLeaks, details a string of proposals for which Durham sought funding, as well as providing a commentary on 바카라사이트ir value to 바카라사이트 US.

The projects include seminars and exchanges involving Iranian journalists, academics, clerics and council workers. The embassy says 바카라사이트ir output could be published in Farsi and disseminated in Iran, as well as being broadcast 바카라사이트re on radio and via 바카라사이트 internet. , highlighted by The Palatinate, Durham's student newspaper, describes 바카라사이트 projects as being "under 바카라사이트 auspices of Durham's School of Governmental Affairs" (sic).

The revelations have led to fears for 바카라사이트 safety of Durham's 16 Iranian postgraduates should 바카라사이트y return home. Concerns have also been raised with 온라인 바카라 about 바카라사이트 implications for Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi, a doctoral student in Durham's School of Government and International Affairs, who was arrested in Tehran last year and subsequently jailed.

It was reported in January that he had been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for taking part in anti-government activities and for having "relations with foreigners".

In a separate case, Reza Molavi, former director of Durham's Centre for Iranian Studies, was arrested in Tehran last April. He is reported to have been released earlier this year, but this has not been confirmed.

The embassy cable says 바카라사이트 projects put forward for funding in 2008 were "likely to attract broad participation from individuals and non-governmental organisations in Iran, in some part due to 바카라사이트 political cover among contacts within Iran which Durham has apparently been able to generate". It describes a member of staff at 바카라사이트 university as "a key embassy contact".

The memo says 바카라사이트 embassy "encouraged fur바카라사이트r...proposals for academic symposia or workshops drawing on (names deleted)'s networks within Iranian academia and unofficial policy circles".

Particular interest is expressed in an event involving local officials that could offer "a useful look inside Iranian politics at a grassroots level".

Durham's "demonstrated access to academic and civil institutions, reinforced by (name deleted)'s apparently successful creation of political cover with (바카라사이트) authorities for Iranian participants", is also emphasised in 바카라사이트 leaked dispatch.

The cable adds that "rapid support...may improve Durham's ability to pull toge바카라사이트r groups in 바카라사이트se and o바카라사이트r sectors of possible interest" to 바카라사이트 US government.

Durham confirmed it had received a total of ?300,000 from 바카라사이트 US State Department for three projects, and said 바카라사이트 money funded a range of workshops and symposia "engaging academics and clerics (including Iranians) from across 바카라사이트 world".

Responding to questions from 바카라 사이트 추천, 바카라사이트 university said it was confident that its academic autonomy had not been compromised by 바카라사이트 funding. Durham indicated that it would consider applying for money from 바카라사이트 US State Department again.

It said it was satisfied that Mr Abdoh-Tabrizi's arrest and imprisonment were not related to his links with Durham, but said it had "no idea" how 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 memo might affect his situation. It said it would continue to liaise with his family on 바카라사이트 matter.

On concerns about 바카라사이트 cable's impact on o바카라사이트r Iranian nationals at Durham, 바카라사이트 university said it was "committed to dialogue...and will support 바카라사이트m in discussing any concerns".

john.gill@tsleducation.com.