Sir, - The glowing account of Iran's "vital, vibrant political life", seen as a model for the Middle East region by Michael Jansen in her article on the future of the Arab nations (World Review, The Irish Times, December 29th), needs some qualification.
While it is true that there is an opening-up in some respects, and a new willingness - largely for economic reasons - for dialogue with the West, there remain glaring abuses of human rights which should not go unremarked.
For instance, death sentences have been pronounced on four participants in a peaceful student demonstration called last July to protest against the closure of the daily newspaper Salam. One of those condemned, Manuchehr Mohammadi, a leading member of the National Association of Students and Graduates, is reported to have "confessed" to association with a "counter-revolutionary agent". But nothing is known of the circumstances leading up to this "confession". And the imposition of the death penalty (if indeed he is one of the condemned participants, as no names have been released) for peaceful political protest is hardly the mark of a modern democracy.
In other respects Iran is far from a model of internal freedom and debate. The activities of writers and journalists continue to be severely restricted. Some have been imprisoned following trials of dubious judicial merit and subjected to ill-treatment and torture, frequently on the vague, catch-all charge of "crimes against the external or internal security of the country".
By all means let us give credit where credit is due. But let us not mistake setting out on a journey with arriving safely. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Little, Clarinda Park West, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.