Hello From Iran

Dear Steph, I am sure Ali has good intentions, but he is being naive. Please do not even think about travelling to Iran, not until the present religious dictatorship is in place. Yes, Iran is an extremely beautiful mountainous country with wonderful hospitable people, but it will only be safe for western travelers after this hideous mafia regime is gone.  Just read about how Iranian dictators arrested 3 American hikers in 2009 and imprisoned them for over two years! I am an Iranian and lived in Tehran for 32 years until the coldblooded murderous mullahs executed my father, a university professor, by hanging, after holding him in solitary confinement for 4 years, for his religious and political beliefs that the mullahs are abusing the faith of the nation to fill their pockets. Most unfortunately we have witnessed the revival of the inquisition courts of the dark Middle Ages of Europe in today’s Iran. Please do not travel to Iran until this regime has disappeared from the face of earth and Iran is free. God bless you forever. 

Just to clarify, the regime in Iran mixes everything with religion and politics, including sports and tourism. Even a simple matter such as you travelling there for mountain climbing can be turned into an espionage case, since the revolutionary courts in Iran have systematically and continuously made baseless charges since 1979 against whomever they target, especially Americans, and the right to innocence until proven guilty, and the right to counsel are mocked at by officials everyday. Instead of seeing what a great inspiring individual you are, they look down upon your free spirit and boldness and see it as a threat, especially since you are a female hiker. So please only go to Iran after this regime is replaced with a democratic one.

Thank you Farid. Steph