Iran: Iranian Writers Council including the location of its headquarters, membership and whether there was a 1996 raid to close its office; whether it is a different group than the Iranian Writers Association
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 22 September 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN32758.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Iranian Writers Council including the location of its headquarters, membership and whether there was a 1996 raid to close its office; whether it is a different group than the Iranian Writers Association, 22 September 1999, IRN32758.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad5d54.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No mention of an Iranian Writers Council could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, in a 22 September 1999 telephone interview the Executive Director - International of PEN Canada stated that a "prominent member" of the Iranian Writers Association, with whom she had spoken, stated that he was not aware of an Iranian Writers Council. According to her, he said that it would first be important to check to make sure that the translation from Persian of the organization's name was in fact correct. He said that the Persian word for "association" is "kanoon" or "kanoun," while the translation for "council" is "shora." He stated that a mistake may have been made in translation as he was only aware of the existence of the Iranian Writers Association. However, he added that he did recall the existence in 1981 of an organization by the name of the Council of Writers and Association. According to him this organization was composed of persons who had been asked to leave the Iranian Writers Association as a consequence of their membership in the Tudeh party and that party's "collaboration" with the Khomeni government.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
PEN Canada. 22 September 1999. Telephone interview with Executive Director - International.
Sources Consulted
Committee to Protect Journalists. Website.
Index on Censorship [London]. July 1996 - June 1998.
International Freedom of Exchange Clearing House. Website.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1960 -1998.
Middle East International [London]. January - December 1996.
Reporters Sans Frontières. Website.
_____. 1998. Freedom of the Press Throughout the World: Report 1998.
_____. 1996. Freedom of the Press Throughout the World: Report 1996.
Resource Centre. Iran country file. January 1996 - August 1997.
_____. Iran: Amnesty International country file. January 1996 - September 1999.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).
Two non-documentary sources contacted could not provide information on the requested subject.