A former Iranian diplomat who resigned to protest Tehran's crackdown against opposition demonstrators says he and his family are being threatened and harassed by Iranian officials, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.
Mohammad-Reza Heydari resigned his post as consul at the Iranian Embassy in Norway last month. He told Radio Farda the Iranian government began harassing his relatives in Iran after he was granted political asylum by Norway last week.
Heydari said that despite those reprisals, he intends to continue his international campaign to publicize rights abuses in Iran. But he added that "the authorities have told me through their contacts and in phone calls that I'd be in trouble if I [continue to] do so."
Heydari said Iranian diplomats in England, Germany, and countries on the Indian subcontinent have also resigned to protest the Iranian government's treatment of the opposition following the disputed presidential election in June.
He said those diplomats are also seeking asylum but have not gone public with their grievances for fear of causing problems for their families in Iran.
Mohammad-Reza Heydari resigned his post as consul at the Iranian Embassy in Norway last month. He told Radio Farda the Iranian government began harassing his relatives in Iran after he was granted political asylum by Norway last week.
Heydari said that despite those reprisals, he intends to continue his international campaign to publicize rights abuses in Iran. But he added that "the authorities have told me through their contacts and in phone calls that I'd be in trouble if I [continue to] do so."
Heydari said Iranian diplomats in England, Germany, and countries on the Indian subcontinent have also resigned to protest the Iranian government's treatment of the opposition following the disputed presidential election in June.
He said those diplomats are also seeking asylum but have not gone public with their grievances for fear of causing problems for their families in Iran.
