Student Leader Says Tehran Isolating Activists

(RFE/RL) February 5, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- A student leader in Iran, Abdollah Momeni, has told Radio Farda the Iranian government is trying to prevent the country's intellectuals and activists from having ties with the outside world.

Momeni made the comments after authorities on February 4 banned him and prominent dissident academic Hashem Aghajari from leaving the country for a trip to the United States.

Momeni says the move is part of an attempt by the government to restrict activists.

"It seems that the main goal of those involved in creating these limitations is to isolate intellectuals and civil society activists inside the society and to cut their ties with the outside world," Momeni said. "These limitations have no legal justification. They violate the laws and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Aghajari, who as planning to travel to the United States for a lecturing trip, has said that the government's move was not "justifiable."

Officials have not commented on the case.

In recent weeks several other activists and journalists have been prevented from leaving Iran to attend conferences and seminars.