Iranian students in the U.S.: National security risk?

From: Iranian Anti-Defamation Alliance (IADA) IADA@aol.com

IADA'S ACTION ALERT
Oct.10, 1997

An Apartheid Against Iranians in Making?

A letter from Ms. Mary Walsh, a CBS Evening News National Security segment producer, to Iranian students at several American universities:

Hello

I am writing to see if there are any Iranian students at [your University] who would be interested in doing an interview for the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.

I am looking for students who intend to return to Iran after they've completed their studies in the United States.

The story, which is being reported by National Security correspondent David Martin, is about a report being released next week calling for tighter controls on granting student visas to Iranians because of fears that the knowlege they take back to their country could be used to develop weapons of mass destructions.

I would imagine that the Iranian students at [your university] might have some strong opinions about this and we would very much like to include them in our report.

Best regards,

Mary Walsh
Producer

P.S. the story will broadcast on Tuesday, Oct. 7th.

IADA'S ACTION: On the morning of Oct. 7, we phoned Ms. Walsh and expressed Iranian-Americans deep concerns about the broadcasting of this segment. We stated that we are seeing a widespread campaign of fear and hysteria in an attempt to put pressure on the government of the United States to create a form of educational, professional and cultural Apartheid against Iranians in America, and by propaganda, throughout the world. The airport discriminatory screening, profiling, also, was preceded with a similar orchestrated campaign of fear and hysteria.

We asked "Ms. Walsh, would a so-called technology 'bandit' discuss his/her future plans with you and if not are you suggesting a student visa ban on Iranians and a mass firing of the Iranian scientists and technologists in the U.S.A.?" We protested the segment's ill-conceived, vague and incredulous premise which seems to be a deliberate attempt to cast a much wider shadow of suspicion on all students, scientist and technologists of Iranian Heritage in this country. Later, Ms. Walsh called to say that "due to some scheduling conflict" this segment has not been completed and they would call us to get more feedback from the Iranian community before completing the project. This is a temporary result and we have, as yet, to be informed when CBS NEWS plans to air this segment.

Shortly, Iranian Anti-Defamation Alliance will, formally, express its and Iranian-Americans' deepest misgivings on the planned showing of this segment and the productions of other anti-Iranian segments by Ms. Walsh, a National Security Producer, to the CBS Corporation and demand meaningful explanations.

CBS Evening News, Washington D.C.

Mary Walsh (202) 659-2586 Email:mew@cbsnews.com New York N.Y.

Dan Rather (212) 975-3247 10-11:30 AM & 2 to 3:30 Pm EST

Iranian Anti-Defamation Alliance IADA@aol.com

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