Going home, finally

After weeks of doubt and confusion, I've finally decided to return to Iran next week for a short visit.

Despite the risks, I think this is the safest time for me to visit, because the regime is likely to behave more tolerantly right before the elections on June 17th. It's a small window of opportunity which may not open again for a long time. Especially because it's not clear who the next president will be and how the regime will deal with the internal and international pressure.

I miss my country and I am frustrated that I must have fears of going back simply because of the words I have written in my weblogs. (Read Sina Motallebi's account of his three weeks detention because of his blog postings.)

The second reason I'm taking this risk is because any authority I have on Iranian issues (if I have any) is because I've spent all my life there. It's only since late 2000 that I've been living abroad (I last paid a short visit in the summer of 2002). By being away for too long, I fear I would lose touch with the reality on the ground which would affect the way I think and write.

Finally: I'm a blogger, and if you are reading this post now, you have an interest in what I write about Iran and how I see and describe it. Therefore, as a citizen journalist, this trip will also benefit my readers.

I am going to need your help to finance this trip. In exchange, I will write about my observations from the life and politics in Tehran, will take hundreds of pictures, will record dozens of short videos, will interview countless influential and interesting people, and make podcasts till your ears fall off.

How to support

While I'm doing all this, I may get into trouble. It could vary from polite questioning for a few hours to days of detention in secret places, less than politely. But there are a few things I'd ask you to do, when someone gets arrested in Iran:

• Spread the word: No one can help if they have no idea what is happening

• Get the English-language media involvedt: The Iranian regime is afraid of bad publicity and will panic if faced by collective media coverage

• Get the publicity translated: Nothing exists to the Iranian government unless it's published in Persian in local media or in confidential briefings.

• Don't be surprised: Under duress, I may confess that I've been on the Bush Administration's payroll to undermine the regime by helping to spread use of weblogs; I've tried to weaken moral values of young Iranians by promoting western culture and values; I've been part of a secret network of Israeli and American spies; I've distributed large amounts of money to Iranian dissidents, activists, bloggers and journalists inside in Iran so they can topple the regime.
  Nor should you be amazed to hear me say that I've been running a virtual brothel in Tehran from my apartment in Toronto; I've been trafficking heroin and cocaine to Iran; and I've been secretly dating Natalie Portman and Kyra Knightly and have even an illegitimate child with Rachel Weiz.

• Don't let them fool you: They might try to silence you by saying things like "remain silent and we won't torture him," or "don't talk to local and foreign press about it and we'll take it easy on him," etc. Under extremely high pressure, I myself, might even ask you to keep quiet. But don't listen to any of this. Go ahead! And as Sina Motallebi has said, keep on pressuring the regime using different means of protest.

• Keep it up: Publish daily briefings and reports even if you don't have anything to say just to show the regime you care. They usually cope with the pressure in the beginning but they can't tolerate it in the long run.

Don't be too concerned. I'm hopeful that nothing happens and I will come back and tell the world how vibrant, alive and amazing Iran is these days, and how the world can help Iran move toward a more transparent and democratic system. And of course how ignoring the extraordinary potential within society can damage the gradual move towards human rights and democracy.

If you want to reach me in Tehran, please simply send an email to hoder@hoder.com. For media enquiries please use the same email address with a clear subject and I'll reply as quickly as possible -- if I can find a wi-fi hotspot in jail.

Please use the button below to help finance my trip. Also please link to this post in your blog so more people can help.

Related Links:
* Blog Spring (Jeff Howe, Wired Magazine)
* Writing Lolita in Tehran (Chris Dickey, Newsweek)
* Bloggers of Iran (Katrina Vanden, the Nation)