Information on the publication and circulation of an anti-regime newspaper called Kayhan in London [IRN23816.E]

According to a representative of the weekly Kayhan newspaper at Kayhan Publishing Inc. in London, Kayhan published throughout 1995 without interruption (15 May 1996). Its publishes 50 issues a year and is circulated in 45 countries including Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Japan (ibid.). The readership of the paper reaches approximately one hundred thousand per year with an estimated twenty thousand copies annually (ibid.). The source added that the readership of the newspaper is limited because of its high subscription cost (ibid.). The same source added that Kayhan could not be described as anti-regime, but the newspaper does not support the present government of Iran (ibid.). The source added that Kayhan does not support any political party or group including the Mojahedin e-Khalq or monarchists (ibid.). Please see the attached copy of a Kayhan subscription form.

According to a representative of the Iranian Foundation in Bethesda, Maryland, the London-based Kayhan is the most widely circulated Iranian newspaper outside of Iran (15 May 1996).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

Reference


Iranian Foundation, Bethesda, Md. 15 May 1996. Telephone interview with representative.

Kayhan Publishing Inc., London, UK. 15 May 1996. Telephone interview with representative.

Attachment


Kayhan Publishing Inc., London, UK. 16 May 1996. Faxed copy of currrent subscription form forwarded by representative.