The following information was provided
during 8 June 1997 telephone interviews with two specialists on
Iran based in England. One specialist is a contributor to
Jane's Intelligence Review and has published extensively
on Iran, while the other is the head of the British Broadcasting
Corporation's (BBC) Persian-Pashtoun Service in London, England.
The BBC source recently completed a biography of Ahyatollah
Khomeiny and has contributed a chapter to a book entitled The
Vanguard of Islamic Revival published by Zed Publishing in
London. The BBC source has also appeared on several British and
American television programmes about Iran.
The sources did not have information on
whether Sazman Cherikhae Fadai Khalghe Iran (Aqaliyat) changed its
name in February 1997 to Sazman Fedai Aqaliyat, also referred to as
Tavakol.
The sources stated that the group called
Tavakol is only a faction within Sazman Fedai Aqaliyat. Neither
group currently conducts military operations inside Iran.
The sources indicated that the numerous
changes in the Fedai names over the years did not reactivate their
operational capabilities inside Iran.
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.
References
Head of the BBC-Persian-Pashtoun
Service, London, England. 8 June 1997. Telephone interview.
Specialist on Iran based in England. 8
June 1997. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
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- 1996. Quarterly.
Arabia Monitor [Washington].
November 1992 - August 1993. Monthly.
Arabies [Paris]. January 1989 -
1997. Monthly.
Arab Law Quarterly [London].
1993 - 1997. Quarterly.
Arab Studies Quarterly [Lake
Forest, Ill.]. 1995 - 1997. Quarterly.
Dialogue [London]. October 1993
- 1997. Monthly.
Gulf Newsletter [London].
February 1992 - December 1994. Three per year.
The Middle East [London].
November 1988 - 1997. Monthly.
Middle East International
[London]. January 1991 - 1997. Bi-weekly.
Mideast Mirror [London]. April
1995 - 1996. Daily.
Middle East Report
[Washington]. September 1990 - 1997. Bi-monthly.
Monde Arabe Maghreb-Machrek
[Paris]. January 1989 - 1997. Quarterly.
News From Middle East Watch
[New York].
On-line search of the LEXIS-NEXIS
database.
Two oral sources did not have
information on this subject.