A.Soroush Academy for Philosophy

6 Nezami Ave
France St.
Tehran Iran
6 July 1997
 

Dr. E. L. Rogan

The Middle East Centre

St Antony's College

Oxford OX2 JF

Dear Dr Rogen

Thank you very much for your warm invitation and many congratulations for your success in holding such a brilliant and timely conference on Rethinking Islam.

As to me myself, most unfortunately my 'delicate situation in Iran' as you made a clever allusion to in your letter of invitation, prevents me from attending your learned conference and delivering a plenary address to it. My passport, since a month ago , has been unjustifiably held by the authorities here and despite my strong efforts and repeated appeals, has not yet been released. This, being but a new item in the long list of the academic limitations and harassments I enjoy, has debarred me from attending four foreign conferences including your beloved on (two of the remaining three were in Germany, and the third one in Malaysia). I had a confirmed flight ticket to London on Sunday 6th July 1997, and had received some good news and heartening promises as to the release of the passport, but none did work, and the sad story of my absence from there so took place.

While I send this as a humble piece of apology, I can't associate it but with my sincere hope for the success of the BRISMES conference and the learned participants of it in rethinking Islam and with my strong wish for a better future in which academicians of all countries can meet and exchange freely on the issues of truth, peace and happiness, for the sake of truth, peace and happiness of mankind.

Good luck and best wishes