Farah Karimi, Former MP in Holland
Rooz (R): In your opinion, has Rooz achieved the goals that it set out to achieve?
Farah Karimi (FK): When you started this project, I was unsure as to whether it would be successful. I did not know that in such a short time this publication can be put out every single day, with the dedication and determination of its staff. I have to say that this website has really become a prominent publication. It is a good source for news. It was very interesting to me that you could implement the idea that you had in mind. Essentially, you believed in your idea and worked on the basis of it, and that is very precious in its own right.
R: Do you have any particular ideas in mind?
FK: You were able to preserve your connection to Iran. You published reports in a way such that you cooperated with staff inside Iran. You were able to talk to different groups, and different individuals were able to contact you. You live outside the country, and this can inevitably push you towards radicalism, but you did not allow that to happen. You ran the website based on your ideas and beliefs. This is very important and it is a great experience.
I have connections all over the world, and based on that I can say that you are really well known. In the past few months when it was very hard to get information from Iran and many publications were shut down, Rooz was always mentioned as an alternative source of information. This is also very important. In addition, Rooz has been able to employ many experts who live inside or outside Iran, giving them a forum to publish their ideas. This is also very important.
R: How fair do you think Rooz is in reporting?
FK: In my opinion you have chosen a line of thought and I have no problems whatsoever with choosing a line of thought. We need to have different lines of thought in different publications. You have chosen a line which is to support the reform movement in Iran, and I have no problem with that. You just have to be careful that other lines of thought are not completely excluded from Rooz. In my opinion Rooz must be forum for people from all lines of thought to voice their opinion.
