New York Times Magazine LETTERS; Hard Realities of Soft Power

Published: July 29, 2007

Negar Azimi's article (June 24) contained statements about workshops held in Dubai in April 2005 that could mislead readers about the content of the workshop arranged by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict.

That workshop was based on a curriculum about the ideas and history of nonviolent struggle with which activists from more than 20 other countries also have been taught. It did not resemble a ''James Bond camp for revolutionaries,'' as one participant of the workshops was quoted as saying, and our center did not lie to anyone about the workshop's purpose. The advance flier given to Iranians said that participants would learn about ''civilian-based movements across the world and effective nonviolent methods.''

The article's suggestion that the effort to assist human rights activists in Iran may be more trouble than it's worth would leave nongovernmental organizations and the international community with no options -- when faced with repression against activists who want to learn about nonviolent action -- other than abandoning them. Our center chose to help.

Jack Duvall
President, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
Washington