How to contact Iranians

July 9, 2009 12:16 AM

Is there an online white pages for Iran?

A friend of mine started greencandle.org. He wants to link to a white pages like directory for Iran. However, we can't find one, no matter how much we google.

Any suggestions? Do any of you from Iran or who've traveled there remember an Iranian version of white pages online?

posted by Galen to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

From a quick Google myself: 118 seems to be Iran's 411. There's a http://118.tct.ir, whcih should be the online directory for Tehran, but doesn't work from my PC.

Unhelpful side note: Did your friend research likely consequences for the recipients of such care packages? I'd imagine as-seen-on-TV evil dictators would want to send their secret police after people who get stuff mailed to them from the Great Satan™.
posted by themel at 4:38 AM on July 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

Sorry, I know this doesn't help you find the phone directory, but: holy crap, does your friend have any idea what kind of trouble they could be dumping ordinary Iranians in by doing this? How the hell are they going to explain to the security forces that a complete stranger in America or elsewhere just happened to mail them stuff?

(Also, hell, even if this venture doesn't result in the recipients being persecuted, can you imagine how ambiguous the message 'You are not alone' would be when received in a paranoid political climate? I would be looking over my shoulder if I received a note like that, and I'm lucky enough not to live in a virtual dictatorship).

Sorry, nice thought, but the best thing you can do for Iranians is to ask your friend not do this.
posted by embrangled at 6:06 AM on July 9, 2009 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Lucky for everyone, I suppose, the project fell apart.
posted by Galen at 8:21 PM on July 26, 2009