The Iranian Times

Friday, April 9, 1999 / Farvardin 20, 1378, No. 704


Sehaty Foreign Exchange

Shahin & Sepehr


    Rumi


Voices

Siaah Sookhteh
Prejudice towards Blacks and other non-Europeans

By Shalizeh Nadjmi
April 9, 1999
The Iranian

Boarding my first American subway in Northwest DC, I was warned by our host - my mother's lovely cousin - to be wary of the Black Man. In fact, my second cousin sternly objected to my mother and I sitting anywhere near "them" for they were all armed and short tempered, and would surely hurt us if we got too close.

Fourteen years later, under unforeseen circumstances, I find myself back here in the great Western capital. Yet it seems that after all this time, I have not heeded my cousin's warning. Indeed, like a good Persian girl I did the very opposite: I tasted the forbidden fruit. In the twenty-two years since leaving my mother's womb, I have experienced two significant loves. Both of them have not only been Black, but they have been African, with skin the color of midnight satin. And although both were born in the U.S., each spent his life in his respective motherland, then migrated back to North America. ... GO TO FEATURE


Outlook

Sex charge businessman freed on bail

April 9, 1999 (BBC) - A German businessman who was jailed in Iran for having a sexual relationship with an Iranian woman is being freed on bail.

Helmut Hofer could be freed as early as Saturday once bail of about $165,000 has been paid, according to his lawyer.

Mr Hofer was convicted in January 1998 for violating a law banning sexual relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was annulled, and in February the Supreme Court ordered a retrial ... FULL TEXT

Also BBC RealAudio report


    Anyway

Just wondering

I have been wondering for some time about the executions that took place in Iran after the revolution in 1979. I have never been able to find out exactly how many people and also who was executed. Often in reading articles or books I run into a reference made about different personalities who were executed.

Do you know of a publication to refer me to? Has anybody perhaps compiled a list of names, professions and why they were executed? If not, would your magazine be interested to start such a project? Your response would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Mali Evans


More Letters

* She has never told her family

Eternally hopeful writes: I am a handsome, well-educated, professional African-American male who met and fell in love with a beautiful, well-educated, professional Iranian woman. We love each other very much but she has never told her family about me. They are constantly trying to fix her up with Iranian men for marriage ... FULL TEXT

* Damned if you do...

Ghassem Namazi writes: I just finished reading Mr. Tehrani's article on the Kosovo war situation ["Why Kosovo?"]. As I recall, when the Bosnians were being driven out of their homes or massacred by the Yugoslavian army, many of us Iranians commented that the mere reason NATO or the United States in particular is not intervening is the fact that the victims are Moslems. Now that the West is actually performing a positive role, some of us have managed to come up with absurd scenarios as to why the United States has begun taking military action ... FULL TEXT

* I'm offended

Marla Zometsky writes: Sorry. I don't appreciate the humor of the Senator article ["Iran is a great country"]. As an American, I'd love to see the lines of communication between both Iranians and Americans open - as well as, eventually, the lines between our two governments. I don't see the humor in this sad situation. ... FULL TEXT

* Get a laugh

Banafsheh Zand writes: Get a grip folks. I read the very same piece about Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and laughed. I'm also Iranian, though I seem to have a sense of humor that some of the whinning readers truly seem to lack. Thanks for YOUR humor The Iranian! Here's wishing all you a relaxed and FUN filled new year! ... FULL TEXT

* Art: Aileen Falah's art in DC

WHAT: EXHIBIT - Aileen Falah's Paintings, and Sculptures
WHEN: Friday March 12 - Saturday April 24 (Exhibit hours Thursday-Saturday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
WHERE: Project Space, 625 E St. N.W. Washington DC
ADMISSION: Free
INFO: 703-455-1666
DETAILS: The opening ceremony will be from 8:00PM until 10:00 PM on Friday march 12.


Book of the Week

Cultural Diversity and the U.S. Media
By Yahya R. Kamalipour, Theresa Carilli, George Gerbner (editors)

This book provides rich and detailed accounts of how the media filters racial/ethnic identity through economic or sensationalized perspectives in newspapers, films, television, and radio. By exploring media descriptions of various racial/ethnic groups, Cultural Diversity and the U.S. Media provides opportunities to discover, debate, and discuss issues surrounding race/ethnicity and the role of the media in American society.

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More news

Zan newspaper dubbed anti-revolutionary

The head of the Iran's conservative-domianted judiciary, Ayatollah Mohammed Yazdi, has said that the Zan newspaper was closed for committing a counter-revolutionary act. Speaking at Friday prayers in Teheran, he warned the Iranian press against violating, what he called, the country's sacred values ... FULL TEXT

Top judge rejects violence in fighting vice

TEHRAN, April 9 (Reuters) Iran's conservative head of judiciary urged the government on Friday to maintain Islamic morality but said people should not be harassed in the process. Judge Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi told worshippers at Tehran's mass Friday prayers, carried on state radio, it was the legal duty of the government to fight corruption and crime ... FULL TEXT

Judiciary chief calls for clampdown on women's dress

TEHRAN, April 9 (AFP) - Iran's conservative judiciary chief Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi called for a government clampdown Friday on the increasing relaxation of the strict dress code for women imposed following the 1979 Islamic revolution. "It's the government's duty to demand respect for the dress code in public places, cinemas, parks, shops and on the street," Yazdi told worshippers at the main Moslem weekly prayers here ... FULL TEXT

German jailed in Iran may be freed

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A German businessman jailed for having sex with an Iranian woman will be released on bail, his lawyer said Thursday. Arrangements were under way for Helmut Hofer's release, attorney Malek Houshang Qahhari said. He did not specify the bail amount, but a government source in Bonn, Germany, said on condition of anonymity that the amount was about $165,000 ... FULL TEXT

Mobil calls for US-Iran rapprochement

WASHINGTON, April 9 (AFP) - US oil giant Mobil on Friday urged reconciliation between the United States and Iran and appealed for an easing in US sanctions against investment in the Iranian oil industry. "US-Iran rapprochement would go a long way to bolster regional harmony," the company said in an advertising message that appeared in the Washington Post ... FULL TEXT

Iranian films looking for distributors at Cannes

Tehran, (Ettela'at) - At least six Iranian films have been accepted into the Cannes Film Festival and they will be looking for international distributors ... FULL IMAGE TEXT IN PERSIAN

Iran 17, U.S. 13

April 9, WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iran beat the United States 17-13 on the strength of Ali Reza Heidari's victory by technical fall at 213 pounds in a freestyle wrestling dual meet at the Dan Gable Classic on Thursday night ... FULL TEXT

Persepolis 1 - Esteghlal 1

April 9, (Iransportsnet.com) - Esteghlal dominated most of the first 60 minutes,missed several scoring chances, Persepolis brought in Baghmishe and Halali and gradually controlled the game. They had good scoring chances in the last 10 minutes .. FULL TEXT


On TV

Iran in ABC's "The Century"

ABC television has put a new/documentary series together called 'The Century', highlighting the key events of the 20th century (from an American perspective). Each episode, except the sixth, covers two of the above. The sixth is exclusively about Iran. Please share this with your friends and family ... MORE INFO


$ Rate

Updated April 9

The dollar now offered at 790-808 tomans in the U.S. and 815 tomans in Iran

Source: Sehaty Exchange (U.S.) Tel: 602-595-0777

Business news


The Web

Iran

Piroozi.com

This site needs A LOT of work. But what the heck... Qermezeteh!

Beyond Iran

Comedy Central

By special request...

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Quote Unquote

Uncle Tom

Iranian Uncle Toms run amuck in American society, as well as the rest of the world. Selling out to the powers that be, we promote racism and European White supremacy, not realizing the inadvertent effect it has on ourselves.

Shalizar Nadjmi
"Siaah Sookhteh"
The Iranian
April 9, 1999


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