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Rumi
Opinion
Harmful favoritism
How NOT to help arrested Jews in Iran
By Ali Akbar Mahdi
July 22, 1999
The Iranian
As a minority group in Iran, Iranian Jews experience an added hardship
living in a society governed by the strict implementation of Islamic laws.
Many Iranian Jews also experience prejudice, stereotyping, and ocassional
discrimination. However, majority of these Jews regard themselves Iranians
and would prefer to share the pain and joy of living in that country with
their fellow Iranians, be it Muslim, Bahahi, Zoroasterian, or Christian.
The arrest of 13 Jews in Iran accused of spying for the United States
and Israel has given rise to a worldwide campaign for their freedom. While
Western and Jewish concerns for the fate of these individuals is understandable
and admirable, their approach to the problem is at best ineffective and
at worst harmful to their cause ... GO
TO FEATURE
Outlook
Lessons from history
TEHRAN, July 22 (Neshat) - Nehzat Azadi (Freedom Movement) leader Ebrahim
Yazi warns leaders of the Islamic Republic to learn from past popular movements
... FULL
TEXT
Thanks to Laleh Khalili
It's not our fault
Poem blames Arabs for our problems
There was once a country & Iran was her name.
It had some good rulers, and some who were lame.
It's history goes back, some three thousands years.
This country was made with, blood, sweat and tears
... FULL
TEXT
More Letters
* Their turn
Salmar writes: As a member of
the Iranian diasporic community I am thrilled as to the recent events that
have gone on in Iran. Although I personally feel that Khatami himself
is first and foremost still a Muslim cleric, he is probably the country's
only hope.
I am waiting for the day when there will be no Islamic state in Iran.
A day when we can actually rid ourselves of the Arab influence in our
country. Islam invaded Iran, and although we mostly contribute imperialism
to the English, Islam has it's own imperialism and Iran is a perfect example
of that. The clerical government would like to see an end to Noruz celebrations
as well, because it is not an Islamic holiday.
I urge all members of the diasporic Iranian/Persian community to do
whatever they can to show their support for the people of Iran who want
change; the clerical government has run Iran into the ground and the same
people that were chanting "Down with the Shah" have realized
that they have implemented monsters in his place.
* Religion prevents unity
Q tip write: In response to the
moderate, practicing Muslim I must say I
disagree on the fact that we can't teach culture without religion. Religion
is one of the many things that keeps Iranians from being united, and that
is one of the biggest problems in Iranian society today.
I have no problem with religion and do not seek to detract from it.
But if Iranian culture is to be preserved, we must look to other aspects
of our society as well. As an Iranian agnostic, I am fiercely proud of
my culture and the accomplishments and history of our country and people.
I was not raised to believe in Allah, or Ahura Mazda, or Baha U'ollah.
Rather, instead of being a servant of Islam or what have you, I listened
to the stories of our founding forefathers like Cyrus and Darius, in addition
to our heroes, from Rostam to Ferdowsi to Takhti.
If anything, we need to start teaching the more unbiased parts of our
culture, that don't focus on a specific religion or belief. We need to
put our prejudices aside and simply be proud of being Iranian.
* Art: Final day of Art show in Washington,
DC
There will be a closing party to celebrate the successful Iranian-American
art show in Washington DC as well as offer a FINAL viewing of this exhibition.
Date: Saturday, July 31, 1999 6-10 p.m. Place: 505 Gallery, 505 7th Street,
Washington DC one block down from MCI center. For information about this
year's and upcoming Evolving Perception events please call Saghar at: 301.610.5260.
Books of the Week
From this week we will offer books directly from Iran. They will include
the best new and classic books available. You can also ask for special
orders and we will try to find them for you. Tell us your order by email
(times@iranian.com) and we will send you payment information (check/creditcard).
NOTE: Prices include shipping and handling.
* Siaah mashq-haa (1999)
Poems by H.A. Sayeh (Hoshang Ebtehaj),
363 pages.
$20.00
* Raaport-haaye yomiyeh (1999)
By satirist Ebrahim Nabavi
382 pages.
$20.00
* Qesseh-haaye nasreddin (1999)
By satirist Ebrahim Nabavi
180 pages
$15.00
* Amineh (1998)
Historical novel by Masaoud Behnoud
382 pages.
$20.00
See
Iranian books for sale
THE IRANIAN
Bookstore
Video of the Week
Salaam
Cinema
An award-wining film by Mohsen Makhmalbaf who runs an ad in Tehran newspapers
indicating that he needs a few actors for his new movie. Several days later
few thousands young Iranian boys and girls show up for auditions. This
film portrays a unique side of Iranian society and the dreams and desires
of the young generation.
THE IRANIAN
Video Store
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
Friday, July 23
Student anger in Iran
Friday, July 23, 1999 (BBC) -- Pro-democracy student leaders in
Iran have accused the security forces of beating and torturing members who
were arrested during last week's protests. They have also accused the forces
of maintaining the wave of arrests in the capital Tehran ... FULL TEXT
Rafsanjani says Iran strong after unrest
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Islamic system emerged from recent unrest
as strong and stable as ever, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
said Friday. But he warned that the unrest, among the worst since the 1979
Islamic revolution, could scare away foreign investors ... FULL TEXT
Iran committed to reform: minister
TEHRAN, July 22 (AFP) - Iran 's interior minister insisted Thursday
the government would carry out President Mohammad Khatami's reform programme,
in a ringing defence of pro-democracy protesters who took to the streets
here last week ... FULL TEXT
`Salam' closure illegal, editor says
July
22, (Hamshahri - BBC Worldwide Monitoring) - At a meeting with the staff
of the daily `Salam', Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Musavi-Kho'iniha, the
managing-editor of `Salam', spoke about the closing down of the daily ...
FULL TEXT
Journalists protest at colleague's arrest
July 22, daily Iran - BBC Worldwide Monitoring) -- In separate
communiques to their colleagues in 'Emrooz' daily, the journalists and correspondents
of ' Iran ' and 'Hamshahri' dailies called for the release of Kazem Shokri,
a member of that daily's ['Emrooz'] editorial board ... FULL TEXT
Iran: Turk troops tried invasion
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Iran accused Turkey today of
trying to send troops into its territories and said Iranian forces drove
them back ... FULL TEXT
Conservatives tighten control on government
TEHRAN,
July 22 (AFP) - Iran's conservatives tightened their control over the government
Thursday after a senior right-winger was named head of one of the most powerful
economic and political institutions in the Islamic republic .. FULL TEXT
Iran seeking to export natural gas through
Kish
22nd
July,( IRNA - BBC Worldwide Monitoring) -- Tehran is preparing to export
4.8m tons of liquefied natural gas and 600,000 tons of methanol from the
South Pars gas field to Southeast Asia, said Mohammad-Reza Yazdanpanah,
managing director of the Kish FTZ [Free Trade Zone] Organization ... FULL
TEXT
Sales of jailed thinker's books soar
Tehran,
(Hamshahri) - Mohsen Kadivar who's been imprisoned for his criticism of
the Islamic Republic will be happy to hear that his books are doing a killing
at bookstores. (See bottom of this news item) ... FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
History of Zandiyeh and Afshars
Tehran, (Hamshahri) - Dr. Reza Sha'bani has just published his
"Taarikh-e mokhtasar-e Iran dar doreh-haaye afshariyeh va zandiyeh"
(Brief history of Iran in the Zandiyeh and Afshar period" ... FULL
TEXT IN PERSIAN
Tabriz theater revival?
Tehran,
(Hamshahri) - Tabrizis will have a choice of 24 plays to watch this year.
This is the highest number of plays brought on stage in Tabriz since 1979
... FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
German training camp
Tehran,
(Iran Daily) - News briefs from Iranian soccer players in Germany who are
training for the opening of the Azadegan League AND putting their skills
on display for their German hosts ... FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Women's Taekwando
Tehran,
(Hamshahri) - Islamshahr's women Taekwando team won the fourth annual compeitions
held between teams from greater Tehran. Here are the results ... FULL TEXT
IN PERSIAN
BBC
Persian Service
For the latest news,
interviews and features on Iranian current affairs ... LISTEN HERE
$ Rate
Updated July 21
Buying: 880-900 tomans per dollar
Selling: 908 tomans per dollar
Source: Sehaty Exchange (U.S.) Tel: 602-595-0777
Mention this code for a better rate:
FA 37 B
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Quote Unquote
Need no lesson
I think that people everywhere, particularly younger people hope that
they will be able to pursue their religious convictions and their personal
dreams in an atmosphere of greater freedom that still allows them to be
deeply loyal to their nation. And I think the Iranian people obviously love
their country and are proud of its history and have enormous potential.
And I just hope they find a way to work through all this, and I believe
they will.
-- President Clinton
The New
York Times
July 22, 1999
Photo of the Day
A
student leader: Alireza Afshari
Music
Musician of the Week
Shakila
* Morghak-e khiyaal
* Zabaan-e negaah
* Delijaan-e eshq
* Ey zendegi
* Qom-e beh haj rafteh
Music
artists index |
