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Rumi
Film
Shining rotten apple
A horrific film that must be seen
By Jasmin Darznik
Samira Makhmalbaf is exacting, indicting in her telling of [The Apple]
. Her camera lingers at length over this abnormally infantile pair of twin
girls. She fixes her gaze on their pained attempts at communication. And
she forces us to see them.
I am convinced that "The Apple" is a story that the West has
been waiting for Iran tell about itself. To this young director's infinite
credit, it is much more than this.
Makhmalbaf has an eye for cruelty, but she has an eye, too, for the
tenacity of the human soul, its delight in beauty even when mercilessly
fettered. The girls play a game of fingerprinting on the walls, delighting
in their imprints. Straining against their bars, they water a plant in
the courtyard and watch it grow. The film has many such moments of surprising
delight and tenderness ... GO
TO FEATURE
Film
Outlook
Amir Entezam's open letter
"About Iran"
has translated the following text which is an open letter by Mr. Abbas
Amir-Entezam, the longest held prisoner of conscience under the Islamic
Republic. The Farsi version of this letter was given to "About
Iran" by the Committee in Defense of Abbas Amir-Entezam in New
York.
Dear Compatriots, Freedom-Loving People of the World:
I am thankful to a virtuous God for once again, from his divine dispensations,
presenting the opportunity [for the world] to see the rising disgrace of
the Judiciary branch of the Islamic Republic for violating the legal and
human rights [in my case]. This adds another chapter to the past volumes
of [the Islamic Republic's] shameful acts ... FULL
TEXT
Growing opposition to Kadivar's arrest
In Persian:
- Ten
newspaper publishers call for investigation
- Ayatollah
Saneie: Can Evin stop thought?
- Hadi Khamenei:
You cannot criminalize thought
- Kargozaran
party condemns arrest
- Students:
People still being jailed for their beliefs
- Ayatollah Yazdi's press conference: Part (1)
(2) (3) (4)
CAIRO, Feb 25 (AFP) - London-based Islamic militant leader Abu Hamza
al-Masri has threatened to blow up military and civilian planes in a bid
to end the West's "hegemony" on aviation, an Arabic newspaper
reported Thursday.
"Abu Hamza said he will reveal the plan to put an end to Western
hegemony over aviation at a meeting of Islamic groups Friday in London,"
Al-Hayat reported.
"The plan stipulates blowing up military and civilian airplanes
in mid-air," Al-Hayat quoted Abu Hamza as saying in a telephone interview.
"Flying mines" would be used in the scheme. "Air space
must be for all or none," Abu Hamza was quoted as saying.
Thanks to Ali Nikseresht
More Letters
* Owpatan to Obbadan to Abadan
I was born and raised in Abadan
although my father and mother were Zoroastrians from Yazd. I like to give
you a brief explanation about the name of our hometown: Abadan.
When I was a young boy I asked about the meaning of "Abadan"
and people always interpreted it as "a place that is aabaad"
(flourishing). Many years later when I went to university I found a book
named Iranvij by Dr Bahram Frahvashi and there was a short explanation
about Abadan's name.
According to this book: there was a small castle and light tower near
the mouth of Arvand river, built to protect the waterway and guiding boats
or small ships in and out of the river. This place initially called OWPATAN
which is combination of OW (aab=water), PAT (pad=defend or protect) and
AN (jaa/makaan=place). Put together OW-PAT-AN means the place for protecting
water.
"P" changed to "B" during the Islamic period and
the name became Obbadan and finally during recent times it turned into
Abadan.
Daryoush Mehrshahi
Geography Department
Sheffield University
England
* Media: Media's Representation of Iranians,
DC
Iranians for International Cooperation
(IIC) presents: Conference: "Mass Media's Representation of Iranians"
Washington DC, March 6, 1999
Featured speaker: Dr. Yahya R. Kamalipour, professor of Mass and International
Communications and director of graduate studies at the Department of Communication
and Creative Arts, Purdue University Calumet.
The conference will be on March 6th at 7:00 P.M. It will be held at
the: John Hopkins's University, School of SEIS, Kennedy Auditorium 1740
Massachusetts Ave, Washington DC There will be a reception from 7:00-8:00
p.m., prior to the speech.... MORE
INFORMATION
Book of the Week
A Taste of Persia
An Introduction to Persian Cooking
By Najmieh Batmanglij
A Taste of Persia is a collection of authentic recipes from one of the
world's oldest cuisines, chosen and adapted for today's lifestyle and kitchen.
Here are light appetizers and kababs, hearty stews and rich, golden-crusted
rices, among many other dishes, all fragrant with the distinctive herbs,
spices, or fruits of Iran. Each recipe offers clear, easy-to-follow, step-by-step
instructions. Most take less than an hour to prepare; many require only
a few moments; many others can be made in advance. Besides its 100 recipes
and 60 photographs, the book includes a useful dictionary of Persian cooking
techniques and ingredients.
Recent
featured books
THE IRANIAN
Bookstore
New! Bestsellers
New! Books
on Rumi
Copyright © 1997 Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights
Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
Senior police chief charged with torture
March
3, (BBC) -The head of Iranian police intelligence, Brigadier General Mohammad
Reza Naqdi, and ten of his men, are to be tried on charges of torture ...
FULL TEXT
Reformers trouncing conservatives in landmark
Iranian elections
TEHRAN,
March 3 (AFP) - Reformists close to moderate Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami were trouncing their conservative competitors, who have long held
the reins of power, according to nationwide municipal election results published
Wednesday. In Tehran, a city of 10 million people, the reform list headed
by former interior minister Abdollah Nuri took 13 of the 15 municipal council
seats in Friday's first-ever municipal elections in Iran ... FULL TEXT
West must end Iran isolation, Italy says
ROME, March 3 (Reuters) - Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini
said on Wednesday the West had to end Iran's isolation and show clear support
for President Mohammad Khatami after nationwide polls he described as of
``extraordinary importance.'' Dini, speaking hours before leaving on a trip
to Washington with Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, said more Western leaders,
while keeping up the pressure over human rights and non-proliferation, should
welcome Khatami and his fellow moderates to their countries ... FULL TEXT
Italy to defend Iran oil deal in U.S.
ROME, March 3 (Reuters) - Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini
said Wednesday a $1 billion oil deal with Iran involving Italy's ENI (ENI.MI)
and France's Elf-Aquitaine (ELFP.PA) was smaller than Iran's gas accord
with Total of France which escaped U.S. sanctions last year. Speaking on
the eve of a visit to Washington with Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, Dini
said Italian leaders expected U.S. officials to raise the new contract in
their talks ... FULL TEXT
U.S. oil companies press U.S. for Iran
access
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Just a day after the State Department warned
it would review a $1.0 billion oil deal between Iran and two European oil
companies, two of the largest domestic oil companies said they wanted an
end to sanctions. Atlantic Richfield Co., the fifth-largest U.S. oil company,
said Wednesday that not only were sanctions bad for the Los Angeles-based
company, but they were bad for U.S. business ... FULL TEXT
World Court should hear Iran-UAE case-Kuwait
KUWAIT, March 3 (Reuters) - Kuwait told Iran on Wednesday that
a growing dispute with the United Arab Emirates over three Gulf islands
was not in its interests and called on the two sides to refer the issue
to the World Court. ``If there is no agreement for direct talks, then there
is the International Court of Justice...and I hope that this issue is sent
to the court...,'' Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah told
reporters ... FULL TEXT
Saudi Arabia to receive first Iranian presidential
visit
RIYADH,
March 3 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia is set to receive its first Iranian presidential
visit later this month when Mohammad Khatami joins the annual hajj pilgrimage,
Saudi Defence Minister Sultan ibn Abdel Aziz said Wednesday. The minister,
quoted by the official SPA news agency, gave no precise date for the president's
arrival, although the pilgrimage to Mecca starts at the end of March. Prince
Sultan said he would visit Iran "after the pilgrimage." ... FULL
TEXT
Azadegan league can produce strong teams
Tehran,
March 3, (Hamshahri) - If Azadegan league matches are held in an orderly
fashion, it will not only prepare better players for the national team,
but also strengthen Iranian teams in Asian championships ... FULL PERSIAN
IMAGE TEXT
On TV
Program on Iranian girl soccer players
Mehrdad Masoudi writes: This
is an dvisory regarding Futbol Mundial's piece on young Iranian girls playing
football. Please take note of the following:
Futbol Mundial North America: Fox Sports World Repeat shows: Wednesday,
March 3 (16:00 EST) and Friday, March 5 (13:00 EST)
$ Rate
Updated March 3
The
dollar now offered at up to 827-837 tomans
Source: Sehaty Exchange (U.S.) Tel: 602-595-0777
Business
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The Web
Iran
Persian Outpost
Visit one of the oldest Iranian websites on the Internet
(since late 1993) and check out their new look.
Beyond Iran
Planet Quake
Planet Quake rattles the very foundations
of online gaming, and this site gets to the heart of the matter, offering
news, developments, secrets, and forums devoted to the popular gore fest.
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Quote Unquote
I shall carry on
I shall carry on this struggle for as long as my afflicted body, which
has been subjected to 18 years of suffering and hardship in prison, will
endure. I trust in God's kindness and the support of my freedom loving compatriots
and people of the world, and I bear this historical lesson well in my mind:
"A country survives blasphemy, but crumbles under tyranny."
Abbas Amirentezam
"Open
letter"
February 25, 1999
Photo of the Day
Mahdiyeh's
16th birthday
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photos
Music
Musician of the Week
Sohrab
Sepehri
Poetry recited by Khosro Shakibaie
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