The Iranian Times

Monday September 27, 1999 / Mehr 5, 1378, No. 815


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    Nezami


Culture

Doors wide shut
Abyaneh

Photographs by Hadi Haraji
September 27, 1999
The Iranian

Everyone is doing Abyaneh these days. There are films made there. Writers tell stories set in this small town -- or large village -- near Kashan. If you are a photographer and still have not shot Abyaneh, well, there's something wrong with you.

But forget the annoying fact that Abyaneh has become chic. Take it for what it is -- without the hype. It doesn't dazzle you like Isfahan or overwhelm like Persepolis. It charms with its modesty and subtle beauty.

Here are some photos of Abyaneh by Hadi Haraji. These doors make us feel exactly as we are: outsiders ... GO TO FIRST PHOTO

Satire

Rubbin' it in
Recommendations for fairer conditions in Esteqlal-Persepolis matches

By Mohammad Dilmagani
September 27, 1999
The Iranian

Posted by Mamad Khan following the match between Esteqlal and Persepolis (aka Piruzi) on September 24, 1999. The match ended in a scoreless draw, even though Persepolis had only nine men on the field for most of the game.

In an unusual step, the Iranian Fans of Fairness in Football (IFFF) sent the following communiqué to the officials of the Esteqlal club:

It has come to our attention that in your recent match with the Persepolis (Piruzi) Club you had a two-man advantage for over 60 minutes, and yet you only managed a tie. Whenever you play against Persepolis in the next thirty years -- or until you beat them -- we recommend that:

1) Persepolis should not be allowed to play with more than eight players ... GO TO FEATURE


Outlook

Fuss fest
Conservatives are up in arms over an "anti-Islamic" play

News report on alleged insults to Imam Mahdi in a play published in a student magazine. Plus responses in Persian from: * Khatami * Mohajerani * Nateq Nuri * Majlis members * Ayatollahs * Jannati * Safaie-far


    Anyway

Evin hospital?

TEHRAN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - An Iranian hospital has set up a cell to detain patients who are unable to pay their medical bills, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Sina, a state-run hospital in central Tehran, has stationed three guards on the cell in its orthopaedic unit around the clock, the daily Aftab-e Emrouz said ... FULL TEXT

Thanks to Zara Houshmand


More Letters

* Lost hope in humanity

S. Smith writes: After reading the article written by Cyrus L. Raafat ["Real Iranian girls?"], I have lost all hope in humanity, dignity, decency when it comes to men and women ...

I do not pity Mr. Rafaat, nor do I feel sorry for him. I am embarrassed for him and am quite offended that your online publication would cater to the unrealistic and delusional ramblings of a man that seems to possess little if any scruples about how the world we live in works. But, alas, I am an advocate for freedom of the press. You may publish any article you desire and I trust you will keep doing thus, however, don't expect a great deal of respect from the public when you ignore objectivity, good taste and logic by publishing Rafaat's nonsensical whims and sexual appetites, then call it a legitimate article. It parallels the pulp-tabloid-drivel that we balk at upon standing in line at the supermarket. I can see the headlines now: "Iranian-American Man Will Only Marry a Virgin!" ... FULL TEXT

* Abusing Allah

Hamila Asad writes: In response to "Allah knows best", while there is no doubt that in the 12th century Islam was a religion that governed lands from Tajikestan to Spain with tolerance, that is certainly not the case today. It is obvious that today Islam is utilized as a means to control and suppress people, thus it is not being utilized in its intended manner.

Nowhere in the Koran does it say women should not drive vehicles, should cover themselves head-to-toe in blistering weather, need special permission to travel, or get medical attention. Certainly the Koran does not oppose couples holding hands or buying some ice cream together. Sorry, those are modern, patriarchal, repressive attitudes ... FULL TEXT


* Art: Fallah's mix media art show, Washington DC

Aylene Fallah presents her most recent mix media work at Creighton-Davis Gallery from Oct.8 - Oct.11. Opening Night: Sat. Oct.9th 5-9pm. Address: Creighton-Davis Gallery, 3222 M St. NW, Washington, DC. 20007. (1st floor of Georgetown park mall). Tel: 202-333-3050. Email contact: rfar9@yahoo.com


Books of the Week

* Nastaran-haaye surati (1998)
Novel
By Reza Julaie

* Sharq-e banafsheh (1998)
Novel
By Shahriar Mandani-pour

* Del daadeh-gi (1998)
Novel in two volumes
By Shahriar Mandani-pour

See more Iranian books for sale

THE IRANIAN
Bookstore


Video of the Week

Noruz 1378 (On Sale!)

Get two of the best-selling videos (total of 22 hours of entertainment) for a combined price of just $99 and save $51. PLUS you will get two free CDs (Googoosh & Moin) with your order!

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More news

Student play sets off crisis

TEHRAN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A satirical play in a little-known campus journal has sent shock waves through Iran, threatening President Mohammad Khatami's reform drive and exposing deep rifts in the ranks of ruling clerics. The sketch, which invoked one of the holiest figures in Shi'ite Islam to lampoon campus conservatives, has been universally condemned by clerics, ministers, MPs and judges as an unforgivable insult to Islamic sanctities ... FULL TEXT

Khatami sees 'calculated' plot in new crisis

TEHRAN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami deplored a satirical student play for insulting Islamic sanctities, but warned the incident was being exploited as part of a ``calculated design'' to incite the nation. In remarks to his cabinet late on Sunday, the president condemned the play, which first appeared last month in a campus journal with a circulation of less than 200, as an insult to pious believers ... FULL TEXT

Ayatollah Sanei: Women are equal

Sept 26, (BBC) -- A senior Iranian cleric has declared that women are completely equal to men in all aspects of political and social life. Ayatollah Yosef Sanei said there should be nothing to stop a woman in the Islamic Republic becoming the supreme religious leader or president ... FULL TEXT

Liberal publisher says court verdict biased

TEHRAN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The publisher of a pro-reform Iranian newspaper, sentenced to jail on a blasphemy conviction, sharply attacked the verdict on Sunday as politically motivated and demanded a new, impartial hearing. ``The court was biased and influenced by a certain political faction. Their approach was more political than legal, and marked by double standards,'' Latif Safari, the director of the banned Neshat daily, told a news conference ... FULL TEXT

Newspapers help reformers

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - The newspapers hawked each morning at every street corner are the most immediate challenge to Iran's hard-liners, boldly redefining the limits of free speech and public debate. Since moderate President Mohammad Khatami took office in August 1997, the first cautious pro-reform writings have matured into a barrage of critique and comment. Once-unimaginable subjects, such as alleged corruption and questions about Islam's role in politics, are picked apart by a swelling number of newspapers ... FULL TEXT

Iran begins manoeuvres in key shipping lane

TEHRAN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Iran has launched a week of air and sea manoeuvres in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest waterways. Iranian military officials said the manoeuvres, which began on Saturday, commemorated the start of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq ... FULL TEXT

Iran said to allow abortion of deformed embryos

TEHRAN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has decided to allow abortions when embryos are deformed, easing restrictions in place since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, a medical expert was on Monday quoted as saying. ``We have arranged with the office of the leader to end pregnancies with deformed embryos with a religious permit,'' a paediatric surgeon, Salahod-Din Delshad, was quoted as saying by Azad newspaper ... FULL TEXT

External debt at $13.09 bln in June

September 27, 1999, TEHRAN (Dow Jones Newswires) -- Iran's external debt stood at $13.09 billion in June at the end of Iran's first quarter, according to a report by the Central Bank of Iran ... FULL TEXT

Film & dialogue

Tehran (Akhbar-e Eghtesad) -- Film makers from around the world will discuss President Khatami's favorite subject -- diaologue of civilizations -- during the Fajr Film Festical ... FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Dam-e Carlos garm!

Tehran (Hamshahri) -- A review of the latest album by Santana (yes, Santana) and Andrew Lloyd Weber's greatest hits ... FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Poor, poor Esteqlal...

Tehran -- Articles in Persian on the Esteqlal/Persepolis match last Friday which ended in a scoreless draw, even though Persepolis had two players sent off in the first half: -- The scoreless big match-- Esteqlal in crisis -- From the sidelines


BBC

Persian Service

For the latest news, interviews and features on Iranian current affairs ... LISTEN HERE


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The Web

Iran

Iran Focus

Abstracts of the latest issue, along with selected articles, will be available about a week after the print ediction comes out. The current issue has a great article on legal obstacles to foreign investment.

Beyond Iran

Visions of China

CNN looks at several thousand years of Chinese history (and 50 years of the People's Republic) with a timeline of Chinese inventions, galleries of ancient treasures, posters from the Cultural Revolution, and an electronic version of Chairman Mao's little red book.

More web sites


Quote Unquote

Silence

We cannot be silenced, just as the people's demands cannot be silenced.

-- Neshat editror Hamid Reza Jalaipur
AP
Sept 27, 1999


Photo of the Day

Neshat editor


Music

Musician of the Week

Lily Afshar

* Jaan-e Maryam
* Leila Leila
* Gol-e gandom
* Aire de Joropo
* Asturias / Leyenda

Music artists index