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Cover story
The beauty of nothing
Bronze sculptures
By Parviz Tanavoli
August 14, 2000
The Iranian
My 1965 sculpture exhibition at the Borghese Gallery in Tehran generated
nothing but criticism and hostility, but one item endured and went on to
earn recognition, proving to be the beginning of a new phase for me. In
the upper part of this composition was a plastic circle enclosing the word
heech (nothing) also in plastic and shaped in beautiful Persian
script. Below were hands, executed in plaster, grasping a copper grille.
I cannot say what it was the impelled me to create this piece -- whether
I was anxious about having reached a point of nothingness and was trying
to ward off the tendency, or whether I wanted to succumb to it and bring
it to realization as a creative source >>>
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Fiction
A ten-letter African country
Short story
By Mehdi Nasrin
August 14, 2000
The Iranian
One of my college courses was "philosophy of biology". I could
never overcome the urge to skip it. I did not attend even once. At the
end of the term, half an hour before the last class, I was sitting in my
room trying to find a ten-letter African country whose fifth letter was
G, when somebody knocked on my window. I drew the curtain aside and saw
my Arab friend, Ahmed, standing behind the window on the emergency exit
stairs. I opened the window for him.
"Don't you want to get your door bell repaired?" asked Ahmed
>>>
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Outlook
Banned papers to resume publication?
BBC Persian Service
Hadi Marvi, deputy head of the judiciary has indicated that the ban
on a number of reformist newspapers may soon be lifted. He said there was
no consensus among judges to ban the papers in the first place. Is Mr Marvi's
comment an indication of the judiciary's change of policy? Daryoush Homai
put this question to Nemat Ahmadi >>>
LISTEN HERE
Reformers Renew Claim to Mantle of Change
By Jonathan Lyons
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's reformist majority in parliament, under counter-attack
from clerical conservatives, issued an open letter to the nation Sunday
reaffirming its claim to the mantle of political and social change.
A week after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei intervened to kill
debate on a proposed relaxation of press curbs, centerpiece of the reform
agenda in the new parliament, 148 deputies signed a pledge to pursue their
program >>>
FULL TEXT
Opposition movement calls on leader to repeal press
decree
TEHRAN, Aug 13 (AFP) - An Iranian opposition movement on Sunday called
on supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reconsider his decree banning
the new pro-reform parliament from rolling back tough curbs on the press.
The banned but tolerated Iran Freedom Movement (IFM), in an open letter
to Khamenei, blasted his "interference in the affairs of the elected
parliament.">>>
FULL TEXT
List of journalists and politicians jailed or facing
charges
TEHRAN, Aug 13 (AFP) - The arrest Sunday of two pro-reform Iranian journalists
is the latest in a series of legal measures against top writers and politicians
in the Islamic republic. Herewith is a partial list of others already in
jail or facing charges >>>
FULL TEXT
Oops!
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A plane bringing tourists to the Persian Gulf island
of Kish was slightly damaged Sunday when it struck a herd of gazelles on
the runway, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported >>>
SEE HERE
More Letters
* War heroes deserve respect
K. Husseini writes: Najmeh Fakhraie's latest scribbling ["At
war with your people"] leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, for
the very reason that her mocking tone should not go unchallenged.
Unlike some readers, I do not dismiss her writings as childish rants,
because they open a helpful window into the mind of young Iranians inside
Iran, who have the country's destiny in their hands.
But her tendency to heap scorn on the memory of the revolution and the
war are insulting for anyone, like my family, who lost loved ones, giving
them often willingly, to preserve the sovereignty of Iran >>> FULL
TEXT
* Perfect
Shahpan writes: I
very much appreciate your great online magazine. I will appreciate it even
more if you tell Javad Montazeri that his photos were perfect ["Cheers
& fears"]. They show that he is a real photojournalist. Can
we see more of his work?
* True stereotypes
Mandana Asadi Tadayon
writes: While reading your article "Get
real real", I realized that most of my STEREOTYPICAL friends would
not read it at all. Unfortunately Iranians are one of the nations that
nagative stereotyping about them is absoulutely true. I can not give you
reasons, but everyone knows it.
The last extreme transformations in our society, specially among youngsters
in Iran, are the fruits of this negative stereotyping. You may see fewer
dAyi Hamids among them and more Poopak Taatis because negative things force
them to study their unpleasant situations and cope with them (that was
a joke :-)
Theater: Sex & suspense: play in
Berkeley
Darvag, the Berkeley-based Iranian
theatre company, pushes the limits with a bilingual production of Mario
Fratti's VICTIM, with the same cast playing alternate nights in English
and Persian.
A rapid-fire drama of sex and betrayal, VICTIM is Italian playwright
Fratti at his best--urbane, sardonic, edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Directed by Bella Warda, with newcomer Firouzeh Farah in the role of
Diana, and Ali Dadgar and Hossein Khoshrowjah as the other two corners
of this deadly triangle. Opening September 1, through September 17, with
performances in English on Fridays, and in Persian on Saturdays and Sundays
>>> DETAILS HERE
Books
THE IRANIAN
Bookstore
Music store
Translation of today's poem by Zara
Houshmand:
When I'm with you, your kindness keeps me awake.
When I'm not, I can't sleep for weeping.
Good God... I'm up all night both nights, awake,
But what a difference just your presence makes.
-- Rumi
Previous
translations
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
Courts may let some banned newspapers re-open
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - The conservative courts will allow several newspapers closed
in the recent press crackdown to begin publishing again, the nation's number
two judge said on Monday. "Following talks with the chief justice,
some papers whose preliminary investigations have been completed will be
authorised to resume their activities," deputy chief justice Hadi Marvi
said, cited by the official IRNA news agency >>> FULL TEXT
Judge bans reformist book
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A hard-line judge has banned the sale of a
book that implicates former government officials in the 1998 murders of
five dissidents, the author's wife and publisher said Saturday >>>
FULL TEXT
Iran appeals court to issue Jewish spy
ruling in early September
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - An Iranian appeals court will deliver a ruling early next
month in the case of 10 Iranian Jews sentenced to prison on charges of spying
for Israel, a judicial official told AFP on Monday >>> FULL TEXT
Interior minister warns against illegal
demonstrations
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - Iran's Interior Minister Abdolvahed Mussavi-Lari warned conservative
opponents of reformist President Mohammad Khatami on Monday that all demonstrations
required permission from his ministry, the official IRNA news agency reported
>>> FULL TEXT
Thousands attend funeral of Iranian soldiers
killed in Iran/Iraq war
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - President Mohammad Khatami was among thousands of mourners
before parliament Monday for the official funeral of 300 soldiers killed
in Iran's eight-year war with neighbouring Iraq >>> FULL TEXT
MPs call for Afghan refugees to leave the
country
TEHRAN,
Aug 13 (AFP) - Iranian MPs in a highly unusual step have written to President
Mohammad Khatami, asking him to order preparations to be made to get rid
of Afghan refugees, whom they accuse of "creating problems," the
official IRNA news agency reported Sunday >>> FULL TEXT
N. Korea admits missile sales
SEOUL,
South Korea (AP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il admitted that his country
has been selling missiles to Iran and Syria, according to South Korean newspaper
reports Monday >>> FULL TEXT
Tehran meeting on "Palestine"
postponed: Iran radio
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has postponed
its "Palestine" meeting planned for next Sunday, Iranian state
radio said Monday >>> FULL TEXT
Major gas find worth 4.7 billion dollars
TEHRAN,
Aug 13 (AFP) - Iran has discovered a major gas field in the south of the
country with estimated reserves worth 4.7 billion dollars, the official
IRNA news agency said Sunday >>> FULL TEXT
Parliament speaker defends Khatami's economic
record
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - Iranian Parliament Speaker Mehdi Karubi on Monday defended
the economic record of President Mohammad Khatami, who has come under attack
for neglecting the country's economic woes >>> FULL TEXT
Government merges four key economic ministries
into two
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - Iran has approved the merging of four key economic ministries
into two to make them more efficient and streamline bureaucracy, the centrist
Entekhab newspaper reported Monday >>> FULL TEXT
Newspaper folds because of financial difficulties
TEHRAN,
Aug 14 (AFP) - A newspaper geared towards housewives has stopped publishing
because of financial problems, the state news agency IRNA said Monday >>>
FULL TEXT
Hossein Zaman: Pop singer
Tehran
(Iran daily) -- Hossein Zaman has joined the ranks of Iran's Pop singers
in recent years. He has performed in political events too, for the reformists,
of course. Here's an interview >>> FULL PERSIAN TEXT
Book: Driven by fate
Tehran
(Hamshahri) -- "Jaa-ye paa-ye zarvan" is a book by Houshang Dolatabadi
on an old religious sect in Iran who believed that everything you do in
life is pre-determined >>> FULL PERSIAN TEXT
Digging up the past
Tehran
(Hamshahri) -- Archaeologists are back in the Qalichi Kurdish region near
Boukan to excavate more remains from a 2,700-year-old civilization >>>
FULL PERSIAN TEXT
Persepolis defeat Paykan
TEHRAN, August 11 (Iran Sports Press) -- With video: Persepolis
defeated Paykan 2-0 in Azadi Stadium on Friday to edge closer to the top
of the league in the second week of games. The first 63 minutes of the game
produced few chances for either side as the ball was played mostly in center
field >>> FULL TEXT
Basketball: Close match with Russians
TEHRAN, August 13 (Iran Sports Press) -- The Iranian National Basketball
Team suffered a 88-81 defeat on Sunday at the hands of Russia's powerhouse
club side Oral Gray in the 2nd International Nations Cup. In an impressive
and powerful performance, the Iranian team maintained the lead for much
of the first period and mid way second period >>> FULL TEXT
Azizi scores, team loses
SAN JOSE, August 12 (Iran Sports Press) -- Tampa Bay Mutiny defeated
San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in a game that saw the Quakes out-shot his opponent
by a margin of 23 to 8. Tampa went ahead in the 9th minute as MLS leading
scorer, Mamadu Diallo headed in an accurate cross by Eric Quill >>>
FULL TEXT
BBC
Serial killings
Deputy head of the judiciary, Hadi Marvi has
said that the case of serial political killing of winter 98 is to go to
trial soon. He said the case has gone through three contradictory stages.
Naser Zarafshan, the lawyer who represent some of the victim's families
disputes this. Daryoush Homai spoke to him >>>
LISTEN HERE
BBC Persian
Service
Exchange rate
Updated August 4
Buying: 812 to 816 tomans per dollar
Selling: 822 to 828 tomans per dollar
CALL TOLL FREE: 877-SEHHATY (877-734-4289)
or 800-995-0264
Mention this code for a better rate:
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Business
news
The Web
Iran
Republican
Nationalists of Iran
There all sorts of opposition groups. You
have monarchists, communists, nationalists AND nationalist republicans.
Beyond Iran
Eyewitness
Encyclopedia
The arrival of the Eyewitness Guides to the
Web is just cause for celebration. For those of you familiar with the books,
you can now scan and search through their entire contents online.
More
web sites
Quote Unquote
Faith in reform
We, your representatives, are absolutely sure that the
recent commotion will not have any adverse effect in your will for reform...
As your representatives we warn the reactionary and opportunist currents
to cease their unsuccessful attempts to make the nation lose faith in reform.
-- Letter from Majlis MPs to the people
Reuters
August 13, 2000
Photo of the Day
Ebrahim
Nabavi arrested
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Hilda Mosaferin
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