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Hafez
Revolution
1979 Survey: Comments
We have posted comments from respondents to the 1979 survey, unedited.
Each comment is from a different individual whose name and email has been
withheld. Below are a few samples. To see all the comments ... GO
TO FEATURE
- We create great dictators: It is the nature of Iranian culture
that produces great dictators to rule the country. Our family structure,
social behavior, political views, economical infrastructure and misunderstanding
of a real democratic system have resulted in generation of so many dictators
throughout the history of Iran. Only in the past couple of centuries, there
have been several attempts to topple the dictatorship systems, some of
them succeeded, but in every single case a new form of dictatorship replaced
the old one, because democracy is an unfamiliar intruder that is threatening
our culture...
- Strongly favor gradual change: ... I strongly favor gradual
change, so that the ordinary people don't get walked over and there is
at least the minimum amount of stability in the society for it to function
without being in shock. I strongly believe that if we go forward from here
with the hope that we can gradually change our country for the better -
together - we can both help our society grow, and provide our country for
the first time a government that has no special interest agendas for itself...
- Can not wait to see them hanged: I can not see the Islamic
Republic of Iran ruling Iran for much longer. In the past few months they
appeared to have been digging their own graves which is ironic since they
have been hiding their tracks so well for the past 20 years, shame some
would say but as for me I can not wait to see them all hanged in public
for their crimes and injustice and cruelty which has been taking place
during their reign of terror ... GO
TO FEATURE
Outlook
Iran local elections test reformists
By Robin Allen in Abu Dhabi
Feb. 12, 1999 (The Financial Times ) - For millions of Iranians the 20th
anniversary of the Iranian revolution this week is a cause for celebration.
For many others, however, including President Mohammad Khatami and his
reformist supporters, the forces spawned by the Islamic revolution - creatures
of the underground alliance of wealthy merchants and Shia clergy - have
become one of the greatest threats to the reforms espoused by the president
and supported by more than 70 per cent of the electorate which swept him
to office in May 1997 ... FULL
TEXT
11-year old Googoosh
In a film from 1958
"Fereshte-ye Farari" (Angel on the run),
which was made in 1339 (1958), was directed by the Egyptian Ahmad Fahmi
which later changed his name to Gorgi Ebadia. It's the story of a young
couple, played by Ebadia himself and Mahin Deyham, who get separated after
a tragic event in their life. Father and daughter (played by 11 year old
Googoosh) move to Esfahan and leave the mother in Tehran. See a RealAudio
clip on Pedram Missaghi's Iran
Media site.
More Letters
* Like bungee jumping
Brad Hernlem writes: The
article "Traffic
immitating life" brought back memories of my trip to Iran in 1995
(I am American, BTW). The traffic was one of the most frightening things
in Tehran (besides the pollution). ... There is a certain exhilaration
about the traffic though, either as a pedestrian or a passenger, probably
not too different than that experienced by bungee jumpers or sky divers
(hmmm.... I wonder if anyone has thought about arranging travel packages
to Tehran for thrill seekers?)... FULL
TEXT
* Ruling elite not homogenious
J.N. writes: The ruling elite of Iran is not homogenious and many people
in the high echelons of power have personal gain in mind rather than the
good of the nation . Mr. Khatami's govenment has many opposing factions
and groups to contend with . One wishes for their survival at this stage
... FULL
TEXT
* Film: Iranian film
festival in Houston
The series offers three powerful feature films from the quality cinema
made by veteran directors Mehrjui and Panahi and by newcomer Parviz Shahbazi.
It also features a remarkable full-length documentary co-directed by an
Iranian anthropologist and a well-known British filmmaker. Together, these
films offer affectionate and devastating glimpses of contemporary life
in Iran... MORE
DETAILS
Book of the Week
Women Without Men
A novella
By Shahrnush Parsipur
(Kamran Talattof Jocelyn Sharlet, translators)
The significance of Parsipur's work transcends the realm of literary
activities. Her works were among the first feminist-conscious enunciations
that appeal in the postrevolutionary period in response to limitations
imposed on women by the state ideology... The following stories [reflect]
the role that the rise of feminist-consciousness may play in the course
of cultural change in Iran." -- Introductuon
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news
Jurists urge Iran to give ex-deputy PM
a free trial
GENEVA, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The International Commission of Jurists
(ICJ) said on Thursday its observer had been barred from the trial of a
former Iranian deputy prime minister and urged the authorities to ensure
the proceedings were fair. The Geneva-based ICJ, which promotes the rule
of law, said the trial of Abbas Amir-Entezam, a deputy prime minister just
after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, is due to begin on February 16 ...
FULL TEXT
Iran pardons 75 prisoners
February 12, 1999, TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's supreme
leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pardoned 75 prisoners on Friday to mark
the the 20th anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution, the official Islamic
Republic News Agency reported. Pardons marking religious and national events
are common in Muslim countries. In Iran, they generally are given to prisoners
convicted of minor offenses.
Pride, grumbles mingle on Iran anniversary
TEHRAN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The streets bear martyrs' names. Giant
murals of murdered religious leaders and fallen war heroes festoon the walls.
Blood red is the dominant colour on the 20th anniversary of Iran's Islamic
revolution. But Tehran's streets are also draped with colourful party lights,
and millions of Iranians have something to celebrate on Thursday, although
economic crisis means many are grumbling more openly than at any time since
the 1979 upheaval that toppled the Shah's dictatorship ... FULL TEXT
Iran: post-revolution developed sick economy
Prague,
11 February 1999 (RFE/RL) -- At the start of the Islamic Revolution, Iran's
ruling clerics methodically set about destroying the capitalist economy
of the Shah to build a paternalistic welfare state free of ties to the West.
But two decades later, revolutionary central planning is giving way increasingly
to free market mechanisms in the face of growing economic difficulties.
While reliable statistics are hard to obtain, many analysts say the country
now suffers from unemployment of 20 percent or more ... FULL TEXT
Iran warns Azerbaijan against welcoming
any NATO base
TEHRAN,
Feb 12 (AFP) - Iran warned neighbouring Azerbaijan on Friday to drop any
plans to welcome a NATO base on its territory to counter alleged Russian
support for its rival Armenia. "Azerbaijani officials should know that
any NATO base in the Caspian Sea region will be extremely dangerous and
constitutes a threat to peace and development," said Akbar Hashemi
Rafsanjani, a former president who is now a top aide to supreme leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei ... FULL TEXT
Iran's Oscar-hopeful director wins home
film award
February
10, 1999, TEHRAN, Iran (Reuters) -- A film by Majid Majidi, the man who
directed the first Iranian film to be nominated for an Oscar, has won the
top prize at Iran's premier film festival, newspapers reported Wednesday.
"The Color of God," the story of a blind boy's difficult relationship
with his father, won the prize as the best film in Tehran international
Fajr film festival's competition section on Tuesday, the newspapers said
... FULL TEXT
Wrestling developments
Tehran
(Hamshahri) - At the Takhti international wrestling matches in Tehran, the
Iranian team won first place in the Greco-Roman category, but there are
continuing questions about the status of some of the top free-style wrestlers
... IMAGE TEXT IN PERSIAN
$ Rate
Updated Feb 12
The
dollar now offered at up to 790-800 tomans
Source: Sehaty Exchange (U.S.) Tel: 602-595-0777
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Quote Unquote
After the rain
I see rainbow after the rain.
Prof. R.K. Ramazani Speaking at a conference at Georgetown University
on the 20th anniversary of the revolution
February 11, 1999
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