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Baba Taher
Rights
In the name of the pen
The home of Iranian writers and journalists
A permanent page dedicated to updated news and reports ... GO TO
FEATURE
Outlook
Strange Fruit
By Simon Hattenstone
The Independent
Friday December 11, 1998
Meet Samira. She's a director from Iran, the new world capital of film.
She's 18 years old.
Samira Makhmalbaf skips down the street, swinging her bag in the wind,
cocky as a ferret. I tell her how much I like her first film, The Apple.
"Why?" She stops and stares at me, aggressively. I haven't a
clue what to say. "See, people interview me, and expect me to answer
things so profoundly even though I'm only 18 and a half. And I ask you
a simple question, and you can't answer it."
It's funny, I have a picture of Samira in my head. She is wearing a
full-length black dress and veil, and looking as Iranian as a fatwa. But
the Samira berating me is all jeans, V-necked top and teenage acne. After
much inept burbling I find myself defending her film at turgid length.
Actually, there's no need. The Apple is as wonderful as it is strange ...
FULL
TEXT
Anyway
Tough questions
You can listen to President Khatami's controversial question and answer
session at Sharif University of Technology on IRNA's site. (RealAudio)
... CLICK
HERE
Forwarded by Payman Arabshahi
More Letters
* Seeming indifference
Faramarz Nahapan writes: The current atmosphere of terror against Iranian
writers and intellectuals is not only of concern to those who live inside
the country but also to those of us living outside Iran and the international
community at large.
It is not enough to only report what "IRNA" and other such
news agencies provide on the current situation. Your so-called feature
writers seem to be engaged with either nostalgia or their daily affairs.
While I do not suggest that such topics are unimportant, I remain concerned
about your seeming indifference as to what goes on inside our country ...
FULL
TEXT
* School: Farsi school for children
in Maryland
The Iranian-American Cultural Society of Maryland currently sponsors
two Farsi schools in the Baltimore, MD areas of Columbia and Towson. More
information, including sample homeworks from the children, is available
at //www.zeba.com/iacs/edu.htm
Reza Shadmehr
reza@bme.jhu.edu
Book of the Week
I Heard God Laughing: Renderings of Hafiz
Edited by Henry S. Mindlin
Though he lived seven hundred years ago, Hafiz is still the most popular
poet of Persia, and one of the greatest love poets who ever lived. This
little book is perhaps the best introduction to his life and work. The
poems of Hafiz overflow with a profound appreciation of the beauty and
richness of life when seen through the eyes of love. -- The publisher,
Sufism Reoriented
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news
Secularist writers said to be in hiding
TEHRAN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Several Iranian
secularist writers have gone into hiding after a string of mystery deaths
and disappearances among their colleagues that threatens President Mohammad
Khatami's reform efforts. Firouz Gouran, editor of the banned monthly Jame'eh
Salem, or Healthy Society, said on Monday many of his colleagues had either
left their homes or adopted special security measures. ``This has spread
panic everywhere,'' Gouran told Reuters by telephone ... FULL TEXT
In letters to people & Khatami, writers
want "deliberate violence" stopped
"As we speak out about this organized violence and express
our [concern about] the lack of protection for the lives of writers and
intellectuals, we ask for an unequivocal explanation by the state authorities;
and, we announce that, in the re-occurrence of such events, legal agencies
can not disavow their common responsibility for protecting the lives of
citizens. We ask all those who can not stand this situation, which is counter
to freedom and public security, to [help] end this production of terror."
... FULL TEXT
Iran signs Caspian oil deal
Dec 14, (BBC) - Two western oil companies,
Shell and the British-based Lasmo,have signed an agreement with Iran to
explore for oil in the Caspian Sea. The agrement with the National Iranian
Oil Company will run for eighteen months and could lead to drilling operations...
FULL TEXT
Daei leads Iran into semi-finals
BANGKOK, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich
striker Ali Daei lashed home three goals in the last 10 minutes to lead
Iran to an easy 4-0 quarter-final win over Asian Games soccer champions
Uzbekistan on Monday. Iranian coach Mansour Pourhadari was delighted with
his team's play but had special mention for Daei. ``All my players are the
best but Daei is the very best,'' he said with a grin ... FULL TEXT
Egyptian parliamentarians leave for Iran
CAIRO, Dec 13 (Reuters) - A delegation from
Egypt's parliament left for Iran on Sunday to attend an Organisation of
Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting, airport sources said. The meeting will
discuss the formation of an Islamic parliamentary federation, they added.
No members of the Egyptian National Assembly (parliament) are known to have
visited Iran since the Islamic revolution 19 years ago ... FULL TEXT
Iran to attend UAE arms show, official
says
BANGKOK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Following are
medal standings after the sixth day of competition at the 13th Asian Games
on Friday: ... FULL TEXT
Monday's medals standings
BANGKOK, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Following are
medal standings after the ninth day of competition at the 13th Asian Games
on Monday ... FULL TEXT
$ Rate
The
dollar now offered at up to 710-715 tomans
Source: Sehaty Exchange (U.S.) Tel: 602-595-0777
Business
news
The Web
Iran
Gorbeh
Politics schmolitics. Let's spend some time relaxing with
Persian cats.
Beyond Iran
Mark Twain at Large: His Travels Here and Abroad
Awesome online exhibition of the collection of Mark Twain
Papers of the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.
More
web sites
Quote Unquote
Healthy Society
My relatives take me to the office every day. A number of authors have
left their homes. Whenever I hear footsteps from downstairs, I see the spectre
of death before my eyes.
Firouz Gouran
Editor of banned "Jame'eh Salem" (Healthy Society) magazine
"Secularist writers said to be in hiding"
Reuters
December 14, 1998
Photo of the Day
Get out of my way!
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