Tag Archives: Iran

Tabriz Demonstrators Demand Right To Education In Azeri Turkish

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

(For video, please see the article below in Persian) On August 1, some 2,000 to 3,000 people demonstrated in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz to demand the right to be educated in Azeri Turkish and to condemn what they … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Azerbaijan, Azeri Turkish, demonstration, Iran, soccer, Tractor | 1 Comment

A Trial In Tehran: Their Only ‘Crime’ — Their Faith

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

Seven Baha’i leaders at trial (seated from left): Behrouz Tavakkoli, Saed Reazaei, (standing from left): Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi and Mahvash Sabet Of the hundreds of political prisoners in Iranian jails, there is one group, probably … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Baha'i, Baha'i faith, Baha'is, Iran, Kit Bigelow, Mahvash Sabet, trial, U.S. Baha'i | 1 Comment

Reading Persian Classics In Iran

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

“Do you have the original edition of this book?” It’s a question many Iranian booksellers are confronted with as customers seek out some prominent Persian classics. From the 14th-century satirical poet Obeyd Zakani to Forugh Farrokhzad, one of Iran’s most … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmad Kasrawi, banned books Iran, censorship, Dehkhoda, Ebrahim Golestan, Fazlollah Nuri, Forugh Farrokhzad, Golestan, Iraj Mirza, Iran, Iran books, Islamic Republic, Kasrawi, Obeyd Zakani, Sheikh Fazlollah Nouri | 1 Comment

With Disappearing Subsidies, Iran’s Annual Inflation Rises To 50%

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

The official price of one liter of gasoline in Iran is 10 U.S. cents By Abbas Djavadi, Arash Hassan Nia A recent pronouncement by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appears to have settled a long-standing row between President Mahmud … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmadinejad, inflation, Iran, oil, prices, subsidies, unemployment | Leave a comment

Fundamentalist Calls To Ignore Norouz Go Unheard In Iran, Afghanistan

Posted on March 21, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

An Iranian boy joins in celebrations of the ancient Festival of Fire ahead of the new year Maryam had invited her two daughters and their husbands and grandchildren for Norouz, the New Year’s feast, to her home in western Tehran … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, ban, Central Asia, Chahar Shanbe Soori, Chaharshanbe Suri, fatwa, fire festival, Iran, Islam, Kabul, Khamenei, Navruz, Nevroz, Norouz, Nowruz, Persian, Persian calendar, Shi'a, Sunni, Tehran, Turkey, Zoroastrians | Leave a comment

A Turkish Role Model For Iran?

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

More than one million Iranian tourists visit Turkey every year “It’s so pleasant here in Turkey,” says Kaveh, a 40-year-old Iranian from Tehran who’s visiting Istanbul, just as he has many times over the last 20 years. “You feel free … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged AKP, elections, Erdogan, Iran, Iranian tourists, Iranian-Turkish relations, Iranians in Turkey, Islamic regime, Middle East, role model, secularism, tourists, Turkey, Turkish foreign policy, Turkish-Iranian relations | Leave a comment

After Elections, Iran Remains A Major Player In Iraq

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

On March 7, millions of Iraqis “made their mark” and participated in the country’s second, generally fair and democratic post-Saddam Hussein parliamentary elections — an event that is exemplary for Iraq’s Arab and Iranian neighbors. Among the good news was … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmadinejad, al-Dawa, al-Hakim, al-Maliki, al-Najaf, Al-Sistani, Ammar al-Hakim, Ayatollah, Badr army, Barzani, Election, Hakim, INA, Iran, Iran-Iraq, Iraq, Iraq National Alliance, Iraq-Iran, ISCI, Jalal Talebani, Karbala, KDP, Khamenei, Kurdish, Kurdistan Democratic Party, Maliki, Marja, Masud Barzani, Najaf, northern Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, Sadr, Sadrists, Shi'a, Shi'ite, Shi'ite Kurd, SL, State of Law, Sunni, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, Supreme Leader, Talebani | 1 Comment

Iran’s Fears And Hopes As Iraqis Vote

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

Imagine the following: The de facto independent Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq declares independence, secedes from Iraq, and inspires Kurds in Turkey and Iran to join a “Greater Kurdistan.” Shi’ite Arab parties in Iraq follow suit and found a … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmadinejad, Al-Sistani, Arabs, Iran, Iraq, Iraq election, Iraq elections, Khamenei, Kurds, northern Iraq, Shi'a, Shi'ite, Sunni, Turkey | Leave a comment

Shi’a Islam Vs. The Islamic Republic

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is a source of emulation across the Shi’ite world Recently, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest Shi’ite authority, urged voters to turn out for that country’s March 7 parliamentary elections. He warned that that failure to … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmad Khatami, Ahmadinejad, Al-Sistani, Ayatollah, Iran, Khamenei, Khomeini, Marja, Marja-i taqlid, marjah, Mesbah Yazdi, Najaf, Qom, Sistani, Supreme Leader | 2 Comments

Azeri Turkish, My Mother’s Language

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

February 21 was the International Mother Language Day and, again, I thought on my own mother language, Azeri Turkish. Half of the world’s 6,700 languages are in danger of disappearing before the century ends. “A language is endangered when its … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Azeri, Iran, mother language | 26 Comments

Naivity XXL

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

Imagine you live somewhere in Iran and somebody calls you from Istanbul or Dubai and asks you about your opinion on the Supreme Leader, Khamenei, or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or what media you use to get your news and information. I personally … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ali Khamenei, Iran, Iran poll, Iran public opinion, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, New America Foundation's Iran initiative, Steven Kull, University of Maryland, World Public Opinion | Leave a comment

Zahra And Millions Like Her

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Abbas Djavadi

Zahra is a nurse working at the Beheshti Hospital in the central Iranian city of Isfahan. Both Zahra and her husband, Arash, a physiotherapist, work hard, with a lot of overtime, to provide for their two children. They complain about … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Akbar Ganji, Ebadi, Election, Farda, Ganji, Gedmin, Iran, Iranian opposition, Isfahan, Jeff Gedmin, Khamenei, Khomeini, middle class, Mousavi, Radio Farda, RFE/RL, Shirin Ebadi, Tehran | 2 Comments

The Ashura of My Younger Years

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

December 27 is Ashura, the 10th day of the month Muharram of the Islamic calendar. It is commemorated to mark the day of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, in the year 61 of Hijra (680 AD). I … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged 1960s, Ahmadinejad, Ashura, Imam Hossein, Imam Hussein, Iran, Karbala, Khamenei, Shah | Leave a comment

Iran Is Likely To See A Harsher Crackdown

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

There are fears that the Iranian regime may intensify the crackdown on the opposition in the next few weeks. Six months after a rigged presidential election wherein Mahmud Ahmadinejad was hastily confirmed the winner, the resistance has not disappeared despite … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmad Khatami, Ahmadinejad, crackdown, Election, Iran, Karroubi, Khamenei, Khomeini's picture, Khomeini's Portrait, Mousavi, Muharram, Radio Farda, Sazegara | Leave a comment

The Apocalypse, Messianism Define Ahmadinejad’s Policies

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

It’s both crazy and dangerous. Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad believes and acts on the expectation that the reappearance of the Hidden Imam is imminent, and that U.S. efforts in the Middle East are primarily focused on preventing his return. Shi’ite … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmadinejad, Apocalypse, Iran, Mesbah Yazdi, Messianism | Leave a comment

What Was That Voice?

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

… و الیه راجعون Last Friday, our dear colleagues Amir Zamanifar and Rosa Ajiri were flown to Tehran (from there to Rasht) and Los Angeles, respectively, to be left to rest in peace. On September 29, they were killed in … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged amir zamanifar, Iran, Iran Media, Mahin Gorji, Media, rosa ajiri | Leave a comment

Iran: The Media Can Make It!

Posted on October 10, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

Speaking at a conference of Islamic countries’ national radio and TV networks, Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad recently said that the media are the main tool Western powers use to overthrow other governments. “Nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons are just a … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmadinejad, BBC, blocking, Facebook in Iran, filtering, Internet, Iran, Iran Media, Iranian media, jamming, Radio Farda, SMS, VOA | Leave a comment

Rosa and Amir

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

از خون جوانان وطن لاله دمیده They were young and vibrant. Optimistic and hopeful. Open and lovely. Smiling and fun. Hard working and helpful. Educated and dedicated — to their families, friends, their country and to freedom. In the morning … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged amir zamanifar, car accident, Iran, prague, Radio Farda, rosa ajiri | 3 Comments

Should Iranians Care About Jerusalem?

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

This coming Friday, September 18, is the “Day of Jerusalem” in Iran. Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in chorus with some other Islamic countries and organizations, declared the last Friday of the month of Ramadan … Continue reading →

Posted in English | Tagged Ahmadinejad, Arab-Israeli conflict, Gazza, Hamas, Hizbullah, Iran, Jerusalem, Jerusalem Day, Khamenei, Lebanon | 2 Comments

قدس به ما چه مربوط؟

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Abbas Djavadi

جمه آینده در ایران «روز قدس» است. آیت الله روح الله خمینی بنیانگذار جمهوری اسلامی در همپائی با بعضی کشور ها و سازمانهای اسلامی آخرین روز ماه رمضان را به نشانه حمایت از فلسطینی ها و خواست آنها مبنی بر حاکمیت (حد اقل نسبی) بر این … Continue reading →

Posted in فارسی | Tagged "Day of Jerusalem", Ahmadinejad, Ghods, Iran, Jerusalem, Khamenei, Mousavi, روز قدس | 1 Comment