American Iranian Friendship Council

Dang Show

2011-02-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

Dang Show @ Jazz Festival from Iran;
At 7 pm, February 25, 2011;
First Congregational United
Church of Portland-googlemap
1126 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

Tickets via Brown Paper Tickets and at Persian stores:
Rose Market: 503-646-7673
Pars Market: 503-350-2300
Mediterranean Market: 503-246-0403
Art of Persia: 503-227-6161

دنگ شو ۲۵ فوریه٢٠١١
در پرتلند اورگان
فروش بلیط در فروشگاه های ایرانی:
رز مارکت،
مدیترانه مارکت،
پارس مارکت و
ART of PERSIA

The eclectic music style of Dang Show comes from the creative combination of classical Persian poetry and saxophone, piano, and percussion. Dang Show approaches Eastern music from a new perspective, assuming that while the music of the East is deeply emotional and rooted in Eastern ideologies and life styles, it can be expressed with traditionally Western instruments. Dang Show uses this key to open the hearts of people around the world and share these emotional expressions with them.

The name Dang Show ("Give up your Wisdom") for this 5 person Jazz band has been borrowed from one of Rumi's poems. Many Iranian music critiques believe that Dang Show's influence on Iranian music is as strong as the impact of Fikrat Amirov on the music of Azerbaijan, and Astor Piazzolla in Argentina. Among intellectual circles in Iran, Dang Show have received unprecedented levels of praise, including from artistic luminaries such as award winning film director Abbas Kiarostami and renowned painter and author Aydin Aghdashloo. The latter lends his legendary voice to a recital of Rumi poems, featured on one of the tracks of Dang Show's latest CD “Shiraz 40 Years Old”.

Dang Show has performed numerous times in Iran and in other countries to sold-out audiences. Their repertoire includes five events in celebration of the 800th anniversary of mystical Persian poet Rumi in Bangkok and the occasion of 80th birthday of HM the King of Thailand. They have also performed at the International Winter Festival in Sarajevo and received overwhelming praise from the media. Dang Show has also composed and recorded soundtracks for over 10 major Iranian movie releases.

Tickets are $25.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door. In addition to Brown Paper Tickets, there are tickets available at Persian stores: Art of Persia, Rose Market, Mediterranean Market and Pars Market.
Limited number of $20.00 students ticket are available through Iranian Students at PSU (ISAP), please email them directly at isap@pdx.edu

Website: www.dangshowmusic.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DangShow

Portland Jazz Festival Partner Event: www.pdxjazz.com

Enjoy the following samples of Dang Show:

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Dang Show - Spirits' Lulaby

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Dangshow - Slowly slowly

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Dangshow - Whatever might be...

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Dangshow - Ey Daad

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Dangshow - Kiss me on the Piano

Evil Doers Ltd; A Laughter Roundup from the Middle East.- Nov 7, 2008

2008-08-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

These are the Comedy performers we are hosting this coming November 7th at PCPA.
Comedian and Arab American Dean Obeidallah put it best when he said, "The problem is that people are afraid of us because they don't really know who we are. There are basically two news stories about us...There is the bad story where we are described as militant gunman or terrorist, or the good story where we are described as alleged militant gunman or terrorist."

Citizen Jimmy: Click here!
Jimmy Dore was born into a Catholic family of twelve in a very blue-collar neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Tagged a rebel for occasionally reading a book and thinking for himself, Jimmy quickly turned to comedy to ease the pain of the beatings.

In 1995, Jimmy moved to Los Angeles to get on television and it actually worked. He has appeared on every major network multiple times. The high point of Jimmy's stand-up career came when he taped his own one hour Special for Comedy Central Jimmy Dore: Citizen Jimmy. The special which was taped at The Filmore in San Francisco is set to air Friday August 1, 2008.

Jimmy played the hilarious neighbor on AMC’s Movies at My House. And was invited to perform at the 2003 HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. The Hollywood Reporter said Jimmy was among the five comics at the festival that generated the most "buzz" (whatever the fuck that means).

Jimmy is also a writer/performer for the critically acclaimed Off Broadway hit, The Marijuana-logues, which is currently running at the Actor's Playhouse in New York. It was a role Jimmy first played at the Melbourne Comedy festival in April of 2003.

He first appeared on Comedy Central’s Make Me Laugh, fulfilling a life long dream of turning an art form into a cheesy, basic-cable game show. Unfortunately it went well and he was booked to do four more, an experience that Jimmy warmly refers to as “embarrassing” and " tough to watch". Then, in 1997, he was invited to Montreal, Canada to perform at the Just for Laughs international comedy festival. He caught the eye of NBC talent scouts and producers (Okay, it was only one guy, but he was impressed enough for three) and was given a spot on NBC’s Friday Night! He quickly became a show favorite (true) and was signed to make five return appearances.

From there Jimmy has gone on to make multiple stand-out appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and two winning performances on NBC’s Late Friday (winning performance, how do you like that adjective?). Then Jimmy flew to New York and donned a suit to appear on Comedy Centrals Premium Blend. He’s done a bunch of other stuff that you can see on his resume, including hosting Pilot's for Comedy Central and AMC.

But Jimmy says all the hard work was worth it if for nothing else to see his mother’s face the first time she ever came to see him perform. It was at the MGM in Las Vegas, and Jimmy had just stepped off stage when his mother whispered in his ear, “Well I’ll say one thing, I sure am hungry”. Damn right she was. Damn right.

Ahmed Ahmed
Born in Helwan, Egypt June 27th, 1970. Parents immigrated to the US when he was one month old and grew up in Riverside, CA. Moved to Hollywood when he was 19 years old to pursue a career as an actor and stand up comedian. Attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts for one year and studied with various acting coaches such as Cliff Osmond, Ivana Chubbuck and Sandy Marshall.

Seen in such films and television shows as Iron Man, You Don't Mess With The Zohan, Swingers, Tracey Takes On, Roseanne, JAG, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central and MTV's PUNK'D. Also appeared on CNN, The View, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and NPR. Was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal in December of 2001 and featured in Newsweek Magazine. Will be seen in the upcoming ONION MOVIE for FOX Searchlight. Currently can be seen on the Fahrenheit 9/11 DVD bonus track performing stand up comedy.

A paid regular performer at The World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood and tours all across America and Europe. Winner of the first annual Richard Pryor Award for ethnic comedy at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in Scotland summer of 2004.

Wrote an original screenplay titled "The Pilgrimage" based on his Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca). He also co-wrote the script "Google Me" with comedian Erik Griffin.

Tissa Hami:

Tissa Hami is one of the world's few female Muslim stand-up comics. Her unique act and fresh perspective on life as an Iranian-American woman leave audiences in shock and awe. From Islamic fundamentalists to white liberals to good old-fashioned racists, no one is safe from her sharp wit. Tissa hopes her comedy will help break down stereotypes about Muslim women and foster understanding between Iranians and Americans.

Tissa grew up in a traditional Iranian family in a predominantly white suburb of Boston. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in international affairs from Ivy League universities. Her parents are thrilled that she is using her expensive education to pursue a career in comedy.

People who disapprove of her act will be taken hostage.

Tissa performed for 10,000 people at First Night Boston 2005. She has been featured in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune, as well as on BBC radio and Australian and European television. In the US, Tissa has appeared on ABC's The View, the Hallmark Channel, and NPR. Her radio interview on Commonwealth Journal was awarded first place in the Public Affairs category for 2004 by the Associated Press of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Tissa is one of five comedians featured in the documentary, Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age. The film, which won a prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award, aired on PBS in May 2008.

Dan Ahdoot:
Dan went to college at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and graduated with honors as a premed student. Shortly thereafter, he decided to take the secure route and ditch medicine for comedy - his parents are still thrilled. After graduating, Dan moved to New York City where he was instantly hailed as one of the hottest young comics on the scene. He performs regularly at every comedy club in Manhattan, and is a founding member of the highly acclaimed Upright Citizens Brigade based improv troupe, Gun Show.
Dan's standup act is based on his hilarious observations about everyday life as a young, hip kid living in New York City, coupled with his upbringing as a 1st generation American. His stage-presence blends charm, likeabilty, and wit in a way that keeps crowds in stitches and at the same time, very comfortable.
Dan was a finalist on Season 2 of NBCs Last Comic Standing. He is a staff writer on MTV’s Short Circuits, a new sketch comedy show featuring Nick Cannon. He has written for Comedy Central's Crank Yankers and was featured on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. He has opened for Lewis Black, Jay Mohr, and Patton Oswalt. He has been featured on ABCs 20/20, the 98.7 KISS FM Morning Comedy Special, and he is a regular on Jim Brueur's radio show Unleashed, on Sirius Satellite. He was awarded 1st prize at the Philadelphia Comedy Competition in 2003, the NYC Triad Comedy Competition in 2002. In addition, Dan is one of the highest book college acts in the country - performing well over 100 shows in 2007. He also performs at corporate events for a variety of companies and organizations.

Negin Farsad:

Making her parents' plea for immigration all the easier, Negin was born in the United States (New Haven, Connecticut) and grew up in the desert of Southern California. She first obtained a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and Government from Cornell University. Her dual interest in the arts and politics continued when she moved to New York City – writing and performing comedy by night while studying for a Masters degree in Race Relations at Columbia University by day. She followed that degree with a second Masters from Columbia at the School of International & Public Affairs with a focus on Urban Management. She worked as a senior policy advisor with the City of New York but eventually left for full-time uncertainty in the world of performing and visual arts.

Negin is director and executive producer of the upcoming feature film release, Nerdcore Rising, The film, which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, is called "hilarious & delightful" by Salon and "a laugh riot from the first scene" by the Boston Herald. She is also currently produced, directed and performing in the Comedy Central web series and TV pilot, The Watch List – the first show in the history of television to feature Middle-Eastern-American comics tackling international political issues. She originally earned her film chops as a producer and story editor on the film A Cricket in the Court of Akbar which was shot entirely on location in Rajasthan, India. She wrote, directed and appeared in the short film, Iran-ing on Empty - not at all shot on location in Iran - which has since been a selection of comedy festivals around the country (by which she means only two comedy festivals, both on the Eastern seaboard).

As a standup comedian she has opened for the likes of Al Franken in venues ranging from the Laugh Factory in New York, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, and Town Hall on Broadway. Negin has provided original comedy content for Pacifica and Sirius Radio stations. As an active comedian she has earned a nomination for the Emerging Comics of New York Awards. Her solo show Bootleg Islam, which she wrote and performed, has appeared in the DC, Dallas, and Chicago Comedy Festivals among others. Her work has been called "smart, funny, and fascinating" by the Wall Street Journal, a Critic's Choice by the Chicago Tribune, "a shining exception," by the Dallas Morning News, and Backstage cheered that it "doesn't get much funnier than this!" And, to her parents chagrin, her masters degrees now collect dust…

Buttons and Bumper Stickers for sale!

2008-02-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

The Folly of Attacking Iran

2008-02-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

American Iranian Friendship Council in conjunction with
Oregon Congressman
Earl Blumenauer (OR- District 3)
invites you to:
The American Iranian Peace Forum 2008
with
Stephen Kinzer
New York Times veteran correspondent and the author of "All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror"

A Very Rare Joint Appearance of US and Iran!!

2008-01-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

This is a video of the very rare event at Davos Switzerland during the World Economic Forum. At this panel Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister, and Zalmai Khalilzad, the US representative to UN, have joined in a panel about Iran and the region. Unfortunately most of the Iranian party's talk is in Persian and video does not carry the translation that was apparently available through different chanel. But mostly the exchanges are very civil and cordial. The Iranian party has restrained from any rhetoric and harsh comment. At the end (60:00 minute) the Iranian FM switches to English.

Unfortunately NYT and LA Times are reporting that Mr. Zalmai Khalilzad is being repremanded for his participation at this level.

US Tour of Duty - Public Policy Events Across America

2008-01-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

"The important thing to know about Scott Ritter is that he was right."
- Seymour Hersh

The Iran Talks with:
SCOTT RITTER
The UNSCOM Senior Weapons Inspector in Iraq and Non Proliferation Analyst And

JEFF COHEN
Writer and Journalist and Founder of Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)

With opening remarks by Thom Hartmann

Monday, January 14th, 2008, 7:00 PM
Lincoln High School - Auditorium

Video of this forum is now available on-demand (courtesy of Mike Tabor)

Iran Forum: “The Real Story behind US Policy towards Iran"

2007-11-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

Author and investigative Journalist
Reese Erlich
and the recent political prisoner of the Islamic Republic of Iran
and peace building advocate
Ali Shakeri
Friday, Nov. 30th 2007, 7:00 PM
First Unitarian Church, Salmon Street Sanctuary
Now Available to watch online (courtesy of Mike Tabor)

Vibrant Society or a Dictatorship? Tomato Unrest..

2007-11-10T21:52:00.000-08:00

For More Videos about Iran? Click here!

AIFC launches a campaign in Seattle

2007-10-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Sign a petition to City of Seattle to pass a resolution against the War on Iran, click here!

Momentum is building toward Saturday, October 27th -- from Orlando to Seattle, from New York to New Orleans. On that day, people from all walks of life will gather in 11 cities around the country in a national expression of the breadth and depth of antiwar sentiment in this nation. For many people, it will be their first step in transforming their antiwar feelings into antiwar action. Regional actions will enable much larger numbers of people to participate.

To find out about the demonstration closest to Portland, which will be in Seattle please click here!
For national information Click here!

Portland’s American Iranian Friendship Council is one of many endorsers of the Seattle march and Rally. We will proudly march with our “No War on Iran” banners and signs.

Anti-War Rally and March in Seattle on Saturday, October 27
Starting with a rally at Judkins Park (near Dearborn and 23rd in S. Central Seattle) at 12 noon. The march will lead to Occidental Park in downtown Seattle

You can join other concerned citizens on the route. Buses will leave Portland from the Gateway Transit Center. The buses will be reserved by the pdx peace coalition. Tickets will be on a sliding scale, somewhere between $20 and $35 per ticket. Email oct27@pdxpeace.org to get on the list, and PDX Peace coordinators will contact you.
See you on the bus!

At Home in the World: Iranian Cosmopolitan Culture

2007-06-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

The American Iranian Friendship Council, the Iranian Studies Advisory Board and the Middle East Studies Center at Portland State University proudly present:

Professor Hamid Dabashi, Columbia University
"At Home in the World: Iranian Cosmopolitan Culture"

Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Portland State University,
Smith Student Union 338 (Vanport Room)
SW Broadway and SW Montgomery, Free
(free parking in PSU structure after 7 PM)

Professor Dabashi's talk will be based on his latest book "Iran: A People Interrupted," a political and cultural history of Iran (2006). Other well-known examples for Dr. Dabashi's 14 books include Authority in Islam; Theology of Discontent; Truth and Narrative; Close Up: Iranian Cinema, Past, Present, Future; Staging a Revolution: The Art of Persuasion in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Masters and Masterpieces of Iranian Cinema; and an edited volume, Dreams of a Nation: On Palestinian Cinema. An internationally renowned cultural critic and award-winning author, his books and articles have been translated into numerous languages. A selection of articles and interviews is available at www.hamiddabashi.com.

Born in1951 into a working class family in the south-western city of Ahvaz in Iran, Hamid Dabashi received his early education in his hometown and his college education in Tehran, before he moved to the United States, where he received a dual Ph.D. in Sociology of Culture and Islamic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. He wrote his dissertation on Max Weber's theory of charismatic authority with Philip Rieff (1922-2006), the most distinguished Freudian cultural critic of his time.

He is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York, the oldest and most prestigious Chair in Iranian Studies. He has also taught and delivered lectures in many North American, European, Arab and Iranian universities. In the context of his commitment to advancing trans-national art and independent world cinema, Professor Dabashi is the founder of Dreams of a Nation, a Palestinian Film Project, dedicated to preserving and safeguarding Palestinian Cinema.

A committed teacher for nearly three decades, Professor Dabashi is a public speaker around the globe, a current affair essayist, a staunch anti-war activist. He has two grown-up children, Kaveh and Pardis, who are both Columbia University graduates, and he lives in New York with his wife and colleague, the Iranian-Swedish feminist, Golbarg Bashi and their daughter Chelgis, who will join him for his Portland visit.

The OREGONIAN: Don't bomb Iran, Portland City Council votes

2007-03-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Portland is the second U.S. city to urge diplomacy to resolve tension over nuclear technology
Thursday, March 22, 2007 -ANNA GRIFFIN

Never shy about expressing their opinions about national or world affairs, Portland City Council members voted Wednesday to urge President Bush and Congress not to bomb Iran.

Portland becomes the second U.S. city, behind Berkeley, Calif., to demand a diplomatic solution to escalating tensions over Iran's continuing exploration of nuclear technology. Peace activists hope to spur a national call for a nonviolent end to the increasingly heated debate.

"We believe a military escalation is not the right way to go, and we believe the current conversations have far too much similarity to what was clearly a duplicitous effort to lead the world into war in Iraq," said Commissioner Erik Sten, who authored the resolution on behalf of Portland's American Iranian Friendship Council. "If we can spark a conversation in city halls across the country, we can have a real political impact."

With its 4-0 vote, the City Council asked members of Congress to vote for the Iran Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 2007, an effort to block President Bush from spending taxpayer money for military action against Iran "in the absence of an imminent threat." The fifth council member, Sam Adams, was at the International Global Cities conference in Montreal.

During Wednesday's hearing, more an affirmation than an actual debate, a dozen activists and immigrants testified that conditions for Iranian women, scholars and political activists have improved in recent years. They described the violence and extremism that resulted from the 1953 CIA-backed coup of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh. They talked about similarities between the U.S. buildup before the Iraq war and what's happening now in and around Iran.

They found a willing and enthusiastic audience in the City Council.

Mayor Tom Potter said the United States should focus on restoring relationships and infrastructure in the Middle East, much as the Marshall Plan helped rebuild Europe after World War II. Commissioner Dan Saltzman said he supports peace in Iran, though he is troubled by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's insistence that the Holocaust did not happen.

Commissioner Randy Leonard called on Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., to read the resolution on the floor of the Senate. Smith originally backed the Iraq war but has broken with the Bush administration and was one of two Republicans who voted last week to support bringing most U.S. troops home.

"The United States . . . should be a force for good," Leonard said. "Instead we find us using our resources to get a foothold in oil and preserve our industrial engine."

In recent years, Leonard and his colleagues have voted to call for an end to the Iraq war, to condemn abuse of the U.S. Patriot Act and to deplore the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward homosexuality.

Although they followed Berkeley's lead on Iran, Portland council members have not gone as far as leaders of California's famed liberal hub: On the same day they passed a similar Iran resolution last week, Berkeley City Council members encouraged Germany to indict former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for war crimes.

City of Portland's Resolution

2007-03-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

RESOLUTION No. 3.14.071
Session 263 – 3/21/07 10:15 AM
Urges the federal government to seek positive diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States of America instead of escalating tensions

WHEREAS, President Bush has called for dual escalation of troops to increase their numbers inside Iraq and potentially to expand into Iran; and

WHEREAS, the Bush administration has expanded its concerns about Iran to include nuclear ambitions without showing any evidence that can be considered an imminent threat to the US security; and

WHEREAS, it has not been demonstrated that Iran has a nuclear weapon and has not verbally or actually threatened to attack the US; and

WHEREAS, the U.S., in threatening to use low yield nuclear weapons against Iran, is directly undermining the no-first-use doctrine that has prevented nuclear war since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and

WHEREAS, a preemptive nuclear attack, or even the threat of such an attack on Iran is an explicit violation of the NPT, the UN Charter, and the U.S. Constitution; and

WHEREAS, the National Academy of Sciences has determined that the use of such weapons would "create massive clouds of radioactive fallout that could spread far from the site of the attack,” and become deadly for hundreds of thousands Iranians and citizens of surrounding countries; and

WHEREAS, the long-term instability generated by such a strike would be against long-term United States interests in the region; and

WHEREAS, independent polls show that more than 70% of Iranians support better relations with the US; and

WHEREAS, there is a significant population of Iranians from all professions and expertise who call Portland home, and have brought a broad mix of cultural and artistic talents into the cultural mosaic of the City of Roses; and

WHEREAS, there are historic relations between Portland, “the City of Roses” and Shiraz, Iran, “the city of Roses and Nightingales” as reflected in works of Portland’s own story teller the late Terrance O’Donnell; and

WHEREAS, a group of Americans and Iranians have come together in order to foster the friendship between the two countries by advancing Human to Human relations;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the city Council of the city of Portland, on behalf of the people of Portland urges the United States government to change the course in escalating the tensions with Iran; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of Portland challenges the possibility of a new war in Iran, and urges the Congress of the United States to maintain pressure on the administration against both an escalation of troops within Iraq and a geographic expansion into Iran while continuing to call for a complete and immediate end to the war in the region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of Portland urges support for the Iran Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 2007 (H. R. 770), prohibiting the use of funds for “any covert action for the purpose of causing regime change in Iran or to carry out any military action against Iran in the absence of an imminent threat, in accordance with international law;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of Portland will work with the local Iranian community to build people to people ties between Americans and Iranian citizens, to foster better understanding between the two nations and to embrace a spirit of diplomacy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of Portland supports exploration of a sister City initiative between the city of Portland and the city of Shiraz, Iran, in order to strengthen the friendship relations between the two cities that started more than forty years ago by the late Portland writer Terrance O’Donnell; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, the members of the Oregon Congressional delegation, the leaders of the Oregon State legislature and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.

AIFC took part in the March 18th and 19th Peace marches and services in Portland

2007-03-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

As one of the members of the March 18 rally coalition, AIFC was invited to speak and Jackie Spurlock spoke to the rally that brought approximately 15,000 people to the South Park Blocks in downtown Portland. Thousands stopped at the AIFC table, asked questions and purchased buttons and bumper stickers. We also distributed thousands of post cards with the "No War on Iran" message. It was very amazing to see people who have served in the past in Iran, come and talk to us, wanting to support our cause.
Gabriele Ross one of our active member has this to share:"

...to all of you for coming yesterday. I am sure I am not the only one who encountered an amazing mix of people, many with surprising connections to Iran. Two examples that struck me the most:

There was a young woman from Bulgaria who introduced herself by saying: "In my country everybody knows Iran is next." I must have looked a bit puzzled. She then explained to me that many of the US bases that used to be in Western Europe and were closed due to pressure from the populous there, were moved to Eastern Europe. Bulgaria has many of those bases now, and apparently there has been a tremendous increase in activity in recent weeks. She said "New bombers are arriving every day." According to this woman there is an open discussion in the Bulgarian press about this activity laying the groundwork for bombing Iran and the implications this may have for Bulgaria.
The other person that really touched me was a young man who came to donate his posters at the end of the march. There were beautiful photos of people and places in Iran and he had written things like "Is this your enemy?" on them. Turns out he is the child of an Iranian and an American parent, born in the US, went to Iran for the first time 3 months ago, met the relatives, learned Farsi - and fell in love with the place. He was very disturbed by the possibility of an attack and relieved to find AIFC."

AIFC also had a representative at a Peace sermon at the First Unitarian Church that afternoon and at March 19th, the 4th anniversary of the Iraq War event the next day.

PRESS RELEASE

2007-03-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

The Portland City Council will consider a resolution in support of friendship between Iran and the United States and in opposition of an escalation of the Iraq war into Iran on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 10:15 AM.

Persian New Year or NowRuz takes place at the exact moment of spring equinox, which this year will be at 4.07 PM on March 20. Persians, Afghans, Kurds, Tajiks, Belouchis, Parsis and Azeris alike celebrate this pre-Islamic tradition, and there will be many NowRuz events in the Portland metropolitan area.

Unfortunately the date also marks the fourth anniversary of the war on Iraq and an increasing likelihood of military intervention in Iran. The City Council of Portland has recognized the high costs of a futile war by passing a resolution calling for gradual troop withdrawal from Iraq.

On Wednesday, March 21 at 10.15 AM, the Portland City Council will hear a resolution asking to support friendship between the people of the United States and Iran and opposing an escalation of war into Iran. The resolution will be introduced by Commissioner Erik Sten and is co-sponsored by Commissioner Randy Leonard.

There is a history of positive and fruitful relations between people of Iran and Portland, Oregon, which is home to many Iranians. This friendship is reflected in the works of Portland’s deceased historian and story teller Terrance O’Donnell. Many others have served in Iran as volunteers or participated in recent citizen to citizen delegations. Some of these friends of Iran and local Iranian immigrants have founded the American Iranian Friendship Council (AIFC). The Council has worked in collaboration with the city on the proposed resolution.

In addition to encouraging human to human relations between Iran and the US “to foster better understanding between the two nations and to embrace a spirit of diplomacy”, the proposed resolution states “that the City Council of Portland challenges the possibility of a new war in Iran, and urges the Congress of the United States to maintain pressure on the administration against both an escalation of troops within Iraq and a geographic expansion into Iran while continuing to call for a complete and immediate end to the war in the region;” and further indicates “that the City Council of Portland urges support for the Iran Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 2007 (H. R. 770), prohibiting the use of funds for “any covert action for the purpose of causing regime change in Iran or to carry out any military action against Iran in the absence of an imminent threat, in accordance with international law;” “

Although there have been proclamations for Iranian New Years issued by mayors in the past, for the first time in Portland history NowRuz will be acknowledged by Mayor Potter in a city hall ceremony at noon, after the council hearing.

The NowRuz ceremony will include presentations by local Iranian musicians, Persian pastries and the traditional Iranian New Year’s display Haft Sin: a symbolic assembly of seven items starting with the Persian letter ‘s.’

We welcome the public to express our mutual desire for peace and to celebrate NowRuz with us.

Attacking Iran? If I did it, here is how!

2007-02-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

An article by AIFC member Gouidarz Eghtedari analysing the situations regarding Iran and threat of a US-Israeli attack, @ Iranian.com (click here)

NO War on Iran stickers available for purchase.

2007-02-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

Following Bumper Sticker is available for purchase (Min. donation of $1.00 + S&H). Click here to order: e-mail the quantity you need, we will send it to you with invoice then you will send us a check drawn in order of AIFC. Please make sure to have your mailing address in the e-mail.

Learn About Iran Starter Kit

2007-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Books:
Autobiographies

“Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope” by Shirin Ebadi, 2006
“Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood” Graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi, 2003 & 2004

Stories about Iran“Garden of the Brave in War: Recollection of Iran” 2003 and “Seven Shades of Memory: Stories of old Iran” 1999 by Portland author Terence O’Donnell
“Reading Lolita in Tehran” by Azar Nafissi, and from a different point of view:
“Jasmine and the Stars, Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran” by Fatemeh Keshavarz

Classical Poetry
Edward Fitzgerald’s translations of “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam”
Dick Davis’ translations of Ferdowsi’s “Shahnameh”
Gertrude Bell’s translations of Hafiz
Everybody is translating Rumi!

Food and Culture“

New Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies” and other food related books by Najmieh Batmanglij, 1992
During the first Saturday in August the annual Iranian Festival takes place in the Park Blocks by Portland State University with many cultural booths, music and food.
Persian New Year at the beginning of spring is celebrated locally by the following organizations: www.andisheh.org , www.persia.pdx.edu , www.iwao-pdx.org/4.html

US/Iran History, Iranian Politics & Social Movement

“Target Iran: The Truth About the White House’s Plans for Regime Change in Iran” by Scott Ritter, 2006.
“The ‘Great Satan’ Versus the ‘Mad Mullahs:’ How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other” by William Beeman, 2005
“All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror” by Stephen Kinzer, 2003
“Iran, a People Interrupted” by Hamid Dabashi-Columbia University, New Press-2007
“Reading Legitimation Crisis in Tehran, Iran and the future of Liberalism” by Danny Postel, University of Chicago Prickly Paradigm Press – 2006
“Treacherous Alliance - The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel and the United States” by Trita Parsi, Yale University Press, 2007.

Anti War Websites
Elsewhere:
http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii
http://www.niacouncil.org
http://www.stopwaroniran.org

Delegations to Iran
http://www.forusa.org/programs/iran/may06.htm
http://www.iranpeacecorpsconnection.org
http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/mideast/iran

Articles
Seymour Hersh’s articles “The Iran Plans,” “Redirection” and “Shifting Targets”

Trita Parsi “Goading Iran into War” and “Long Division”

Gareth Porter “War Against Iran and the Logic of Dominance”

Others:

Portland’s KBOO 90.7 FM radio show “Voices of the Middle East” frequently covers Iran and has documents of the 1953 coup:

Recent BBC documentary on Iran

News and Views
www.iranian.com
www.payvand.com

Libraries, video and music stores now carry samplings of impressive Iranian contributions such as the films by Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen or Samira Makhmalbaf. Sima Bina and Mohammed Reza Shajarian are classical Iranian singers, Kayhan Kalhor and Hossein Alizadeh are instrumentalists, the Kamkars are a well-known Kurdish band, and Googosh is Iran’s queen of pop music. Arash is an example for more recent Iranian hip-hop and Kiosk are the Iranian Dire Straights.

Video Arcade

2006-12-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

VIDEO of the day:

According to Webster, antiwar short film by Ramin Bajoghli

Visit Iran online

American life in Iran of 1975

JAMMING FOR PEACE

2006-10-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

On-Line Sale is now closed but tickets are available at the door.

Music From Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Beyond

Saturday, October 28, 7 – 10 PM
First Congregational Church - United Church of Christ
1126 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
$15 general, $10 students

In the 1980s Iran and Iraq were at war for eight years and hundreds of thousands of people from both sides became victims of the devastating struggle. The significance of this concert is that master musicians from Iran and Iraq will join to perform for PEACE, emphasizing the fact that people are at peace with each other, regardless of what their governments are doing. In order to add more color to this harmonious experience, Yens Ses will present some Turkish and Jewish songs.

Honorary Master of Ceremony: Diana Abu-Jaber
Author of best seller and award winners “The Crescent”, “Arabian Jazz”, and “Language of Baklava”. She teaches at Portland State University.

Rahim Al-Haj
The Iraqi oud musician and composer graduated from the prestigious Baghdad Conservatory and performed widely in the Middle East and Europe with his teacher Munir Bashir. He was forced to leave Baghdad in 1991 due to his activism against Saddam Hussein’s regime and relocated to the US as a political refugee in 2000. He has released four CD's since then: “The Second Baghdad,” 2002; “Iraqi Music in a Time of War,” 2003; “Friendship: Oud/String Quartet Ensemble,” 2005; “When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq,” Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 2006. Rahim Al-Haj has performed most recently at the Kennedy Center. www.rahimalhaj.com

Hossein Omoumi
Performer on Iranian Ney (Reed Flute) and music scholar at the University of Tehran, the Sorbonne in Paris, UCLA and most recently the University of Washington. His international performances and recordings are too numerous to list but include joined releases with well-known Iranian vocal artists Sima Bina and Parisa. Pouria Sayrafi and Reza Mazloomi will accompany him on Tombak and Daf (Persian Goblet and Frame drums). www.omoumi.com

Yeni Ses (New Voice)
Derya Baykent vocalist, Sedat Uysal on saz, Peter Lippman on saz and Kim Goldov on violin. Yeni Ses, a Seattle based group of Turkish and American musicians, performs traditional and modern folklore music of Turkey and beyond. In addition Kim Goldov will present some Jewish tunes.

Co-sponsored by McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, Middle East Studies Center at Portland State University, Department of Political Science at Reed College, Andisheh Center, American Friends Service Committee, CASMII, First Unitarian Church, First Congregational Church, Ziba Design, Visual Concept, Iranian American Professional Society of Oregon, KBOO Community Radio, Mercy Corps International, Peace and Justice Works - Iraq Afinity, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Vancouver for Peace, Veterans for Peace Chapter 72, and others.

Iran Forum: Bomb...,
or Path out of Crisis

Sunday, October 29, 2 PM

First Unitarian Church, Salmon Street Sanctuary
At 12th and Salmon in downtown Portland
Free Admission

William Beeman, author of “The ‘Great Satan’ vs. the ‘Mad Mullahs’ – How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other.” W. Beeman is Professor of Anthropology and Director of Middle East Studies at Brown University. Dr. Beeman has traveled to Iran many times and speaks fluent Persian. In his book he approaches possibilities for conflict resolution to the crisis from an anthropological point of view and with impressive insight.

Abbas Maleki, Unfortunately Dr. Maleki could not join us in this forum due to his mother's illness and extension of his stay in Iran.

Soheila Vahdati, is a Human Rights advocate and researcher. Dr. Vahdati is passionately involved with Iranian democracy movement in general and the women struggle in particular. She frquently writes about the women's movement in Iran for Persian journals .

Rostam Pourzal, has been a journalist and human rights activist in Washington, DC. He currently heads the U.S. branch of Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (www.CASMII.org). He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in cultural anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied modernization and social upheaval."

Ronault Latang Sayang Catalani ('Polo'), author of "talking-stories." Polo is a civil rights attorney and community activist. He writes for the Asian Reporter, for Oregon Public Radio and for WUWM Wisconsin. Polo has lived in Iran as a research graduate student in late 1970s.

US House Resolution 967 Recognizes 100th Anniversary of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution

2006-08-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

As it has become an annual tradition, the seventh Portland Iranian Festival took place on the first Saturday of August at the campus of Portland State University in downtown Portland, Oregon. This festival that was first organized seven years ago attracts thousands of Portlanders every year. The time and location of the Festival coincides with Portland Farmers Market and the Annual Bread Festival and brings tens of thousands of people to the PSU campus. This event offers great exposure to tens of NGO's and Iranian organizations and private businesses that participate in the Festival. From the very first year one of the objectives of the organizers was to introduce Iranians as a community proud of its heritage, culture and arts, that serves the host country as best as it possibly can. Business men and women, a wide variety of professions, artists, and politicians have participated in the Festival in the past and this year was no exception. AIFC also had a booth and offered information about its goals and objectives to many who stopped by and showed concerns and supports.

In addition every year an award is presented to an exemplary member of the community who is often time amongst the most outstanding citizens in the community at large. The awardees this year were the Iranian Women Association of Oregon for their tireless efforts in teaching Persian language to the community children.

On August 5th, 2006 which was the hundredth anniversary of the victory of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) was the keynote speaker at the Iranian Festival. A week earlier Blumenauer submitted the House Resolution (HR) 967 recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. This resolution, after an introductory recitation on the historic course of events that led to the Iranian Constitutional Revolution of 1906,
resolved that:

The House of Representatives-

(1) recognizes and honors the 100th anniversary of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution;

(2) commends the Iranian people for their tradition of constitutional rule and their historical willingness to stand up for freedom and independence;

(3) encourages friendship between the people of the United States and the people of Iran on the basis of shared values; and

(4) recognizes that a strong understanding of Iranian history is critical to the development of constructive policy towards Iran.

Mr. Morteza Anoushiravani, former Portland Water Bureau Director and a long time leader of the community, introduced Congressman Blumenauer. In his remarks the Congressman officially announced his efforts and sponsorship of the resolution HR 967 and passionately spoke of the historic role that Iranians played in the course of the constitutional revolution. Among other items, he noted that Iran has the oldest legislative body in the Middle East that has been in place for more than 100 years. He recalled his first exposure to the history of the world while he was a student of professor Rassekh, an Iranian professor, at Lewis and Clark College some years ago. Congressman Blumenauer outlined the details of the constitutional revolution, praising the democratic ambitions of the Iranian people over the past century. He said “As Howard Baskerville, the American Presbyterian missionary teacher fought along the Iranian freedom fighters during the constitutional revolution, the American people should be with them today in their struggle for democracy”. He then criticized US actions in the 1953 overthrow of Dr. Mossadegh's government and raised the question: “What would be the situation in the Middle East today if that democratically elected government had not been overthrown by the CIA backed coup d'etat?” Congressman then argued that in any solution to problems in the region, Iranian participation is needed and emphasized on portion of the HR 967 that "recognizes that a strong understanding of Iranian history is critical to the development of constructive policy towards Iran."

After the keynote speech, Dr. Goudarz Eghtedari praised Congressman Blumenauer's outreach to the Iranian community and emphasized that congressman has treated his Iranian-American constituency like a true statesman. “Contrary to another resolution introduced by Congressman King, Congressman Blumenauer's resolution not only looks to the history but also to the future and suggests clear solutions for the current struggle” Eghtedari said. Dr. Franz Rad, professor of Civil Engineering at PSU and a member of AIFC presented Congressman Blumenauer with a plaque of appreciation award for outstanding service to the people of Oregon and exemplary recognition of the Iranian-American citizens of the USA. After the ceremony the Congressman met with the leaders of the community and proposed to meet with them on a regular base to coordinate actions of the mutual interest.

109TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION H. RES. 967
Recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 28, 2006
Mr. BLUMENAUER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.
Whereas Iran is home to one of the world’s great ancient civilizations;

Whereas, in 1906, Persia had been under the rule of the Qajar Dynasty since 1781;

Whereas the rule of the Qajar Dynasty was corrupt, authoritarian, and weak in the face of competition between the British and Russian Empires for control and influence in Persia;

Whereas, by the turn of the 20th century, the Persian populace sought to counter this corrupt and oppressive authoritarian rule and to secure national sovereignty by codifying a written code of laws;

Whereas by January 1906, diverse sectors of Persian society united to form a protest movement against the foreign manipulation, oppression and corruption that marked the rule of Mozafar al-din Shah;

Whereas, on August 5, 1906 this protest movement forced Mozafar al-Din Shah to issue a decree creating the first representative parliament, the Majlis, in the history of Persia;

Whereas, on December 30, 1906 the parliament ratified and Mozafar al-Din Shah signed Persia’s first Constitution;

Whereas the constitution of 1906 limited the power of the Shah and his ministers, gave administrative autonomy to the provinces, granted limited suffrage to adult men, established the groundwork for a new secular legislature, and guaranteed freedom of the press;

Whereas, following an assassination attempt in February 1908, Mohammed Ali Shah, who succeeded Mozafar al-din Shah, began to purge supporters of the constitution despite his pledge to respect the constitution;

Whereas on June 3, 1908, Mohammed Ali Shah invited leaders of the constitutionalist movement to the Imperial Gardens and imprisoned all but one who managed to escape;

Whereas on June 24, 1908, Mohammed Ali Shah ordered the Persian Cossacks Brigade, led by Russian Colonel Liakhov, to bomb the Majlis and arrest all of its deputies;

Whereas this attack unleashed protests and resistance in support of the Majlis and the constitution across Persia, which evolved into a revolutionary movement;

Whereas the constitutional revolutionaries were joined by Howard Baskerville, a Presbyterian missionary from the United States, who was killed in battle on April 19, 1909, and continues to be revered as a martyr by Iranians to this day;

Whereas on July 17, 1909, Mohammed Ali Shah and a number of his supporters fled Tehran under the protection of Russian soldiers, and the Majlis held an emergency session to reenact the constitution, depose Mohammed Ali Shah, and name his son Ahmad Mirza as his successor;

Whereas, at the conclusion of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, a democratic movement had replaced an authoritarian government with a constitutional monarchy and established a representative body and the rule of law to check the power of the ruling Shah;

Whereas, since the Constitutional Revolution, Iranian politics has often been marked by struggles against authoritarian rulers and foreign interference, as well as tensions between secular and religious law;

Whereas despite this success, for the next 15 years the Majlis met irregularly due to international circumstances, foreign interference and internal power struggle;

Whereas under government of Mohammed Mossadegh, the Iranian political system became increasingly open and the influence of the Majlis grew until American and British intervention in 1953 reestablished the monarchy, severely undermining Iranian constitutional democracy;

Whereas the Constitutional Revolution demonstrates that democratic self-government is not foreign to Iran;

Whereas the cooperation of Iran is an important factor in the successful resolution of many challenges in the Middle East and Central Asia, including the stabilization of Iraq, progress in Afghanistan, and victory in the war on terror;

Whereas public opinion in the United States respects the people of Iran and their rich culture and history; and

Whereas public opinion in Iran supports better relations with the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes and honors the 100th anniversary of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution;
(2) commends the Iranian people for their tradition of constitutional rule and their historical willingness to stand up for freedom and independence;
(3) encourages friendship between the people of the United States and the people of Iran on the basis of shared values; and
(4) recognizes that a strong understanding of Iranian history is critical to the development of constructive policy towards Iran.

AIFC Sponsored a Forum on the US - Iran Relations

2006-07-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

On July 20, 20006, the American Iranian Friendship Council (AIFC) sponsored a forum on the US - Iran Relations at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. This was AIFC’s first public educational forum on this topic.

The forum was presented in two parts. Part I, entitled “Living Experiences in Iran”, was presented by US citizens who have lived and worked in Iran in various capacities, such as Peace Corps volunteers, volunteers for the Mennonite Central Committee, or delegates for the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The speakers in this segment were: Marion Ward, Gretchen Kafouri, Bruce Livingston, and Ann Huntwork.

Marion Ward is active with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Vancouver for Peace and Veterans for Peace. She was in Iran in December 2005 with a delegation from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The mission of the delegation was to promote friendship with the people of Iran and to learn about current realities of everyday life there. The delegation traveled to Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan and Qom, meeting with religious and community leaders.

Gretchen Kafoury was a Peace Corps Iran, 1964-66. She served for 22 years in the Oregon State Legislature, and Council member for Multnomah County and City of Portland. For the past seven years she has served as a faculty in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University. She is a regular volunteer with the Middle East Studies Center and currently on the Persian Studies Advisory Board.

Bruce Livingston’s first visit to Iran was in the summer of 1964, which he spent living with a tribe of the Qashqai confederacy. He returned to Iran in 1969, and was a Lecturer in Anthropology at Pahlavi University in Shiraz. Until the end of 1973 he worked with Iranian colleagues on a demographic project. After a few years' hiatus he returned to Iran and worked as Project Manager for an Oregon construction company, until 1978. He is currently the Executive Director of PlayWrite, Inc., an organization dedicated to engaging disadvantaged youth in creative arts.

Ann Huntwork worked in Iran for ten years (1958-63 and 1967-72) in Presbyterian Church supported medical programs, primarily in Mashhad - with last two years in Jondi Shapur University Medical School in Ahvaz. She taught medical and nursing history and ethics, and worked in the English medical library and supported the hospital social worker. After the revolution they returned to Iran on other assignments sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee and the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Ann and her husband (a physician) had four children born in Iran, and consider Iran their other home.
All their kids have Iranian middle names.

Each speaker presented a brief overview of his/her experience living in Iran, interactions with Iranians, their culture, customs, and how Americans and Iranians can foster better relations through dialogue, and to build on the rich history of people to people friendship between citizens of both countries.

The second segment of the forum, entitled “Crisis with Iran on Nuclear Issues”, was presented by Drs. John Damis, Catherine Thomasson, and Goudarz Eghtedari.

John Damis is Professor of Political Science and International Studies in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, and Director of the University’s Middle East Studies Center. He received BA and MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard, and Ph.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1970. From 1975 to 1977, he worked for the Department of State in Washington, D.C., and was a Visiting Professor at Harvard University in 1986 and 1987. Dr. Damis has studied and worked in the Middle East or North Africa for a total of five years and is the author of four books and monographs and over thirty articles and chapters on the politics and international relations of the Middle East and North Africa. He was decorated by H.M. King Mohammed VI of Morocco and made a Commander of the Alawite Order.

Catherine Thomasson, MD, is President Elect of the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) who works to advocate for an end to nuclear weapons, end the use of war as a foreign policy tool and is launching a national PSR campaign on the Health Effects of our Energy Dependence on Fossil Fuels. She is a local internist and resident educator. She has been a coalition builder in the peace community and has produced community events for peace, ranging from the international Shadow Project on Hiroshima Day to PeaceQuake. She also educates to reduce the use of toxic chemicals that have global significance. She has worked within the city and county on advisory panels ranging from West Nile Prevention Task Force to Water Treatment Policy decisions.

Goudarz Eghtedari is a political analyst, writer, radio producer, human rights advocate, and peace activist by choice and an engineer and educator by profession. He is a contributing member of the University of Columbia's Gulf2000 group, a think tank with focus on the Persian Gulf under supervision of Gary Sick. He received a Ph.D. in Systems Science/Transportation Engineering from Portland State University. Dr. Eghtedari has taught engineering and IT courses at Portland State University and University of Phoenix. He has been working in Civil Engineering field for the past 25 years, 10 years as Structural Engineer and the last 15 years in transportation Engineering field. He is the Traffic Engineering manager for the City of Vancouver, WA.

Each speaker presented different perspectives on the history of recent events leading to the current condition, followed by ways to offer non-violent responses to the looming crisis between the governments of the United States and Iran. They stressed the rights of all peoples to non-violent means for resolution of conflicts, and suggested ways to foster mutual understanding and friendship, and to avoid violence and war. Through presenting forums like this, the aim is to create common understanding of the mutual perils of war, to bring the United States and Iran together to build bridges, and to lobby both governments to pursue face to face negotiations.

The Forum was co-sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee Portland, Center for Intercultural Organizing, Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group, Middle East Studies Center at PSU, Oregon Fellowship of Reconciliation and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Mission Statement

2006-06-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Vision:

We, concerned friends of Iran and the United States,
seek, together, to know more of each other.
We seek to clarify what we may do, together,
to assure the safety, health and education
of our cherished children.
We seek to know how best to come together
in sharing our strength of spirit,
breadth of knowledge,
the power of our collective will
in order to draw from our past
the best in service
to our children’s future.

Mission:

We are a non-partisan network of peace and justice activists united to promote sustainable and humanizing dialogue between Americans and Iranians. We are members of a variety of organizations that share a vision of a world free from nuclear threat and military conflict. We stand in urgent opposition to a policy of preemption against Iran.

Goals:

• To create public education efforts to expose the deeper causes and civilian consequences of military conflicts in the Middle East.
• To create a forum for awareness, alliance, friendship and action to prevent a new military conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
• To deepen knowledge and understanding of the culture and contributions of Iran and Iranian-Americans.
Our ultimate purpose is to bring the United States and Iran together to build bridges and common understanding of the mutual peril of war and of the rights of all peoples to non-violent means for resolution of conflicts.
In our working together we will stay away from our political differences in favor of our common goal which is to foster mutual understanding and friendship, and to avoid violence and war. We as AIFC do not endorse or oppose the behavior of either government, but will work to lobby both governments to follow a path that leads to face to face, good faith negotiations.

Petition to Northwest Senators

2006-05-18T23:13:00.000-07:00

Honorable Senator Patty Murray;
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Honorable Senator Maria Cantwell;
717 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Honorable Senator Ron Wyden;
230 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3703

Honorable Senator Gordon Smith;
404 Russell Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators:

We the signatories of this petition are interested in the future of Iran and the rest of the Middle East and it is out of that concern that we write to strongly oppose and warn against the military option in Iran. As the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no evidence of diversion of materials toward atomic weapons in Iran, concerns about future dual use of nuclear technology ought to be addressed in face to face negotiations. The catastrophic regional and global consequences of escalating this crisis will not serve the interests of the United States, the course of democratic development in Iran or the cause of global peace. Coercive diplomacy and/or military action will lead to further militarization of the region and pressures on civil society movement in Iran, resulting in increased destabilization of the Middle East.

We are asking you as our elected leaders to act responsibly and reflect our request to solve this crisis by using a true and honest diplomacy with Iran.

To sign this petition please click here!

Invitation to Join AIFC

2006-05-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend;

As you are most probably aware, Iran and the U.S. have not had official relations for the past 27 years. After the hostage crisis, President Carter discontinued diplomatic relations and in the following decades conflicts between the two countries were elevated due to other events and crises. The Iranian nuclear program and the failed negotiations with European countries (Germany, France and U.K.) have recently escalated the conflict to an all-time high, and the possibility of military engagement in Iran threatens the security of the whole region and peace at large.

We, as concerned Americans and Iranians living in Portland, feel the responsibility to take positive actions to help alleviate potential conflagration looming on the horizon. We have contemplated the formation of a local American Iranian Friendship Council, and now appeal to you for help in its formation. In the absence of a formal diplomatic relation, this council could capitalize on people’s diverse cultural interchanges in an effort to raise awareness about the current situation. We hope the council can assist in educating the communities at large in Oregon and Washington regarding the mutual benefits of earnestly searching for a peaceful resolution of the current conflicts.

At this time we extend an invitation to you to join us. Your presence will greatly empower this effort; please consider attending one of our meetings and giving us your suggestions and support.

American Iranian Friendship Council

2006-01-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Petition to Mayor of Seattle

2005-10-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Honorable Seattle City Council Members;
PO Box 94749
Seattle, WA 98124-4749

Dear Mayor Nickels and Council Members:

We the signatories of this petition are interested in the future of Iran and the rest of the Middle East and it is out of that concern that we write to strongly oppose and warn against any military option in Iran. The catastrophic regional and global consequences of escalating this crisis will not serve the interests of the United States, the course of democratic development in Iran or the cause of global peace. Coercive diplomacy and/or military action will lead to further militarization of the region and pressures on civil society movement in Iran, resulting in increased destabilization of the Middle East.
Our economy has already paid a great price and our people have suffered immensely for the Bush administration’s war policies in the Middle East. The funds that should be invested in our communities and wellbeing of our children are spent daily in Iraq. Furthermore the future of our economy and prosperity of our generations are put at risk by the deficits that the administration has created.
We are asking you and the rest of the City Council as our elected leaders to act responsibly and reflect our request to solve this crisis by using a true and honest diplomacy with Iran. We ask that City of Seattle joins other progressive city governments in condemning an escalation of the war into Iran.

Sign a petition to City of Seattle to pass a resolution against the War on Iran, click here!

Religion

2005-03-26T00:57:00.000-08:00

Religious Diversity in Iran
Iran is 98% Muslim, mostly Shi'a (89%) but also Sunni (see the article below for the difference). Religious minorities include Jews (see below), Zoroastrians, Christians (mostly Armenians and Assyrians) and Baha'is.

Facts About Islam Source: American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee Islam is an Arabic word meaning submission to God. As a religion Islam calls for complete acceptance of and submission to the teachings and guidance of God. The word has connotations of peace and wholeness. It has the same root as “Salaam” – peace. A Muslim is one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and strives to live his or her life in accord with the teachings of God. Allah is the Arabic language word for God. Allah is also used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews in prayer or speaking about God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three great monotheistic world religions. Muslims believe that the Qur’an (or Koran) is God’s word as revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. The Qur’an is the basis for Muslim beliefs regarding God, worship, morality, knowledge, wisdom, the human relationship to God, and relationships among human beings. Just as Christian believe that the person of Jesus was the Word or manifestation of God, Muslims believe that it is the Qur’an itself which is that Word and manifestation. The original text of the Quran is in Arabic and translations are available in major libraries and bookstores everywhere. Muhammad is respected as a prophet. He is not regarded as the “founder” of Islam, but rather as one in a long line of prophets from Adam to Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and Jesus. Islam therefore did not begin with Muhammad, whose role was that of a “messenger” who received and passed on a revelation from God. He made it clear that Muslims should “call me the servant of God and His messenger.” He is regarded as a human being and in no way divine. He is seen as the final prophet who completed the revelation began by the earlier prophets. The Hadith – the teachings, sayings and actions of Muhammad – were reported and collected by his devoted companions. They explain and elaborate the Qur’anic verses and provide a model for the conduct of Muslims. Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the will of God is considered an act of worship, but the specific acts termed the Five Pillars of Islam provide the framework of Muslim spiritual life. 1) The Declaration of Faith: “I bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is his messenger.” 2) Prayer is prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God. Prayer strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires one to a higher morality. 3) Fasting is called for during the month of Ramadan. This involves abstention from food, beverages, and sexual activity from sunrise to sunset and it means curbing evil intentions and desires. Allowances are made for health, age and circumstances. After sunset, there are family and community meals and celebration. 4) Zakat is a proportionately fixed contribution from the surplus earnings and wealth of the Muslims. It is spent on the poor and needy and for the welfare of society as a whole. 5) The Hajj is the pilgrimage to the Ka’bah in Makkah (Mecca), at least once in a lifetime, provided one has the means to undertake the journey. Muslims, Christians and Jews all worship the same God. The Qur’an has many stories about Biblical characters which are very similar to those in the Old and New Testaments. Jesus is very highly honored as a prophet, although Muslims believe that Christians erred in regarding him as divine. Muslims greatly respect Mary as the mother of Jesus. They believe in the virginal birth of Jesus through the power of the Spirit of God. However, they believe that errors have crept into the Jewish and Christian traditions and into the text of the Bible. The mission of Muhammad was to correct those errors. Nonetheless, the Qur’an teaches that Jews, Christians and Muslims are all “People of the Book.” As believers, Jews and Christians have juridical rights under Islamic law to live as “protected peoples.” Historically, Islam has been a relatively tolerant religion. Islam clearly teaches that “There is to be no compulsion in matters of religion.” In the 7th century Muslim armies brought vast territories under Muslim political control, but conversion to Islam was voluntary and was not imposed “by the sword.” This is a Western myth. Some Misconceptions about Islam “Muslim,” “Arab,” and “Islam” are not interchangeable terms. Islam refers to the religion itself. Muslims are the followers of Islam. Arabs are a linguistic and cultural community with a common history. Most but not all Arabs are Muslims. Most Muslims are not Arabs. About 85% of the world’s Muslims are not Arabs. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. About 12 million Arabs are Christian and thousands are Jewish. “Mohammadanism” is a misnomer for Islam and offends its very spirit, since Muhammad was a merely a messenger of God. The accurate translation of the Arabic word jihad should be “exertion of effort or struggle” in accord with the will of God. It is any strenuous effort – physical, intellectual, spiritual – for the good. The “higher jihad” is the personal struggle to become a better Muslim. Jihad can mean standing up to speak the word of truth to tyrants and to call for justice. It can also be a religiously guided military struggle, but it does not mean “holy war.” The Arabic word for war is "harb," which does not appear in the Qur’an. Islam is not a pacifist religion. It teaches that a war in self-defense is permissible and a duty, but the conduct of war is to be in accord with rules forbidding the harming of women, children and old men or the destruction of property. This is the “lesser jihad.” Not every “jihad” called by political leaders is in accord with the requirements of Islam. Such a call can often be regarded as an appeal to emotionally-laden traditional symbols without real religious standing. “Islamic fundamentalism”: There are widespread movements of spiritual and cultural revivalism in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Many of them are critical of Western influence and seek a return to the authentic roots of their own traditions. A small number of these movements use violent means to achieve political goals. These are what is usually referred to in the West as fundamentalists. More mainstream Muslims consider such movements as deviations from authentic Islam. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scarves of Many Colors - Women and the Veil - Curriculum http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/1b/53/67.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunni and Shi'a By David Kremer for BBC The words Sunni and Shia appear regularly in stories about the Muslim world but few people know what they really mean. Religion permeates every aspect of life in Muslim countries and understanding Sunni and Shia beliefs is important in understanding the modern Muslim world. The division between the Sunnis and the Shia is the largest and oldest in the history of Islam. To understand it, it is good to know a little bit about the political legacy of the Prophet Muhammad. When the Prophet died in the early 7th Century he not only left the religion of Islam but also an Islamic State in the Arabian Peninsula with around one hundred thousand Muslim inhabitants. It was the question of who should succeed the Prophet and lead the fledgling Islamic state that created the divide. One group of Muslims (the larger group) elected Abu Bakr, a close companion of the Prophet as the next caliph (leader) of the Muslims and he was duly appointed. However a smaller group believed that the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali, should become the caliph. Both Shi'as and Sunni have good evidence to support their theories. For example, the Prophet chose Abu Bakr to lead the congregational prayers as he lay on his deathbed, suggesting to Sunni's that the Prophet was hinting at the next leader. Shi'as take the evidence that Muhammad stood up in front of hundreds of his companions on his way back from Hajj, and proclaimed that his family would never be led astray. Reports say he took Ali's hand and said that anyone who followed Muhammad should follow Ali. Muslims who believe that Abu Bakr should be the Prophet's successor have come to be known as Sunni. Muslims who believe Ali should have been the Prophet's successor are now known as Shia. The use of the word successor should not be confused to mean that that those that followed the Prophet Muhammad were also prophets - both Shia and Sunni agree that Muhammad was the final prophet. Both Sunni and Shia legitimise their views using Islam's sacred scriptures. Both groups say that the Qur'an (which Muslims believe to be the revealed word of Allah) and the Hadith (the narrations of the Prophet) show their choice of leader to be the right one. Ali delayed pledging his oath of loyalty to Abu Bakr. A few months later he changed his mind. He sought reconciliation with Abu Bakr and pledged allegiance to him. Over the next two decades Umar ibn al-Khattab and Uthman ibn 'Affan succeeded as the second and third caliphs before Ali was elected as the fourth caliph. Ali became caliph following the murder of Uthman but he was opposed by Aisha, wife of the Prophet, who accused him of being lax in bringing Uthman's killers to justice. The dispute led to the Battle of the Camel in 656 where Aisha was defeated. Later Aisha apologised to Ali but the clash had already strengthened any opposition to Ali's rule. Considering the religious climate, the appointment of a caliph with a heretical theology seems inconceivable and demonstrates the political, and not theological, nature of the dispute at the time. In fact it was only later that the terms Sunni and Shia came into use. Sunni means 'one who follows the Sunna' (what the Prophet said, did, agreed to or condemned). Shia is a contraction of the phrase 'Shiat Ali', meaning the 'partisans of Ali'. Both groups, who embrace the Prophet and Ali, naturally dispute whether each others' group can be correct in claiming to be either 'Sunni' or 'Shia'. Islam's dominion had already spread to Syria by the time of Ali's caliphate. The governor of Damascus, Mu'awiya, fought Ali to claim the caliphate for himself. In the famous Battle of Siffin in 657 that demonstrated the religious fervour of the time, Mu'awiya's soldiers flagged the ends of their spears with verses from the Qur'an. Ali's supporters felt morally unable to fight their Muslim brothers. The Battle of Siffin proved indecisive. Ali and Mu'awiya agreed to settle the dispute with outside arbitrators. However this solution of human arbitration was unacceptable to a group of Ali's followers who pointed to the Qur'anic verse: The decision is for Allah only. He telleth the truth and He is the Best of Deciders. This group, the Kharijites, formed their own sect and opposed all contenders to the caliphate. In 661 the Kharijites killed Ali while he was praying in a mosque in Kufa, Iraq. In the years that followed, the Kharijites were defeated in a series of uprisings. Around 500,000 descendents of the Kharijites survive to this day in North Africa, Oman and Zanzibar in a sub sect known as the Ibadiyah. The community of early Muslims lost its unity. Unlike their predecessors their leadership was unelected and their claim to leadership was hereditary. Remarkably, this turn of events was in keeping with the prophecy of Muhammad in which he said: the caliphate will remain in my nation after me for thirty years. Then, it will be a monarchy after that. What happened next gave Shia Islam its strong theme of martyrdom. Ali's youngest son, Hussein, ruled Kufa in Iraq. When Yazid, Mu'awiya's son, seized the caliphate in 680 Hussein led a rebellion but was met by Yazid's forces in Karbala, Iraq. Despite knowing he was hopelessly outnumbered, Hussein fought heroically and was killed on the battlefield. It is one of the most significant events in Shia history, where Hussein is considered to have sacrificed his life for the survival of Shia Islam. It is still commemorated today as Ashura where millions of pilgrims still visit the Imam Hussein mosque in Karbala. The leadership continued with imams, in lieu of caliphs, believed to be divinely appointed from the Prophet's family until the late 9th Century. According to the Twelvers, the largest Shia sect, Muhammad al-Muntazar al-Mahdi was the twelfth imam in the Prophet's family in the line of Ali and Hussein. The Shia believe that as a young boy Muhammad al-Muntazar al-Mahdi was hidden in a cave below a mosque in Samarra. He disappeared, and not accepting that he had died, the Shia await his return. This is a sacred place for the Shia and they still pray here for the return of the twelfth Imam. This event marks the end of leadership of the Shia in the family of the prophet. After several centuries a council or Ulema was appointed to elect an Ayatollah: the supreme spiritual leader. Ayatollah translates literally from Arabic as 'Sign of Allah' and as the name suggests is bestowed with great religious authority. As Sunni Islam expanded into the complex and urban societies of the once Roman and Persian empires, new ethical questions were encountered that demanded the authority of religious answers. In the first two centuries Sunni Islam responded with the emergence of four popular schools of thought - the Hanbali, Hanafi, Maliki and Shaafii - which to this day continue to seek to find Islamic solutions in any society, regardless of time or place. Shia Muslims have always maintained that the Prophet's family were the rightful leaders of the Islamic world. Although the Shia never ruled the majority of Muslims they did have their successes. The empire of the Safavid dynasties in the 16th Century was a great political triumph for Shia Islam, encompassing parts of modern Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq. Today, Iran is the political face of Shia Islam. Politically, Sunni Islam continued through the Umayyads (started by Mu'awiya) and other dynasties that led to the powerful Ottoman and Mughal empires of the 15th to 20th Centuries. In the wake of these empires the Sunnis emerge as an over-arching identity grouping close to 90% of the now one billion Muslims. Sunnis have a large populations stretching geographically from the Indonesian archipelago through the Indian subcontinent, central Asia, the Arab world and Africa to the periphery of Europe. Initially the difference between Sunni and Shia was merely a difference concerning who should lead the Muslim community. The Shia, however, not only preferred the family of the Prophet in their choice of leadership but also with regard to the Hadith literature. What was the result? The interpretation of Hadith is an Islamic science for Shia and Sunnis. The Shia give preference to the Hadith as narrated by Ali and Fatima and their close associates. The Sunnis consider the Hadith narrated by any of twelve thousand companions equally. This ultimately led to a different understanding of Islam. Sunni Muslims tend to follow the opinion of the 1st and 2nd Century (7th and 8th century Gregorian calendar) scholars Hanbali, Hanafi, Maliki and Shaafii. The Shia believe only a living scholar must be followed. Sunni Muslims pray five times a day, whereas Shia Muslims can combine prayers to pray three times a day. Shia prayers can often be identified by a small tablet of clay, from a holy place (often Karbala), on which they place their forehead whilst prostrating in prayer. The practice of Muttah marriage, a temporary marriage, is also permitted in Shia Islam but Sunnis considered it forbidden as they believe the Prophet abolished it. The relationship between Sunni and Shia Muslims through the ages has shaped their contemporary political landscape. The persecution of the family of the Prophet particularly and the early Shia followers has been a paradigm of martyrdom throughout Shia Islam's history. The majority of Sunni and Shia do not let their differences allow them to cast each other out of Islam. At the institutional level Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot of Al-Azhar, Cairo, the oldest institution of Islamic learning, considers Shia Islam to be an equally valid school of thought, along with the four Sunni schools. Reference A History of the Arab Peoples, Hourani, Albert, pub. 1991, Faber and Faber Ltd -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran Jews celebrate Persian roots, seek to maintain shrinking community From Haaretz.com, based on report by The Associated Press Members of Iran's tiny Jewish minority gathered at the holy shrine of the Prophet Daniel in the southwest of the country Thursday to celebrate their Persian roots and keep alive a dwindling community. More than 200 Iranian Jews embarked on the long journey to Susa from cities across Iran to celebrate their Jewishness in an event organized by a local Jewish youth group to support the community. "This gathering helps promote unity, affection and friendship among Iranian Jews. We are determined to pay homage to Daniel once a year," said Bahador Michael, 26, of the Yaran organization that began organizing the trips five years ago. "It has been a great success and local authorities have been very cooperative." Iran's 25,000 Jews, the largest community in the Middle East outside Israel, face no restriction on their religious practice, though they must follow Islamic dress codes such as head scarves for women. Jewish population in Iran, however, has been shrinking from emigration to Israel, the United States and elsewhere. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, nearly 100,000 Jews lived in Iran. Just in December, some 40 Jews secretly immigrated to Israel in a trip sponsored by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a charity receiving millions of dollars from evangelical donors each year. Jewish leaders in Iran denied that it was an organized immigration. "Prophet Daniel is the symbol of our proud Persian roots. The gathering in Susa is to highlight our presence in Iran since ancient times," said Farhad Aframian, the editor of the monthly Jewish magazine, who described the gathering as an opportunity for Jews from all over the country to socialize and keep in touch. Inside the shrine, Jewish women sat reciting verses from the Torah, while nearby men in skull cups prayed loudly in Hebrew. "I feel and peace when I pray here," said Parviz Minaei, a 50-year-old retiree. In addition to the tomb of the Prophet Daniel, Iran is also home to another of Judaism's important sites, the shrine of Mordechai an Esther, who became a Persian queen and persuaded King Xerxes not to slaughter the Jews in an event subsequently celebrated by the festival of Purim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iranian TV Series on the Holocaust By Nasser Karimi, September 16, 2007 on The Huffington Post TEHRAN, Iran — It is Iran's version of "Schindler's List," a miniseries that tells the tale of an Iranian diplomat in Paris who helps Jews escape the Holocaust _ and viewers across the country are riveted.That's surprising enough in a country where hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has questioned whether the Holocaust even took place. What's more surprising is that government media produced the series, and is airing it on state-run television.The Holocaust is rarely mentioned in state media in Iran, school textbooks don't discuss it and Iranians have little information about it.Yet the series titled "Zero Degree Turn" is clearly sympathetic to the Jews' plight during World War II. It shows men, women and children with yellow stars on their clothes being taken forcibly out of their homes and loaded into trucks by Nazi soldiers. “Where are they taking them?" the horrified hero, a young Iranian diplomat who works at the Iranian Embassy in Paris, asks someone in a crowd of onlookers."The Fascists are taking the Jews to the concentration camps," the man says. The hero, named Habib Parsa, then begins giving Iranian passports to Jews to allow them to flee occupied France to then-Palestine.Though the Habib character is fictional, it is based on a true story of diplomats in the Iranian Embassy in Paris in the 1940s who gave out about 500 Iranian passports for Jews to use to escape. The show's appearance now may reflect an attempt by Iran's leadership to moderate its image as anti-Semitic and to underline a distinction that Iranian officials often make _ that their conflict is with Israel, not with the Jewish people. About 25,000 Jews live in Iran, the largest Jewish community in the Middle East after Israel. They have one representative in parliament, which is run mostly by Islamic clerics.The series could not have aired without being condoned by Iran's clerical leadership. The state broadcaster is under the control of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomenei, who has final say in all matters inside Iran.Moderate conservatives have been gaining ground in Iran, where there is increasing discontent with the ruling hardliners over rising tensions with the West, a worsening economy and price hikes in basic commodities.The government even allowed the series to break another taboo in Iran: For the first time, many actresses appear without the state-mandated Islamic dress code. The producers wanted to realistically portray 1940s Paris, and thus avoided the headscarves and head-to-foot robes that all women must normally wear on Iranian TV. Ahmadinejad sparked widespread outrage in 2005 when he made comments casting doubt on the Holocaust and saying the state of Israel should be "wiped from the map." His government organized a conference of Holocaust deniers and skeptics from around the world in December.But the series has won support even from hardliners. Some argue that it links the Holocaust with Israel's creation, thus boosting an argument by Ahmadinejad that if the Nazi killing of Jews did take place, the Palestinians who then lived in Palestine should not have had to pay the price for it by the creation of Israel after the war." The series differentiates between Jews and Zionism. The ground for forming Israel is prepared when Hitler's army puts pressure on activist Jews. In this sense, it considers Nazism parallel to Zionism," the hard-line newspaper Keyhan said.However, if the series does aim to make that point, it has not done so overtly.State media have said the series, which began in April, is popular. It has been a revelation for some Iranians and has pulled them away from more popular satellite channels, which are banned but which many watch anyway on illegal dishes. The fare on state TV is usually dry. "Once, I wept when I learned through the film what a dreadful destiny the small nation had during the world war in the heart of so-called civilized Europe," said Mahboubeh Rahamati, a Tehran bank teller.Kazem Gharibi said he watches the series every Monday on a TV in his grocery store."Through this film, I understood that Jews had a hard time in the war _ helpless and desperate, as we were when Iraq imposed war on us," he said, referring to the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. The series began with a love story between Habib, the embassy employee, and a French Jew, Sara Stroke, in the early 1940s. Viewers say the love story pulls them in as much as the history.After Paris is occupied by the Nazis, Habib decides to forge Iranian passports for many French Jews to save them from the Holocaust _ starting with Sara and her family. The German government accepts his embassy's claim that the passport holders are from an Iranian tribe and lets them leave France.Habib is imprisoned by the Nazis for espionage after his forgeries are discovered. He then is released and returns to Tehran, where he is jailed again for forging passports.Eight episodes remain in the series, and viewers drawn by the love story are on edge as they await the finish."I have watched the series from the beginning," said Sedigheh Karandish, a housewife and mother of two. "It's pulling me in to see what these two people do at the end. Hopefully, it will be a happy ending." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minorities' Exodus Worries Leaders Of Fading Faiths http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/29/AR2008022903488.html By Thomas Erdbrink and Karin Brulliard Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, March 1, 2008; A10 TEHRAN -- For decades the United States has funded an effort intended to help Christians, Zoroastrians and Jews escape persecution in Iran. Now some of their leaders are questioning American motives as sects that have endured here for thousands of years dwindle rapidly as a result of the migration. Since the late 1980s, the U.S. government has made it easier for certain foreigners fleeing religious oppression overseas, such as in the former Soviet Union or Indochina, to immigrate to America. But leaders of Iran's non-Muslim religious minority groups say their communities are not mistreated by the Iranian government, whose actions are overseen by Shiite Muslim clerics. Instead, some Christian and Zoroastrian leaders say, their members are leaving mainly to take advantage of the program's offer of a streamlined path to legal residence in the United States for a fee of $3,000. "Christians and Zoroastrians leave because of unemployment, the bad economy, but these problems affect all Iranians," said Yonathan Betkolia, an Assyrian Christian leader and member of Iran's parliament who holds the United States responsible for his community's decline. "They give all those green cards to our people. Their only goal is to propagate the idea that Iran is mistreating its minorities." The program is coordinated by the New York-based Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, or HIAS, which traditionally has helped resettle Jews in the United States. It received about $3.4 million in U.S. government funding last year to help non-Muslim minorities leave Iran. There are no reliable numbers on the sizes of those communities in Iran, a predominantly Shiite country of 65 million to 70 million that is also home to Muslim ethnic minorities, including Kurds, Arabs and Baluchis. According to a census taken in 1976, there were 420,000 non-Muslims in a population of nearly 34 million. Many non-Muslims fled the country after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Despite the Iranian government's bellicose approach to Israel, Jews here say they can practice their religion freely. More than 25,000 Jews remain in Iran, community leaders say, making it the largest Jewish population in the Middle East outside Israel. The State Department says 2,842 Jews have left Iran for the United States under the program in the past decade, compared with more than 18,000 members of other non-Muslim minority groups. More than 10,000 Iranians are waiting now to travel to Vienna, where HIAS facilitates their passage to the United States as refugees, according to a former U.S. official familiar with the program. "The migration is a big, big problem for all non-Muslim minorities in Iran," said Kurosh Niknam, a parliament member representing Iran's Zoroastrians, adherents of the pre-Islamic national faith that he estimates has shrunk by half since the 1979 revolution. "I wish everybody would come back to Iran, but I guess they won't. It looks like there will be no Zoroastrians left in this country in 30 years." HIAS was selected early this decade by the State Department to be the sole agency for processing Iranian minorities from Vienna, where it operates what it calls an "overseas processing entity." In 2004, Congress passed a law that made it easier for religious minorities from Iran to qualify as refugees. U.S. funding for HIAS's work on behalf of Iranians has almost tripled, from $1.24 million in 2002 to $3.46 million in 2007, because of an increase in applications. The United States, which is at odds with Iran over its nuclear ambitions and role in the war in Iraq, classifies Iran as one of eight "countries of particular concern" because of what the State Department calls severe violations of religious freedom. This designation "provides the substantive basis for running a refugee program for Iranian religious minorities," said Gideon Aronoff, chief executive of HIAS. "It speaks for itself that there are people who feel there is a need for this type of program to provide them with safety." One Armenian Christian businessman in Tehran, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize his family's persecution-based application for legal U.S. residence, struggled to come up with a list of reasons to leave Iran. For more than a decade, he said, he had been looking for reasons to stay. "One, our Iranian passports are useless; we need visas for every country. Two, the Iranian economy is destroyed. Three, my daughters are forced to wear the Islamic head scarf," he said. The 2005 election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the businessman continued, had increased the sense of uncertainty. "There are foreign threats, there might be a war. We feel pressure every day." Sitting in his dining room, he took another sip of cognac, which like all other alcoholic drinks is illegal for Muslims to consume in Iran, and smiled wearily. "I guess our reasons for migrating are no different from other Iranians who want to go. But as Christians, it's so much easier for us to leave Iran." Betkolia, the Assyrian Christian parliament member, said he and his co-religionists were "freer in Iran than our Muslim brothers." The politician sat in his large office in the Assyrian club in Tehran. "We can drink, our boys and girls can mingle in our clubs freely and we can dance and sing," he said. "Muslims are not allowed to do those things in here." Members of the Bahai faith, however, face arrest and other forms of persecution, according to U.S. and other officials. Followers of Bahaism, which was founded in 19th-century Persia and emphasizes religious unity and racial equality, are not allowed to practice their religion or study at universities. The government regards the faith as heretical, while Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians are respected as being members of traditional monotheistic religions. In the Church of Prophet Joseph, one of the last 10 remaining Christian churches in Tehran, small events reminded Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Ramzi Garmo, 63, of the continuing exodus. An older clergyman entered the archbishop's office. "Two more papers, bishop," the man said. "Two more departures," Garmo concluded. He stamped the forms with his pastoral seal. "These papers prove that these youths are Assyrian Chaldean," he explained. "With this they can prove they are Christian during their interviews with HIAS in Vienna," Garmo said. "Last Christmas my church was half-empty, while some years ago even the courtyard would have been full," said Garmo, who is originally from Mosul, Iraq. He started preaching in Iran more than 31 years ago, when his diocese included 30,000 people. Now there are 3,000. "People don't realize they leave for a country where men can get married to men, abortions are legal and divorces are easy," the archbishop said. "Being a Christian in America is much harder than being a Christian in Iran, believe me." He glanced around the room, adorned with crosses and a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, and fell silent. "But I should put myself in my congregation's place," he continued. "If an Iranian family can't afford to pay rent, is unemployed and is fearful of a war with America, who am I to forbid them from leaving?" Betkolia explained that two laws are problematic for members of minority religions in Iran. When a single family member converts to Islam, the Muslim is entitled to inherit all the family's property. A second law prescribes that a Muslim who kills a non-Muslim cannot receive the death penalty. "These rules date back to 70 years ago," Betkolia said, explaining that a similarly discriminatory statute on blood money was changed six years ago. "Those other laws are being reformed, but step by step," Betkolia said. The former U.S. official familiar with HIAS said persecution of non-Muslims continues. "The fact is that this regime treats religious minorities very poorly. It has acted viciously toward some of them," the former official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the program. "For Christians and others, it's a lower grade of persecution. They're treated like third-class citizens, day in and day out. If you are not a Shiite, you're going to face severe discrimination," he said. "Maybe people grow accustomed to it and may learn to live with it," the former official said. "But to say they're living an okay life and they're just economic refugees is ridiculous." The recent increase in applicants has caused a significant backlog, he said. "If the Iranians wanted to, they could stop cooperating and create trouble for the program." But according to some Iranian authorities, that would not happen. "There is no way that the Iranian government would block members of religious minorities from leaving. This would cause an international outcry," said Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former vice president and a Shiite cleric. "If HIAS would open its doors for Muslims, lots of Iranians would leave for America. I guess the same would happen in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia," Abtahi said. "I am sad people of other faiths leave Iran. But for that to change, big problems which affect all Iranians need to be tackled." Brulliard reported from Washington.