Leaders of Iran

Karrubi�s National Confidence Party officially approved

2005-08-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Karrubi�s National Confidence Party officially approved: "Karrubi’s National Confidence Party officially approved
TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) -- The National Confidence Party’s application for a license to conduct political activities was officially approved by the Interior Ministry here on Saturday. Former Majlis speaker Mahdi Karrubi is the secretary general of the party.
Karrubi promised to establish the party after finishing in third place behind Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad in the first round of the presidential election held on June 17. The election was won by Ahmadinejad, who received a landslide victory in the runoff on June 24.

Esmaeil Gerami Moghaddam, the spokesman of the National Confidence Party, had previously announced that the party would receive official approval before the Khatami administration’s term office ended.

Karrubi also received a license to publish a newspaper with the same name."

CHN - Iranian Vice-President and Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), Hossein Mar'ashi Plans For Student Tours

2005-06-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

CHN - Show News: "Planning for national holidays can promote domestic tours

The website of Iranian Students Scientific-Cultural Tourist Center was inaugurated on Monday at the presence of Iranian vice-president and head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, Hossein Marashi.

Tehran, 6 June (CHN)-- Iranian Vice-President and Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), Hossein Mar'ashi, said yesterday that planning for national holidays can lead to the development of an organized system for domestic (student) tours.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the website of Iranian Students Scientific-Cultural Tourist Center, he added that all the relevant organizations and departments should closely cooperate with ICHTO to establish cost-effective student tours.

Elaborating on the need for encouraging domestic tourism, Mar'ashi said that it should mainly aim to develop closer ties among various national ethnics.

"98 percent of the measures to be taken for promotion of tourism have been fulfilled by our predecessors. We just have to take care of the remaining two percent by coordinating related affairs and eliminating the shortages," he added.

Deputy Head of University Jihad for cultural affairs, Abdol-Hamid Ahmadi, said in the same ceremony that the main objective of the Iranian Students Scientific-Cultural Tourist Center is to concentrate on policy-making and coordinating cultural institutions involved in student tourism and relevant activities, identify historical, national and religious heritages and traditions in various fields.

Ahmadi said that tourist information on 17 provinces and 63 provincial towns are currently accessible on the website of Iranian Students Scientific-Cultural Tourist Center.

"Besides, the required data about 30 more provinces and 291 cities will soon be added to the website," he added.

Turning to various tourist projects expected to be implemented by the University Jihad Center, he said that a project aiming to introduce Isfahan's historical and cultural monuments will be completed in the current Iranian year (started March 20)."

Mohammad Nobakht on Carpet Exports

2005-06-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

RFE/RL Iran Report: "Some industries have been hurt by the general economic downturn. Carpet exports, which are Iran’s second largest hard currency earner, earned $1 billion in 1997, down almost 45% from five years ago. Forecasts indicate earnings will be between $700-800 million in 1998. Parliamentarian Mohammad Nobakht blames the sales decline on over-production and reduced quality. Problems for the carpet industry are particularly serious because it employs approximately 2.3 million people.

"

Mohammad Reza Mir Tajeddini: Islamic propagation organizations to be merged - Irna

2005-06-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

MP: Islamic propagation organizations to be merged - Irna: "MP: Islamic propagation organizations to be merged Tehran, May 8, IRNA
Iran-Majlis-Propagation
Deputy head of Majlis Cultural Commission and MP from Tabriz, Mohammad Reza Mir Tajeddini here Sunday announced that a draft is currently being drawn up in the Majlis for merging various Islamic propagation institutions and reorganizing their structures.

Speaking to reporters, he said that representatives from one of the religious propagation organizations will take part in the Cultural Commission's weekly meetings and their views will be used to draw up the draft.

"The Islamic Propagation Organization, Islamic Propagation Bureau of the Seminary, Endowment and Charity Organization, Headquarters in charge of the mosques affairs, Friday Prayer Headquarters and similar institutions will be merged.

"Once they are merged, a council to be named `supreme propagation council' will be formed. The council will be chaired by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei," he added.

The MP noted that a new organization to be called, `endowment, Islamic propagation and charity organization' will soon be set up.

It will be headed by a cabinet member.

"The new organization will be administered by five deputies in charge of `cultural, artistic and promotional affairs', `organizing public affairs, religious bodies and charity affairs', `research and training', `endowment and development of mosques and religious centers' and `financial affairs and maintenance'."

Mohammad Atrianfar in Toseh Mar. 9th, 2005,

2005-05-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

Netiran>Articles>Politics>Elections>Rafsanjani Winning Hearts and Minds: "Date Added:Mar 12 2005 Print Version

Rafsanjani Winning Hearts and Minds

Toseh, Daily Newspaper, No. 1070, Mar. 9th, 2005, Page 10

Mohammad Atrianfar, a leading member of the Executives of Construction Party, says former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is winning support automatically. He says the nation has concluded that an experienced captain is needed to lead it out of the current impasse.
Following is the full text of Mohammad Atrianfar's interview with Toseh daily.

Q: Political parties and associations have accelerated their activities in recent years in a bid to make themselves further known but the Executives of Construction Party has not been so active. Why such an approach?
A: Response to this question needs information about the basis of a political party. The executives believe that Iran’s political structure has not yet understood “multipartism” although the Constitution defines tasks for political parties. Few are the groups to be referred to as parties and we can see only friendly reunions.

Q: So what is the reason behind the existence of the Executives of Construction Party?
A: From a pathological viewpoint, the groups presenting themselves as parties have yet to see the contents of a black box defining relations between our political system and parties. The executives were not from the very beginning forming any party. Under special circumstances, technocrats decided to play a role in the state affairs and they had to work under the aegis of a party in the light of the conditions of the time. In fact, Iran’s political system rewarded the executives of construction with the title of party. The executives swept the legislative election and everybody understood that the elite should not be barred from contribution to decision-making procedures. They reached their goals with the landmark victory in May 1997 of Mohammad Khatami.

Q: Members of this party say in their interviews with the newspapers that the Executives of Construction should let younger forces take the helm of affairs. Senior officials have reportedly opposed any activity of the executives. What is happening?
A: We have not officially got any message from the authorities but some of our outspoken members have been treated unfairly. We cannot take any action when we have no official warrant.

Q: Iran may be unfamiliar with parties but political groups have won votes in certain elections. How can the Executives of Construction Party remain accountable to the people when it halts its activities?
A: We should see what has taken place in the society. Real parties represent special segments of the society and other groups are not party. The Islamic Coalition Party, the Islamic Revolutionary Mujahideen Organization, the Islamic Iran Participation Front and the Executives of Construction are parties. The country has passed eight years of reformism and we have reached a three-dimensional outcome. One group, with traditionalist attitudes, is led by ICP and its like-minded groups, a second pragmatist one is commanded by IRMO while a third one has emerged with liberal views. IIPF and ECP represent this latest. We intend to press ahead with reforms and we cannot restrict reformism to a specific group.

Q: In the build-up to June’s presidential election, ECP seems to be in favor of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to get his job back. Can you tell us if Mr Rafsanjani would run for president?
A: Mr Rafsanjani behaves differently from other candidates. He does not represent a special group and he cannot contest any specific rival. Rafsanjani is intrinsically unwilling to stand in the election.

Q: Mr Rafsanjani has launched an exciting political atmosphere in the country and everybody is frustrated. Don’t you think that Mr Hashemi’s behavior is a disregard of the society?
A: I don’t think that Mr Rafsanjani has begun a political game. Specific conditions in the society constitute the reason behind the name of Mr Rafsanjani being bandied about in the press. The society has concluded that an experienced captain is desperately needed. Therefore, there is no political game and that is just an instinctive gesture. Mr Rafsanjani has made it clear that he would not throw his hat into the ring until the conditions require his presence. He will be of the same view for at least one and a half month. If there was any game, others could disturb it. I think that Mr Rafsanjani is winning a consensus without any real intention. The elite has accepted Mr Rafsanjani as the qualified candidate for the number two job.

Q: Why is the presence of Mr Rafsanjani tied to the conditions of the society?
A: Mr Rafsanjani maintains that radicalism should be checked in the society so that Iran can have dialogue with the world in a bid to create better living conditions for the people. But if radical groups take top posts in the country the nation would face potential threats. Mr Rafsanjani feels obliged to contribute to defending the identity of the Islamic establishment in Iran and his presence, to me, will be a sacrifice. Mr Rafsanjani says radicalism is managed by certain centers in the country and he calls for resistance against such attitude.

Q: President Mohammad Khatami had said his hands were tied and he did not enjoy pervasive authority while Mr Rafsanjani is expected to create major changes in the society. Do you think that Mr Rafsanjani is determined enough to get his post back and practice bigger authority?
A: Mr Rafsanjani has never been a footman and he will never be so. Nor was Mr Khatami. A president enjoys enough power and using this term is not good. The important point is that the president should take advantage of his authority and lead social affairs.

Q: During his two terms of presidency, Mr Rafsanjani picked his Cabinet members from all political factions. He chooses the best economic ministers but he is not very precise on political and security managers. Is Mr Rafsanjani of the same attitude?
A: After the Iraqi war, the country needed reconstruction and any president must have paid due attention to economic development. Mr Rafsanjani insisted on reconstruction but he did enough for social and political development. Needless to say, many infrastructures were founded under the presidency of Mr Rafsanjani. The head of the Expediency Council must now have a different view of the state affairs. A government should not wipe the past off its mind and the governments should rely on their predecessors.

Q: When Mr Rafsanjani was president the country did not witness enough political development and the state officials were not called to order. Under presidency of Mohammad Khatami, political development emerged and students dared to be critical of the president. How can Mr Rafsanjani adapt himself to the present conditions?
A: Radicalism should be controlled because of its instability. Any president should be accountable under the present circumstances and such a thing will take place. Mr Rafsanjani will definitely control radicalism.

Q: Mr Rafsanjani has yet to declare his intention to run for president. The rightist faction is nominating former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati wile the reformist may be in favor of former minister of education Mohammad Ali Najafi. What will you do if Mr Rafsanjani backs Velayati?
A: Such a probability will never occur. Mr Rafsanjani will defend anyone who is against radicalism and can bolster the policies for balancing the Islamic system. We are still in hibernation and we face restrictions. The ECP will not shift support for any other candidate than Rafsanjani but it does not mean inactivism.

Q: But other parties have chosen their favorite candidates to make necessary planning.
A: Yes, you are right. IIPF is in favor of former minister of higher education Mostafa Min and the League of Combatant Clerics backs former speaker of parliament Mehdi Karroubi. ECP supports Rafsanjani. In case the former president sits out, we may coalesce with reformists.

Q: Is ECP likely to defend Hassan Rohani?
A: Rohani has not announced his intention to stand in the election. We cannot field any nominee before they decide to run. If Moin is disqualified by the Guardian Council the IIPF will split.

Q: Does it mean a political impasse for reformism?
A: No, that is not so because the people are in favor of reforms. Reformism does not rely on merely its self-declared representatives. Those who introduced themselves as “developers” no longer repeat their pragmatic mottoes and they are moving towards reforms. The reform movement is still lively."

Mohammad Atrianfar, publisher of the reformist Shargh newspaper

2005-05-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Turkish Daily News - Confident Rafsanjani gets ready to run in Iran: "Powerbroker:Close aides say a Rafsanjani win is needed to check the power of hard-liners who since gaining control of parliament last year have questioned foreign investment deals, plundered state coffers for handouts and subsidies and taken a defiant stance on Iran's nuclear program.

"We're facing an extremist movement in Iran which is trying to gain power," said Rafsanjani backer Mohammad Atrianfar, publisher of the reformist Shargh newspaper. "What we're saying is we're facing a choice between good and bad.""

Hossein Mar’ashi Hero of Iran teaching Respect for the Iranian culture

2005-04-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

The Star Online: Lifestyle: "Respecting the Iranian culture

ONE of the most common complaints heard from non-Muslim tourists travelling in Iran is discomfort over the requirement for females above the age of eight to cover their heads.

While women are no longer required to conceal every single strand of hair – and many Iranian women, especially in Tehran, show more hair than they cover – every female still has to adhere strictly to the code.

Women must also not wear tight-fitting clothes and certainly not reveal anything more than their hands, face and maybe a little neck. Shoulders, upper arms, legs and, of course, the other parts of the body, are certainly no-nos.

However, tourists need not go overboard with the chador (similar to the tudung labuh) or the purdah (fully covered veil) unless they want to impress. These are now mainly worn by those from conservative backgrounds only.

The common perception is that women in Iran are all hidden away, living separate lives. The truth is more like this: this group of women are gleefully cheering on Laleh Seddigh, a woman race car driver who beat out the men to take the trophy at a race in Tehran stadium in January.--AFP photo
A few of the tour agents who were invited to Iran on a familiarisation tour recently called for tourists to be exempted from the rule, although this is unlikely to happen.

When asked what he thought of this suggestion, the Iranian vice-president and chairman of the Iran Cultural, Heritage of Tourism Organisation, Hossein Mar’ashi, said wearing a head covering was one way in which tourists could show respect for Iranian culture.

“When I visited Amritsar in India and entered the Golden Temple (the Sikh’s most revered temple), I was required to cover my head. It was done out of respect for local customs and laws,” he said.

He said it was acceptable for women to wear a hat instead of a scarf. “Any form of covering is all right, as long as the hair is covered,” he said.

Mar’ashi said the custom of covering the heads of females was not strictly Islamic, but more Persian. He said this was born out of the yearning to “protect women” and “ensure that due respect is accorded to them”.

This practice now has become an integral part of Iranian culture.

“For the visitor, I would say wearing the headscarf should be deemed to be part of your Iran experience,” he said."

His Execllency Hossein Mar’ashi in Malaysia - Targeting tourists to visit Iran

2005-04-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Star Online: Lifestyle: "Targeting tourists to visit Iran

HOSSEIN Mar’ashi has what must be one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

One of eight vice-presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he is also chairman of the newly established Iran Cultural, Heritage and Tourism Organisation.

This means he has the task of attracting tourists to a country often portrayed as a cradle of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism.

Nevertheless, unfazed by such circumstances, he is confident that he will succeed.

“I don’t think there is any difficulty in promoting tourism in Iran,” he said to a group of Malaysian journalists who had accompanied several travel agents belonging to the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association on a familiarisation tour of Iran recently.

Man with a hard job: Hossein Mar’ashi is trying to tempt tourists to visit Iran.
What is needed, he said, is more awareness and promotion.

He said the Iranian government is very serious about developing tourism and had allocated US$30mil (RM114mil) for the next five years for this purpose.

Advertising would be high on the list of priorities. Other things include increasing infrastructure for tourists and improving existing facilities.

He said as tourism had not been a priority in the past 25 years, many facilities had not been developed.

“We are trying to cater to three markets, namely the Muslim pilgrimage market, cultural tourism market and the eco-tourism market,” he said.

Currently, the largest number of tourists comes from Europe – mainly Germans and French – followed by those from Arab countries. Asian tourists, such as those from Japan and Malaysia, came in third while Iranians residing overseas form the fourth largest group of tourists.

He said Malaysians are among the people the Iranian government is targeting because of their “closeness in terms of culture and heritage”.

Farzad Nakhaie, manager of Tehran-based Rozhan Tour and Travel, the agency that handled the familiarisation tour, said he is particularly interested in getting Chinese Malaysians to travel to Iran.

“Many Muslim Malaysians are already coming to Iran. However, there are very few Chinese Malaysians,” he said. He has been handling in-bound tours from Malaysia for around four years.

However, both Mar’ashi and Nakhaie might find that there is still a lot of hard work ahead to capture this market, as feedback from those who went on the familiarisation tour showed.

Grace Soo, whose agent handles many Middle Eastern tours, said Iran was more of a niche-market destination. “I doubt we will be able to get masses of Chinese Malaysians heading this way,” she said.

Malacca-based Yau Yee Pay agreed, saying that Iran would probably appeal more to English-speaking tourists. “But I think there are enough attractions, and the food is interesting. These may give us reason to consider something, maybe in the future,” she said.

Rozhan Tour and Travel can be contacted at #6, Ground Floor, Negin Africa Tower, Africa Boulevard, Tehran, Iran; ++98-21-879 8485; fax ++98-21-877 0181; rozhantour.com. "

Faezeh HASHEMI BAHREMANI (RAFSANJANI) Iranian

2005-03-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

Arab women Playrights- Ruler's wives: "Faezeh HASHEMI BAHREMANI (RAFSANJANI) Iranian

1963-
Politician and Sportswoman

educated Al-Zahra University and Islamic Azad University (Tehran)
Member of Majlis e-Shura e Islami 1996-
member of Central Council of the Communications Network of Women's NGOs
Vice-President of National Olympic Committee 1990-
Founder and President of Islamic Countries Women Sports Solidarity Council 1991- which organized the Islamic Countries' Women Sports Solidarity Games in 1993 and 1997
published The First Meeting 1991
managing director of Zanan (a women's journal)
The International Who's Who of Women 3rd ed. Europa Publications: London, 2002 p.236

International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports ed. Karen Christensen et al. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001 p.587

http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/awardswin2002/index.php?page=hashemi

http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/DPolitics/970608XXDP01.html"

IT student's Weblog - 200 Billion Tomans Budget 4 IT Education! - Dr.Mohammad Baqer Nobakht

2005-03-28T05:26:00.000-08:00

IT student's Weblog: "200 Billion Tomans Budget 4 IT Education!!!
Dr.Mohammad Baqer Nobakht,a member of the budget and Calculations Commission in the Majlis,noted,"In spite of limitation in financial resources,the goverment has agreed to a 15 percent increase in the budget of the Ministry of the Education,research and Technology,4 1382."
Nobakht added,"What distinguishes this minisrty from other sectors in the 1382 budget is the allocation of a notable sum,200 billion tomans ,to IT education."

# posted by fatemeh khodaee @ 12:00 AM "

The "new right" Abadgaran and Ahmadinejad the street sweeper

2005-02-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

SOUTHWEST ASIA Iranian News: "The third group is the "new right," called the Abadgaran. It's a broad coalition of younger, second-generation revolutionaries, who dominate the current Parliament. Though classified as conservatives because of their allegiance to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, they espouse populist economic policies centered on social justice and the common good. They tend to view entrepreneurs as "greedy," and are suspicious of international trade. One of the Abadgaran's leaders is Tehran Mayor Mahmud Ahmadinejad, who occasionally dons the outfit of city street-cleaners and helps them sweep the capital."

War with Iran

2005-01-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

I received a nice note from a reader asking about the coming war with Iran. My feeling is that the war started with the overthrow of Mossadeq in 1953 and the puppet dictatorship of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. I have no objection to a Shah but if there is to be a Shah it must be up to the Persian people not the Americans. So rather than review the whole history of American cold war against Iran let me start with the current situation.

Israel is putting great pressure on the US to stop the Iranian nuclear bomb project. Iran denies a bomb project and the UN's IAEA finds no evidence of a bomb project. American Neocons are anxious to do Israel's bidding. The US Military is over extended with the war in Iraq and cannot wage a land war on Iran without recalling the inactive reserve and resuming the draft. This would not be popular with the US people. The Neocons counter with a plan to bomb Iran into submission without using troops. The plan counts on massive air superiority and the use of indigenous rebels to over thrown the Islamic Republic. The only candidates for the rebels are the Mojahedin-e Khalq - MKO. The US State Department lists the MKO as a terrorist group and it is currently illegal for the US Government to give them money.

The question then becomes can the US overthrow the Islamic Republic with a bombing campaign? There is intense pressure to rehabilitate the image of the MKO so that they can be funded to wage war in Iran. Even a small voice such as my own is under intense pressure to silence my voice on the MKO issue. I have received threats demanding that I stop publishing many of my pages. Unfortunately the IRI is not willing to furnish detailed information to show the evil that the MKO has done. If the IRI remains silent there is a good chance that the US will recognize the MKO and fund them. A sustained bombing campaign even if unsuccessful will be bad for the people of Iran.

What can the IRI do? Obviously anything that they can do to block the MKO is important. However more important is the speech that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei made Monday, July 5th 2004 in Hamadan. Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The Iranian people will cut off its hand without hesitation and endanger the interests of the aggressor everywhere in the world". What then can the Ayatollah Khamenei do to impact the US? A handful of thoughts come to mind. First of all closing or interdicting the Straights of Hormuz would block more than half of the worlds oil supply. The US Military is over extended in Iraq so raising a revolt among the Shia, against the US in Iraq would cause massive pressure. Afghanistan is quiet but vulnerable. A massacre of Americans would be easy to start. In 1978 then Afghan Army Captain Ismail Khan started a massacre in Herat that started the war that destroyed the Russians. President Kharzai controls only that part of the country that America guarantees him so a revolt is possible. A separate country taking in non-Pashtun Afghanistan is plausible. To the south the Baluch of Pakistani occupied Baluchistan are a bomb waiting to be ignited. Already there is growing agitation among the Marri and the Bugti Baluch against the Pakistani Government. Pakistan seeks to be all things to all people and treads a dangerous course betweens the demands of the US and the demands of Islam.

Does the US really want war? The Neocon faction does but there are changes in the second term. Doug Feith has resigned and Wolfowitz has reached the peak of his power and is receding. Rumsfeld is besieged. Rice as Secretary of State is steering an independent course. She was under pressure to make John Bolton her deputy but she declined. Rice is a voice of moderation and she has the President’s ear in a way Powell never did. At this point the US seems inclined to threaten but not start a shooting war.

What will Iran do? Clearly Ayatollah Khamenei is in control and what he wishes will come to pass. The upcoming Presidential race is problematic. As of now it seems clear that Rafsanjani will win unless Ayatollah Khamenei decides to stop him. The reformists are split and ineffectual. The movement is split into two parts, those who support Velayat-e Fiqh who have no public support and those who seek to overthrow the Government who are frozen out of politics by the Judiciary. The Conservatives seek to embrace a dangerous foreign policy. If Rafsanjani is out then I suspect that Velayati is a safe choice for the Islamic Republic. However Larijani seems to have the advantage unless of course Ayatollah Khamenei supports one over the other. If a reformist wins it would be 4 more wasted years like the last 8. If a Conservative wins then it could pressure the US to do something foolish. If Rafsanjani wins then he engineers a deal to normalize trade in exchange for verification of no bomb project.

At this point all I can do is sit back and watch the moves since it is in play now. I only hope that no more US servicemen have to die in foreign adventures that can be avoided and that no Iranians have to die for a bomb project that does not exist.
Barry O’Connell

Iran First Lady Zahra Sadiqi Visits Bahrain

2005-01-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

Gulf Daily News: "Iran First Lady leaves

ZAHRA Sadiqi, wife of Iranian President Mohammed Al Khatami, and her delegation left yesterday after an official three-day visit at the invitation of Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women.

She held talks with Shaikha Sabeeka and other leading officials on bilateral co-operation and matters of concern to women.

She was seen off by Her Highness, council deputy chairperson and Bahrain University president Shaikha Dr Mariam bint Hassan Al Khalifa, council secretary-general Lulwa Al Awadhi and other officials.

Mrs Sadiqi earlier in the day visited Al Jasra Handicraft Centre, accompanied by leading Bahraini ladies and members.

She was briefed by centre chairperson Shaikha Wafa bint Saif Al Khalifa on traditional Bahraini crafts and industries, particularly ceramics.

Mrs Sadiqi and her delegation also visited Bahrain University where she was received by Shaikha Dr Mariam, Mrs Al Awadhi, head of the honorary mission and council member Baheeja Al Dailami and a number of college deans and heads of departments.

Shaikha Dr Mariam expressed the faculty's pride at meeting Mrs Sadiqi, briefing her on the university's role in women's education. Shaikha Dr Mariam also hailed co-operation between the university and the council in implementing joint projects and exchanging know-how within the framework of the memo of understanding they had signed."

Alaeddin Boroujerdi - Iraqi Elections Will Restore Stability

2005-01-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

Iran Daily: "Iraqi Elections Will Restore Stability

TEHRAN, Jan. 12--A lawmaker on Wednesday underlined the need to hold sound and free general elections in Iraq to restore stability and security to the country.
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, expressed hope all ethnic and religious groups could take part in the January 30 elections which will prepare the ground for establishment of an independent Iraq without the presence of foreign troops, IRNA reported.
In his meeting with Secretary-General of Iraq's Kurdestan Islamic Union Salahuddin Mohammad Bahauddin, he underlined the significance of the deeply-rooted religious, cultural and historical bonds between the two countries and briefed the Iraqi official on Iran's stances.
"Iran's policy is based on the need for Iraq's unity and territorial integrity and non-interference of foreigners in that country," he said.
Boroujerdi underscored the need for solidarity among Iraqi groups, saying that Iran's government and Majlis will support Iraq's reconstruction efforts.
"Unity, solidarity and cooperation among ethnic and religious groups in Iraq will neutralize the plots hatched by its enemies," he said.
The Iraqi official, for his part, briefed Boroujerdi about Iraq's current developments.
Bahauddin stressed the need to hold a free and sound election in Iraq with the participation of all Iraqi ethnic groups, expressing hope that Iran-Iraq relations would broaden in the wake of free elections in his country."

Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi and the Kazemi Case

2005-01-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

Iran Judiciary Chief asks prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi to deal with culprits in Kazemi's death severely: "7/22/03
Iran Judiciary Chief asks prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi to deal with culprits in Kazemi's death severely

Judiciary Chief Ayatollah seyed Mahmoud Shahroudi, appreciating the president's timely and quick order for investigation about Zahra Kazemi's death, asked the Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi to deal with those involved in her death according to the laws, as soon as possible, IRNA reported from Tehran.

Ayatollah Shahroudi who was speaking at the weekly gathering of the judiciary officials, said, "The four ministers appointed by resident Khatami have prepared a comprehensive account of the event, a copy of which was sent to me by the president."

Appreciating the efforts made by the four ministers in charge, Shahroudi said, "Their report has been delivered to the judiciary or careful and speedy consideration, and the signature of the esteemed health minster at its bottom makes the judiciary's task easier."

Ayatollah Shahroudi assured that the possible involved parties in the issue would definitely be punished by the judiciary.

According to the delegation appointed by the president, the reason or the death of the photo jounalist Zahra Kazemi, 54, on July 11 in ne of Tehran's hospitals, has been announced as "brain hemorrhage, due to strike on the head."

Kazemi who worked for a Canadian journal was arrested while taking hotographs in front of Tehran's Evin Prison on June 23.

Following this Iranian photojournalists' death, President Khatami appointed a committee comprised of the ministers of Culture nd Islamic Guidance, Interior, and Judiciary, to survey the matter and report to him immediately.

President asks Shahroudi to hold judicial inquiry into Kazemi's death
President Mohammad Khatami on Monday forwarded the findings of the probe into the death of Mrs Zahra Kazemi to the Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi and called for legal inquiries into the case, IRNA reported from Tehran.
In a letter to Ayatollah Shahroudi, President Khatami said that legal action against those probably involved in the attack will prove that justice is being observed and the rights of every individual are respected.

The president expressed condolence to Mrs Kazemi's family.

The inquiry conducted by five cabinet ministers found that Mrs Kazemi's death was caused by a fracture in her skull while she was under arrest.

Karroubi dismisses questions on prosecutor in journalist's death case
Parliament Speaker Mehdi Karroubi on Tuesday rejected criticism about submitting the case on the death of Iranian journalist Zahra Kazemi to Tehran prosecutor for investigation, IRNA reported from Tehran.
"Naturally when somebody is treated unfairly, the Judiciary has to probe into that," he told reporters at the floor of the parliament when asked if Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi was fit to handle the case.

President Mohammad Khatami on Monday sent a special committee's findings on the death of the 54-year-old journalist to Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi.

The judiciary has to launch its own investigation to find out if anyone was to blame for the death of the victim, who died while in custody.

The ad hoc committee, formed on President Khatami's order, has said that Kazemi died after her skull was fractured either 'because a hard object hit her head or her head hit a hard object'.

A key Khatami ally and MP from Tehran, Ali Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, told IRNA Tuesday that 'given the president's emphasis that those responsible for Zahra Kazemi's death be established, the special committee's report in this case has not completely answered Mr. Khatami's questions'.

Ministry of Culture has said that the journalist was arrested last month while illegally taking pictures from Evin prison in Tehran and whisked away to Information (Intelligence) Ministry, where he felt unwell and was taken to hospital.

Several days later, she was pronounced dead from brain stroke on July 11, the head of the ministry's foreign media office, Mohammad-Hossein Khoshvaqt said.

The 54-year-old journalist worked for Canada's Camera Press magazine. Iran has rejected Canada's request to transfer the journalist's body to that country, saying, "Mrs. Kazemi is an Iranian citizen and in this case we will act according to the will of her family.""

Mortazavi Press Trials in Iran

2005-01-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

Press Freedom in Iran: "After the closure of Tous in September 1998, pressure on the press continued to mount. The independent newspapers Rah-e No (New Way), Tavana (Capable), Jame'eh, Salem (Healthy Society), Navid Esfahan (Gospel of Isfahan), Iran-e Farda (Tomorrow's Iran), and Mubayyin (Announcer) were closed by the Press Court. Adineh (Friday), a cultural monthly not previously known to have been the subject of complaints, was ordered closed by the Press Court in February 1999. In the cases of Jame-eh Salem and Adineh, the jury found them in violation of the Press Law but recommended minimum punishment, not including closure. The judge disregarded the jury's recommendations and closed them both. However, it is important to note that all of the above titles with the exception of Tous continue to publish despite the closure orders issued by the court. They justified their continued operation on the grounds that they had not received the formal closure order.

Following the Adineh decision, the jury protested the judge's action in that case by not attending the next hearing, involving a complaint against Keyhan (Galaxy) newspaper. This forced a postponement in the proceedings. At the second Keyhan hearing, the judge dismissed the six jurors who had absented themselves. Since then the Press Court in Tehran has not been able to convene because of the unavailability of the six jurors, who filed a lawsuit with the High Judicial Disciplinary tribunal against the judge claiming that he had acted improperly in dismissing them. In August 1999, the tribunal found that Saeid Mortazavi, the judge in the press court in Tehran, had exceeded his authority in ordering the dismissal of the jurors, but recommended no punishment. He remains in office.17 President Khatami also established a special commission to review the functioning of the press courts, but the result of the commission's review has not yet been published."

Iran's Minister of Culture's two new deputies Khoshkhou & Kazemi

2005-01-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

Iran Mania News: "Iran's Minister of Culture's two new deputies

Thursday, March 11, 2004 - ©2004 IranMania.com

Tehran, March 11 (IranMania) – Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance appointed Dr Mohammad Hussein Imani Khoshkhou as his deputy in the artistic affairs.

Imani Khoshkhou who is presently the Secretary of Iran’s Public Cultural Council holds a Ph.D. in economy from Britain’s Manchester University. He is also in charge of the coordination of UNESCO’s cultural and artistic activities in Iran.

The Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ahmad Masjed Jameie appointed Morteza Kazemi as his deputy in economic affairs."

Deputy Minister Mohammad Hossein Imani Khoshkhou visits the 10th international puppet plays festival

2005-01-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

Iran Daily: "Puppet Festival Winds Up

TEHRAN, Sept. 21--The 10th international puppet plays festival wound up with a ceremony at Vahdat Hall.
Fars news agency said that 16 countries took part in the weeklong festival by dispatching 17 groups. They presented 13 plays out of a total of 29 performances in the event.
Several workshops as well as lectures and seminars were organized on the sidelines of the festival.
Head of the Center for Dramatic Arts Khosrow Neshan said that 110 Iranian artists took part in staging 10 puppet plays.
Deputy Minister of Culture and the Islamic Guidance for Arts Affairs Mohammad Hossein Imani Khoshkhou said that it was a pleasure to see that the puppet plays were staged in the most attractive manner.
He said that the arts are beginning to have a positive impact on the Iranian society because they do not follow ethnic themes. Iran has managed to stage the most attractive puppet plays among Asian states.
Imani Khoshkhou said that the puppet plays conform to requirements of the society adding that the puppet show emerged in Europe in 18th century and flourished in the past two decades.
He said that the puppet plays festival is a means for conducting dialogue among civilizations. —We should apply the art for interaction among different nations and hold the puppet festival every year.š
Head of the International Union of Marionette Arts (UNIMA) Massimo Schuster expressed pleasure over the success of the festival saying, —I saw several puppet plays conforming to international standards in Iran.š
He said that the UNIMA is a family regardless of race, culture and religion of different nations working to develop friendship among the nations.
Schuster, Neshan and Imani Khoshkhou awarded certificates of merit to representatives of the 17 countries taking part in the international festival."

Chalabi: "Accusing Iran of interfering in Iraq unacceptable"

2005-01-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

: "Chalabi:Accusing Iran of interfering in Iraq unacceptable
Ilam, Jan 11, IRNA -- Head of Iraqi National Congress Party Ahmed Chalabi said Monday in Baghdad, "Accusations made by some Iraqi
officials against Iran are totally unacceptable."

Radio Iraq in one of its Monday night reports quoted Chalabi saying as, "Iraq is not under the influence of Iran. the Iranians` interest in Iraq is mainly due to presence of Imam Ali`s (PBUH) and Imam Hossein`s (PBUH) shrines in our soil. He added, "The `Solid Iraq` election list, which is backed by Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, has nothing to do with establishment of a political system similar to the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Chalabi further reiterated that Iran has never interfered in Iraq`s internal affairs and that accusations by some Iraqi officials in that concern were groundless and proof for inconstancy on political orations in Prime Minister Allawi`s government. Although Allawi is my friend, Chalabi said, I am unsatisfied with his security policy in Iraq and some of the existing problems arise from the weak conduct of his government.

Chalabi`s remarks were mainly interpreted as a reaction to reband Iraqi Defense Minister al-Shaalan`s often repeated baseless accusations, and even threats against the friendly Iranian nation and government."

[28 Oct 1996] GA/SHC/3367 : Fatemeh Hashemi Bahremani Statement to the UN

2005-01-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

[28 Oct 1996] GA/SHC/3367 : IMPROVED STATUS OF WOMEN NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH, THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD, AS DEBATE CONTINUES ON WOMEN'S ISSUES: "FATEMEH HASHEMI BAHREMANI (Iran) said the world was facing a moral crisis caused by centuries of tyranny, injustice and bankrupt moral values, as well as indifference and inaction in granting women's inherent rights. The advancement of women was considered among the main elements for social development because it played a vital role in economic, social, cultural and political development. Ensuring that women enjoy all human rights was an essential precondition for development, because women's issues affected all of society. The successful advancement of women's rights should address three integrated areas: family, society and the State. In the process of implementing such a programme, respect for each country's moral, cultural and religious values should also be respected.

Iran's experiences in the advancement of women had been built on the basis of the Islamic tenets following the Islamic Revolution, she said. The Government had endeavoured to improve women's status in all aspects during the past 18 years. Women were participating in all economic, social and political activities, including in the national decision-making process as members of parliament, advisers and under-secretaries to the president and ministers. A women's council, a policy-making body for women's issues, had been established in order to further the status of women. Work had been carried out in health services as well, and as a result women's life expectancy had increased and birth mortality had been reduced."

Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel: Parliament expected a qualified person as Iran's Minister of Roads

2005-01-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Speaker: Parliament expected a qualified person as Iran's Minister of Roads: "Speaker: Parliament expected a qualified person as Iran's Minister of Roads

Tehran, Jan 9, IRNA -- Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel said on Sunday that the legislature expected the nomination of a more efficient person as the new minister of roads and transportation.
Ahmad Sadeq Bonab, proposed by President Mohammad Khatami as a candidate for the office of the minister of roads and transportation, failed to secure a Majlis vote of confidence.

Out of 249 lawmakers attending the Majlis session on Sunday, 129 voted against, 105 cast their ballots in favor of the proposed candidate and 15 were abstained.

Haddad Adel added that Majlis vote of no-confidence for Sadeq Bonab, or for any other person, does not mean that the person is not capable of assuming other responsibilities.

Mr. Bonab is not affiliated to a particular political party but Majlis gave him vote of non-confidence because the body expected that a more efficient person should have been named, he added.

Haddad Adel appreciated Bonab's efforts during his tenure as the caretaker of the ministry in the past three months, expressing hope that Khatami will introduce a qualified person at the earliest.

The open session of the Majlis is to be held on Tuesday."

Majlis rejects Sadeq Bonab for post of transport minister

2005-01-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Description of Selected News: "Majlis rejects nominee for post of transport minister

Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN (MNA) -- On Sunday the Majlis rejected President Mohammad Khatami’s nominee for transportation minister, Ahmad Sadeq Bonab.

Of a total of 249 votes, 105 voted to approve Sadeq Bonab, 129 voted against him, and 15 abstained.

Sadeq Bonab was the deputy transportation minister under former transport minister Ahmad Khorram, who was impeached and removed from office by the parliament.

Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel said that the legislature expected the nomination of a more efficient person as the new transportation minister, IRNA reported.

Haddad Adel added that Majlis vote of no-confidence for Sadeq Bonab, or for any other person, does not mean that the person is not capable of assuming other responsibilities.

“Mr. Bonab is not affiliated to a particular political party but Majlis gave him vote of non-confidence because the body expected that a more efficient person should have been named,” he added.

Haddad Adel appreciated Sadeq Bonab's efforts during his tenure as the caretaker minister in the past three months, expressing hope that Khatami will introduce a qualified person at the earliest."

Jammu and Kashmir, biggest theatre of sacrifice: Lt Gen Sinha

2005-01-07T04:49:00.000-08:00

Jammu and Kashmir, biggest theatre of sacrifice: Lt Gen Sinha: "Jammu and Kashmir, biggest theatre of sacrifice: Lt Gen Sinha:
[India News]: Jammu, Jan 07 : Describing Jammu and Kashmir as the biggest theatre of sacrifce, Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha has complimented the people of Jammu and Kashmir for scripting a saga of valour along with the army, paramilitary forces and police in fighting the proxy for decade and half.

"Over 15,000 civilians fell prey to killing by the terrorists in the state during the past 15 years. This included thousands of helpless women and children," Sinha said, speaking at the fundation-laying ceremony of Balidhan Stambh last evening.

General Sinha said that the country has fought five wars with the help of the strong will of its people and supreme sacrifices of its forces.

He said nowhere in the country have such a large number of people's lives were sacrificed in Jammu and Kashmir for upholding the national integrity.

In this backdrop, he said, the raising of a unique war memorial is a historic occasion not only for the city of temples but for the whole country.

He described Jammu as a land of valiant soldiers who remained always in the forefront to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. PTI"

Zahra Rahnavard Wife of ex-PM Moussavi urges release of detained female journalist

2005-01-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Wife of ex-PM urges release of detained female journalist: "3/3/01
Wife of ex-PM urges release of detained female journalist

Tehran, March 3, IRNA -- The wife of former Iranian prime minister Mir-Hossein Moussavi, Zahra Rahnavard, has called for the release of a woman reformist, Fariba Davoudi Mohajer, who was arrested last month on "yet undeclared charges" as reported by the press on Saturday.
The daily Hayat-e Now quoted Rahnavard as denouncing the "reprehensible" manner of the arrest which it described as a "stark violation of her privacy" guaranteed under the laws of the state.

"We urge the release of Ms Davoudi-Mohajer and seek an apology from armed agents who arrested her in a violent manner," she told a group of students in Al-Zahra University.

"Why should a female journalist be arrested in a violent way before the eyes of her family?" she asked.

She said that Islam dismisses such "reprehensible acts."

Davoudi-Mohajer was arrested last month. Her husband, Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar, was quoted by the press as saying that several men, armed with warrants from Tehran's revolutionary court, beat his wife before taking her to an unspecified place.

Davoudi-Mohajer was the head of the public relations office of the now-banned Khordad daily, once managed by a former vice-president, Abdullah Nouri, now serving a jail sentence on dissent charges.

Meanwhile, another woman reformist figure, Fatemeh Haqiqatjou, last week took a sharp snipe at the Iranian judiciary for the "violent arrest" of Davoudi-Mohajer.

Newspaper reports of the arrest said that persons acting as agents of the judiciary yanked off Mohajer's chador (veil), squeezed her in between doors and ransacked her bedrooms.

The Tehran Revolutionary Court denied its agents had maltreated Davoudi-Mohajer.

Meanwhile, the student news agency ISNA said a "nationalist party" has condemned the continuing arrest of reformist journalists in the country.

It regretted the detention of nationalist leader Ezzatollah Sahabi and denounced confessions extracted from him "under the worst forms of duress."

It said that Sahabi was not able to recognize his own family members who visited him in prison last week.

Sahabi, 75, was sentenced in January to four years in prison for his part in a Berlin conference on political change in Iran. He is serving his sentence at Tehran's Evin prison. Other charges are currently pending against him in court in connection with articles he published as managing director of the banned Iran-e Farda journal.

The party has also blasted the detention of Reza Alijani, an editor of the banned Iran-e Farda journal (a mouthpiece of the banned but somewhat tolerated Iran's Freedom Movement), on orders of the Islamic Revolutionary Court.

Another pro-reform columnist of Iran-e Farda, Hoda Saber, was arrested on orders of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in January. He remains in jail to date.

Over 30 newspapers in Iran have been closed down and a number of their journalists indicted on various charges since April this year. Alleged offenses include "provoking public disorder, engaging in anti-revolutionary activities and insulting Islam."

Neither East Nor West : One Woman's Journey Through the Islamic Republic of Iran
© Copyright 2001 NetNative
(All Rights Reserved)"

Khamenei, Rafsanjani, Moussavi 1984 Cabinet Reshuffle

2005-01-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

TIME Magazine Archive Article -- Who's Up, Who's Down -- Aug. 27, 1984: "Who's Up, Who's Down

Aug. 27, 1984

Eager to show there was support for his policies, Prime Minister Mir Hossein Moussavi asked Iran's parliament last week to give him and his government a vote of confidence.

What Moussavi got instead was a split decision: he and 15 Cabinet ministers won approval, but five officials, including Defense Minister Muhammad Salimi, were dismissed. Salimi's ouster was not tied to the conduct of Iran's four-year war with Iraq, since military strategy rests with Iran's generals and Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini's inner circle. Instead, Salimi was accused of not weeding out waste in the country's defense budget.

In addition, Salimi and another cashiered minister belong to an ultraconservative Shi'ite Muslim group that has been critical of Khomeini's policies. The shake-up apparently was engineered by Parliamentary Speaker Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who believes that such dissent is divisive. Rafsanjani's maneuver may show that in the rivalry between him and President Seyed Ali Khamenei, Rafsanjani is winning. "He has Khomeini's ear," said a senior Iranian official. "By forcing a Cabinet reshuffle, he just demonstrated who is boss.""