Culture

CHRI – The eight-year prison and flogging sentence issued against renowned filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof is part of a campaign to crush dissent among artists in Iran and should be condemned at the Cannes Film Festival, where his latest film will be shown, and worldwide, said the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). “One by one, the Iranian authorities are going after …

VOA – French Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi, whose graphic novel “Persepolis” tells the story of a girl growing up in post-revolutionary Iran, was awarded Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Prize for Communication and Humanity on Tuesday. The prize jury praised the 54-year-old as “one of the most prominent names in international comics, author of what is, for many, one of …

gatestoneinstitute.org – [A]ny regime’s foreign policy is basically a continuation of its domestic policies. The Khomeinist revolution’s ambition was to transform the Iranian society into a vehicle for “exporting revolution” which, as “Supreme Guide” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei often asserts, is the fundamental goal of the regime. The hitch is that, as the old generation of revolutionaries, a hodgepodge of leftist …

RFL/RE – Iran’s judicial authorities have seized the Instagram page of the popular online program Blind Date, hosted by an Iranian influencer known as Viny, as part of a sweeping crackdown on social-media content. The official announcement, made on Viny’s Instagram page, which has more than 1.2 million followers, said the action was taken by judicial order and the page …

Iranwire – Iranian security forces have detained Kurdish singer Mohammad Abbaszadeh, according to a report by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.  The 35-year-old from Ilam province was reportedly arrested upon returning from Nowruz celebrations in Shuhan city.  His current whereabouts and condition are unknown. This is not the first time Abbaszadeh has faced persecution by Iranian authorities. In October …

Iranwire – The coincidence of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with the Nowruz New Year holiday has led to Iranian authorities implementing a new set of restrictions.  Even before Nowruz began, the Deputy Interior Minister threatened to take action against those who chose not to fast during the holiday despite Islamic law exempting travelers from fasting obligations. Seyed Majid …

Iranwire – As the world welcomed the arrival of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, several American and international officials extended greetings to those who celebrate the thousand-years-old festivities.  President Joe Biden offered his well wishes, saying, “Today, Jill and I send our best wishes to the millions of people around the world celebrating Nowruz – a time of reflection, renewal, …

iranwire – Iranian-American astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli celebrated Nowruz by sharing a photo of the Haftsin table she took to space on her first mission to the space station last year. She said in an Instagram post, “I brought a Haftseen with me to @iss thinking I might be there for Nowruz. It would have been unique to celebrate the Persian …

Iranwire – Faramarz Aslani, a renowned Iranian singer, songwriter, and composer, died on the evening of March 20 at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer. His wife, Marjan Aslani, announced the news of his passing on her Instagram page.  In the message, she said, “On the evening of March 20, a cruel cancer took the life of …

iranintl – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will not give a speech in Mashhad on the occasion of Persian New Year’s Day (Norouz or Nowruz) – with the cited excuse that this year, the Islamic fasting month Ramadan coincides with the ancient Persian festivities. But, the cancellation of the speech – meant to have taken place at the mausoleum of …