Culture

RFL/RE – A family of four in Iran has launched a symbolic protest against the cancellation of concerts around the country on religious grounds. In recent years, dozens of concerts and cultural performances have been abruptly called off in Iran following pressure and intimidation by hard-liners who claim such events undermine Islamic values. The closures of the officially sanctioned concerts have …

PayvandNews – Every single foreign tourist visiting Iran spends an average of $1,200, bringing in income as much as exporting 30 barrels of oil, the Iranian tourism chief said in a meaningful comparison as the country seeks to cut reliance on oil incomes. “Tourism [boom] will have a significant impact on job creation,” Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Director Ali-Asghar …

PayvandNews – The central Iranian province of Yazd is on track to welcome more tourists by registering a major boost in the number of its ecolodges and inscribing its historical capital on the UNESCO World Heritage list.  “The time is ripe for tourism growth across the province as the sum of all its travel-associated indicators have improved over the past four years,” …

PayvandNews – The 6th edition of the International Green Film Festival in Tehran announced the foreign films for various categories on Tuesday. Nineteen animated films, including “00-Baby Boom Child” by Swedish director Maja Lindstrom, “Me + Her” by U.S. director Joseph Oxford, and “South Forest” by Japanese animator Wenrui Huang, have been selected for the festival, which will take place in …

Radiozamaneh – Following the twelfth presidential elections in the Islamic Republic, the history of Iran’s post Revolutionary state and political figures has become a hot topic and the government is engaged in glorifying its past actions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is particularly investing in these films. However, the films are receiving a backlash from dissident film makers in Iran. …

PayvandNews – To experience Isfahan, a vibrant tourist city in central Iran, it is most magical to walk across Pol-e Khaju at sunset when the 17th-century bridge is lit by glorious colors.  A total of 23 arches, decorative motifs and tiles, adjoining arcades and an octagonal pavilion embedded right in the middle are amongst main features of the picturesque bridge that spans Zayandeh-Rood, …

PayvandNews – The tourist flow from the U.S. to Iran has not been slowed down as its year-on-year rate shows no decrease in the stream, says the chief executive of the Iranian Tour Operators Association. Related Iran travel website: irandoostan.com “U.S. tourist arrivals to Iran have not come to a halt and the number of inbound tourists from the U.S. during the …

PayvandNews – Natanz Central Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh) is located near Sheikh Abdol Samad Isfahani Tomb in the city of Natanz in Iran’s Isfahan province. This four-iwan central mosque is one of the best preserved of all Ilkhanid-era buildings, dating from the early 14th century. Look out for the very worn, but intricately carved wooden door at the entrance to the mosque. Natanz Central Mosque (Masjid-e …

CHRI – Members of Iran’s music industry are urging President Hassan Rouhani to follow through on his 2017 election campaign promise to uphold citizens’ rights by preventing the cancellation of state-sanctioned concerts. The most recent appeal was issued to the president in a letter signed by members of the House of Music, an independent association of musicians based in Tehran, on August 2, 2017 …

Radiozamaneh – The musicians in Iran are constantly being harassed and mistreated by the conservatives who are in power in judiciaries, especially in religious urban centers. They are now asking Iranian president to stand up for their rights. A year after 600 Iranian musicians wrote a letter to Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, objecting to increasing mistreatment of the music community and …