There is a strain of fascism that is perpetuating among Iranians with many similarities to the Corona virus…
1- This strain of fascism feels like a benign, common nationalist “fervour” where in fact it is violent, dangerous and attacks the very foundation of decency, humanity and justice all under the guise of a simple case of “alternative views”!
Continue readingThe passing of Najaf Daryabandari heralds the end of an era. Daryabandari was a Renaissance man. As a farsi translator, he single handedly transformed a craft and paved the way for Iranians to connect to the outside world through his command of every subject he translated. Najaf Daryabandari translated the most sophisticated philosophers as if he himself was the author. He delved deep into the world of top novelists with such literary dexterity and agility that helped his reader in the farsi language to understand the psychology and inner struggles of the original authors. With his eloquence and layered sense of humour, Najaf Daryabandari produced work that engaged his reader, stimulated them to rethink their point of view and encouraged them to look beyond words, to find meaning in the spirit that they conveyed.
Continue readingThe thin line between Fascism and Democracy
Democracy is often referred to as the “rule of majority”. To make matters worse, democracy is often known to start with elections. Having dabbled in the subject in my 2001 film “Secret Ballot”, I speak not from authority but as a seeker of truth who wanders hesitantly in and out of political issues. My life is dedicated to art, especially the art of filmmaking, partly because my understanding of Art is that it allows for no compromises. It follows that I resent politics because in my view, it is all about compromises. Politics is meaningless without compromise where art is meaningless with compromise.
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Doesn’t it feel horrible when every time someone asks Donald Trump a question, he responds by attacking Hillary Clinton? Didn’t we hate it when Ahmadinejad would answer a question about human rights in Iran with statistics about 4 million prisoners in the US or by denying the holocaust? Then why are we doing the same?
Thank you Mr. Kiarostami to give us courage, to instill the confidence in us that purity in thought and action can overcome all adversity in life and work. To teach us that our characters should define our art and to avoid letting our characters to be defined by what we do. To keep reminding us that “free we are, and free shall we remain…” despite the enemies lurking within and without.
Nowrooz, new day, a renewal of life, the beginning of spring, an opening to a new year. We celebrate the passing of old days, let bygones be bygones and cherish the cycle of life, embrace the new, a renewed life. With the new year, we remember fondly or in anguish, what has passed, and we surrender to the future. One that is held in tension by the inevitable and what we assume to command. We surrender to the future in the hope of having the privilege to make our mark on it.
To vote, or not to vote, that is not the question
Whether ’tis nobler to boycott, sanction, alienate and isolate the tyrant, or to engage from below, and pit the bad against the worst to impress the Goliath, with the power of the pebble, democracy is by no means defined by the ballot or elections. Continue reading
illustration by Hanna Abi-Hanna
As it happens, a left-wing political cartoon magazine of sixty-thousand circulation in France is to become the straw that broke the camel’s back! Pun fully intended. Now more than ever, modern society finds itself on a dangerous tightrope of liberty, fraternity and equality. There is no safety net and we must tread this tightrope ever so dilligently.
Peeling the Tangerine, The fragrance of Pain…
Trust The Tangerine Peel, Mohsen Namjoo
The New York Times referred to Mohsen Namjoo as the “Bob Dylan of Iran”. Unfortunately this reference is not only inaccurate, but also misleading. It is of course difficult to introduce an artist foreign to English speaking audiences without drawing parallels with a known name. Namjoo is among the most difficult cases to categorize and box up in an easily palatable package. To make direct comparisons between any artist is only indicative of the difficulty to convey the essence of an artist’s work to the reader. The problem however, starts with the artist himself. Namjoo can’t be boxed, packaged and bowed up.
In the Iranian context, we are far from addressing the broader issue of Capital Punishment. I personally oppose capital punishment. I believe that the death penalty does not serve justice in the civilized world. My intent here however, is not to engage in the capital punishment debate. The intent is to bring attention to one of the many atrocities that persist for decades in Iran. A situation that is grave, inhumane and unacceptable. A topic that injures the core of humanity. Continue reading