Death of Ethnic Arab Poet Hassan Heydari Triggers Civil Unrest in Southern Iran
By Azadeh Karimi
Social media platforms have been swarmed with footage allegedly showing massive street protests in many parts of Ahvaz, capital of the southern province of Khuzestan, following the suspicious death of Hassan Heydari,...
Porn Documentary “XSunami” Screened in Iranian Holy City of Mashhad
By Azadeh Karimi
Some 300 people attended the invitation-only premiere of a feature-length documentary film titled “XSunami” ("Memoirs of a Porn Star") at the Hoveyze Multiplex Cinema in the holy city of Mashhad, capital of...
Iranian Official Criticizes Release of Trophy Hunting Video on Social Media
By Azadeh Karimi
Kiumars Kalantari, the deputy director of the Department of Environment’s Office for Wildlife and Biodiversity, has condemned the publication of footage on social media which shows a trophy hunter killing a young...
Iran Revokes Publication Permit for Turkish Author Elif Shafak’s Novel
By Azadeh Karimi
Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has revoked the publication permit for a novel by the award-wining Turkish-British author Elif Shafak, who was shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize, according to...
Israeli TV Thriller ‘Tehran’ Angers Iranian Newspaper
By Azadeh Karimi
The Tehran-based hardline Kayhan newspaper has attacked an Israeli television spy thriller tilted “Tehran,” describing it as an “anti-Iranian production.”
“Israel continues to make anti-Iranian movies and TV series,” Kayhan said in an...
Iran Water Transfer Project Exposes Systematic Corruption in Management, Expert Says
By Azadeh Karimi
In a letter to Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian earlier this month, the head of the Iranian Department of Environment Isa Kalantari has informed the government that it can proceed with its plan...
Iranians Spend 13 Minutes a Day on Average Reading, Minister Says
By Azadeh Karimi
Iranians spend, on average, 13 minutes a day reading and 2 hours and 49 minutes a day online, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi has said.
Mr. Salehi made the...
Iran’s Guardian Council Passes Amendment Bill on Acid Attacks, Spokesman Says
By Azadeh Karimi
The Guardian Council has approved an amendment bill that imposes longer prison sentences on people who carry out acid attacks, according to Abbasali Kadkhodaei, the Spokesman for the Guardian Council.
Mr. Kadkhodaei made...
Official Iranian Calendar to Include Prophet Zoroaster’s Birthday, Minister Says
By Azadeh Karimi
Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution is reviewing a proposal to recognize and include the birthday of Prophet Zoroaster (March 26) in the country’s official calendar, Minister of Culture and Islamic...
Iran Culture Minister Questioned in Parliament on Female Celebrities’ Red-Carpet Attire
By Azadeh Karimi
Earlier this month, Majlis (Iranian Parliament) deputies questioned Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi on violations of the hijab law by women artists at movie premieres, public concerts, and other...
