Arzu visits the city of Qom, famous for its seminaries, on her trip to Iran A city built in the middle of the desert. Too hot in summer and too cold in winter, yet tens of thousands and more flock from world-wide to visit the grave around which the city was founded, and
Arzu Merali on autumn in Tehran, demonisation and the impact of sanctions on Iran Autumn in Tehran is new for me. I have visited in all other seasons. As a Brit by birth but not ethnicity (for want of a better description) the weather is most pleasant. Neither too hot nor too
Arzu looks at how the demonisation of Iran is nothing new and has permeated the ummah’s psyche It is Eid ul Adha today. Most shops are closed, the TV is full of celebration coverage and oh yes, the news recounts the killing of 45 and injuring of 50 worshippers including women and
Arzu Merali introduces her ten day blog on Iran, starting with police harassment in London, UK When I conceived of this blog a week back, I thought it would contain some observations on Tehran life under the increased threat of aerial bombardment and war from the Israel / US. The observations would
Arzu Merali looks at the significance of the notorious prison camp. An almost ten year old child who has never seen their father is one of the most poignant victims of the asymmetric war waged by the US on what it deems legitimate targets. His story and those of former detainees –
First published in Q-News, November 2003. Its arguably one of the few positive images of Muslims after 9/11, but at least now no-one thinks you’re paranoid anymore. Certainly, if I were part of the Iranian parliament, or the office of the presidency, or any other facet of its complex governmental apparatus, I’d