INTRODUCTION

Ābgūsht (the literal translation is “meat-water”) is a hearty, fairly uncomplicated “workingman’s” stew made of (very little) meat—usually lamb shank on the bone—chick peas, white beans, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes (usually as paste) simmered for hours on low heat. Like most Iranian food, it is minimally spiced: just salt, pepper, turmeric, and a few dried limes. From my perspective, the presentation and preparation of Iranian dishes quite frequently appears to overshadow their consumption. Ābgūsht is no different in this respect and is perhaps an ideal example of the above principle, considering its common classification as one of the simplest and most “unrefined” of Iranian meals. The planning, prepwork for, and cooking of ābgūsht can be a day-long process involving many steps—and it is still not done! Once it is removed from the fire, the ābgūsht is further transformed (in name and appearance) before it is consumed. The broth is strained from the pot, the bones removed, and the remaining ingredients pounded into a paste called kūbīdah, which is served alongside the broth. Small pieces of bread torn from a loaf of sangak (whole wheat flat bread, of slightly soured dough, cooked on superheated pebbles and sometimes topped with sesame seeds) are often added to the broth to make a pottage of sorts known as tirīd (the word means the sopping up of broth with bread). More fresh bread, fresh greens [sabzī khurdan], and pickled vegetables [turshī] accompany the meal.

PROPOSAL

Personally, I think Iranians here in North America nostalgic for the homeland would go nuts for something like this. There are a couple of obstacles in drawing the “natives,” though, and turning it into a consistent moneymaker:

CONS

1) Only one thing on the menu. In fact, there is no menu. As soon as you sit down in a dīzīsarā in Iran, they bring you your food and utensils. These consist of ābgūsht in an earthenware jar (dīzī), pestle for mashing, bowl for holding the strained broth, fresh bread and greens, and a pitcher of dūgh (yogurt soda, which is very good but sounds revolting to most people who haven’t grown up on it).

2) Food is heavy and fatty and makes you sleepy. This is not something I would recommend eating everyday. Every ābgūsht is delivered to your table in Iran comes with a big cube of mutton fat (dunbah) floating on top. After finishing your food and topping it off with tea and super sweet, fried and then dipped in honey pastries (bāmiyah), it’s really only time for one thing: a 2-3 hour nap, which is why many of these places are only open for lunch as a lead-in to the afternoon siesta. This is not something, in any case, you necessarily want to eat at dinner time (at least in large quantities) unless you enjoy burping up the taste of rotten eggs all night.

3) Not really conducive to an elegant dining experience, which is often associated with “ethnic” restaurants. Many dīzīsarās have communal seating, there are no multiple course meals, and your bare hands are easily as important a means of food delivery in this dining experience as your fork, spoon or knife.

Well, I really haven’t done a good job of selling this idea, have I? Hah! Well, it has positives too:

PROS

1) It tastes good.

2) There is something fun about the communal dining experience. Think of the German beer hall.

3) There is a procedure and order to eating ābgūsht that involves straining, mashing, dunking, slurping, etc., which adds fun and interest to its eating. I think kids (and adults) of the right disposition would have a blast with it.

4) Many of these places have musical performances, often originating in Sufi devotional practices. This has become the basis of much of Iranian “classical” music, which has a growing audience in the West. Generally, I think gaining cultural knowledge/having a cultural experience is just as important a part of the ethnic restaurant experience for most people as the food itself. In short, the ambience counts for customers almost as much as the food. Going to restaurants like this is a way to project oneself as cosmopolitan.

5)Maybe the whole sleepy thing could be worked into the concept. Some of the dīzīsarās I’ve been to have their customers sit on a wooden bedframe (takht) covered with a Persian rug and surrounded by pillows. People aren’t encouraged to take a nap there but rather to get comfortable while they eat. Well, I’ve always thought why not allow the customer to sleep it off? You could make private cubicles like you have in some Japanese restaurants. Your party could reserve a room for, let’s say, 3 hours. You pay for food and lodging all in one. Would make a good spot for business meetings, I would think.

Anyway, that’s my idea in a nutshell.

Photos by Mohsen Rezaei, Mehr News Agency

Following photos by Mohsen Rezaii show Iranian women bus drivers in the capital city Tehran. Nowadays the Iranian women have an active and successful participation in different social activities. They have great opportunities to realize their potentials in all arenas and be most helpful to family members and society.

Photos by Mohsen Rezaii, Mehr News Agency

ISNA reports that Tehran Revolutionary Court has announced that Panahi’s release has been secured by the order of his interrogator and the approval of Tehran Prosecutor General.

The case of Jafar Panahi, according to this report, is sent to the Revolutionary Court of Tehran after the issuance of his indictment.

Panahi was arrested over three months ago at his home by Iranian security forces. Last Sunday he announced that he has gone on a hunger strike in protest to his “ill-treatment in prison, threats and baseless accusations.”

He set three demands in order to end his strike: “contact and visiting privileges with his family, right to a lawyer and release without conditions until his trial.”

The international community as well as numerous Iranian artists and activists repeatedly called for Panahi’s release in the past months.

Jafar Panahi supported opposition leader MirHosein Mousavi in the 2009 presidential elections and participated in protests against the alleged electoral fraud that returned Ahmadinejad to power.

He is the director of internationally acclaimed films such as The White Balloon and The Circle.

Source: Zamaneh

جعفر پناهی آزاد شد

جعفر پناهی کارگردان سینما با تودیع وثیقه ۲۰۰ میلیون تومانی به طور موقت از زندان آزاد شد

خبرگزاری ایسنا به نقل از پایگاه اطلاع‌رسانی دادسرای عمومی و انقلاب تهران گزارش کرده که آزادی آقای پناهی به دستور بازپرس و تائید دادستان صورت گرفته است.

دادسرای انقلاب اعلام کرده است پرونده‌ اتهامی جعفر پناهی با صدور کیفرخواست به دادگاه انقلاب اسلامی تهران ارسال خواهد شد.

جعفر پناهی که بیش از سه ماه پیش در منزل خود در تهران بازداشت شد، از یکشنبه هفته گذشته اعلام کرده بود در اعتراض به «بدرفتاری ماموران در زندان و تهدیدها و اتهام‌های واهی» دست به اعتصاب غذا زده است.

وی برای شکستن اعتصاب غذا، سه شرط گذاشته بود: «تماس و دیدار با خانواده، حق داشتن وکیل و آزادی بدون قید و شرط تا تشکیل دادگاه.»

۱۱۶ روشنفکر ایرانی و سوئدی، ۸۵ تن از دست‌اندرکاران سینما و ژولیت بینوش، بازیگر سینمای فرانسه در روز‌های اخیر خواستار آزادی فوری آقای پناهی از زندان شده بودند.

جعفر پناهی در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری سال گذشته از میرحسین موسوی حمایت می‌کرد و پس از انتخابات در تجمع‌های اعتراضی شرکت کرده بود.

وی کارگردان فیلم‌های مشهوری همچون بادکنک سفید، طلای سرخ، آفساید و دایره است.

Panahi was due to take his place on the Cannes jury this year. Instead, he is incarcerated in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, after he was arrested for unspecified crimes. The festival has left an empty chair on the jury panel.

Stephen Frears, in Cannes for the premiere of Tamara Drewe, added his voice to the protests today, saying reports of the hunger strike were “terrible news”.

(18 May 2010) Prominent Iranian director, Jafar Panahi, has gone on a hunger strike since Sunday, 16 May 2010, to protest abuse and ill-treatment as well as continuous threats against his family members.

During a telephone call to his family today, Panahi told them he is on a hunger strike and read a letter to them which he wished released to the Iranian media.

In the letter published by his family, Panahi stated that he has been threatened with arrests of his entire family. “On Saturday night [15 May 2010] agents attacked Evin’s Cell 56, forcing me and my cellmates outdoors without any clothing and kept us in the cold weather for one and half hours,” he wrote.

“On Sunday morning, they took me to interrogation room and accused me of filming the inside of my cell, which is absolutely false.  They then threatened that they would arrest my entire family and transfer them to Evin Prison, and that they would send my daughter to an unsafe detention center in Rajaie Shahr, ” Panahi added.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran condemns the inhumane threats made against Panahi.   The Campaign holds Iranian authorities directly responsible for any harm which may come to Panahi’s physical health.  The Campaign is further concerned that Jafar Panahi’s courageous action to reveal his illegal and inhumane treatment, may increase physical and psychological abuse against him.

Regarding his decision to go on a hunger strike, Jafar Panahi has said:  ”I have not taken any food or liquids since Sunday morning [16 May 2010], and I would like to announce that unless the following demands are met, I will continue to refrain from eating and drinking, as I do not wish to turn into a guinea pig who is put under various torture, psychological and mental abuse, and subjected to false accusations.”

He made the following demands for ending his hunger strike:

“1. Contacting and visiting with my family to ensure their complete health.

2.  The right to having and consult with a lawyer after 77 days of detention.

3. Unconditional release until my trial date and final verdict.”

In the end, Panahi has said:  ”I swear upon the cinema in which I believe, that I will not stop my hunger strike until my demands are met.  My only demand is for my body to be delivered to my family to bury wherever they like.  This letter was written at 11:00 a.m. on 18 May 2010.”

Source: International campaign for Human rights in Iran

اعتصاب غذای جعفر پناهی در پی تهدیدخانواده وشکنجه روحی در زندان

جعفرپناهی کارگردان مطرح سینمای ایران از روز یک شنبه در پاسخ به فشارهای روحی و تهدید مداوم اعضای خانواده اش دست به اعتصاب غذا زده است. پناهی درتماسی که روز سه شنبه ۲۸ اردیبهشت ماه با خانواده خود داشته است از اعتصاب غذای خود خبر داده و نامه ای را برای آنها خوانده که دراختیار رسانه ها قرارگیرد.

دراین نامه که توسط خانواده اش منتشر شده او گفته است که تهدید شده همه اعضای خانواده اش را دستگیر می کنند: « صبح روز یکشنبه مرا به بازجویی بردند و متهم کردند که از داخل سلول فیلمبرداری کرده ام؛ که کذب محض است. و بعد تهدید کردند که تمامی اعضای خانواده ام را دستگیر و به اوین منتقل خواهند کرد و دخترم را به بازداشتگاهی ناامن در رجائی شهر خواهند فرستاد و با این حرف ها قدرت تجزیه و تحلیل را از من سلب کردند.»

کمپین بین المللی حقوق بشر با محکوم کردن تهدیدات غیرانسانی که علیه این کارگردان مشهور سینمای ایران به منظور وادار کردن وی برای تحقیق برخی خواسته های غیرقضایی و امنیتی صورت می گیرد، وزارت اطلاعات را مسوول مستقیم هرگونه آسیب به سلامت جسمی وی می داند. کمپین همچنین نگران آن است که اقدام شجاعانه پناهی در افشای فشارهای غیرقانونی و غیرانسانی برعلیه خودش موجب افزایش موج تهدید وآزار واذیت جسمی وروحی وی بشود.

پناهی افزوده است: « بعد از برخورد ناشایستی که شنبه شب (۸۹/۲/۲۵)در هجوم مامورین به داخل سلول ۵۶ اوین صورت گرفت و متعاقب آن به مدت یک ساعت و نیم، من و هم سلولی هایم را بدون لباس در بیرون و در هوایی سرد نگه داشتند.»

این کارگردان مطرح سینما در خصوص تصمیم خود برای اعتصاب غذا گفته است: « ازیکشنبه صبح(۸۹/۲/۲۶)تا کنون هیچ چیز نخورده ام و نیاشامیده ام و حال اعلام می کنم اگر موارد زیر تحقق نپذیرد، من به نخوردن و نیاشامیدن خود ادامه خواهم داد؛ چرا که نمی خواهم تبدیل به موش آزمایشگاهی شوم که هر لحظه مرا به اتهامات واهی تحت شکنجه و آزارهای روحی و روانی قرار دهند.

وی درخواست زیر را برای پایان اعتصاب غذای خود مطرح کرده است:

۱.تماس و دیدار باخانواده ام و اطمینان کامل از سلامت آنها
۲.حق داشتن وکیل بعد از ۷۷روز و مشورت با او
۳.آزادی بدون قید و شرط تا تشکیل دادگاه و صدور حکم قطعی

او درپایان آورده است: «‌ به سینمایی که به آن معتقدم قسم می خورم تا تحقق خواسته هایم دست از اعتصاب غذا برنمی دارم و تنها خواسته ام این است که جنازه مرا به خانواده ام تحویل دهند تا هر کجا که مایل اند دفن کنند.» این نامه در ساعت یازده صبح ۲۸ اردیبهشت نوشته شده است.

The detention of renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been extended for another two months following a letter of gratitude he issued from Evin prison through a family member.

According to the Jaras opposition website, Mr Panahi’s detention in Evin prison has been extended by two more months for writing a simple letter of gratitude from his cell. In the letter, Panahi thanked organisers of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival who drew attention to his plight by dedicating an empty jury chair in absentia to the well-know filmmaker.

Jafar Panahi, a vocal critic of the Iranian government and supporter of the Green Movement following last June’s rigged election, has been held in the notorious Evin prison since March 1. He was detained by Iranian authorities, reportedly because he was making a film about the fraudulent 2009 presidential election.

Translated by irangreenvoice.com

تمدید قرار بازداشت جعفر پناهی برای دو ماه دیگر

جرس:روز گذشته و پس از انتشار نامه جعفر پناهی به همکارانش در جشنواره کن ، قرار بازداشت موقت او تمدید شد

گفتنی است جعفر پناهی، شامگاه دهم اسفندماه سال ۸۸ پس از یورش نیروهای امنیتی به منزلش به همراه همسر، دختر و ۱۲ نفر از مهمانانش بازداشت شد و گرچه همراهان آقای پناهی پس از چندی آزاد شدند، خود او با گذشت بیش از دو ماه از بازداشتش همچنان در زندان به سر می‌برد.

جعفر پناهی روز گذشته از زندان اوین خطاب به مدیر فستیوال کن پیامی منتشر کرد.

TWO IRANIAN FILMMAKERS DETAINED FOR MONTHS

Two Iranian filmmakers – Mohammad Ali Shirzadi and Ja’far Panahi – are detained without charge or trial in Evin Prison, Tehran after their arrest in January and March 2010 respectively. Amnesty International is calling for their immediate and unconditional release as they are held solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and are considered to be prisoners of conscience.

Mohammad Ali Shirzadi, aged 39, was arrested by five unidentified men on 4 January 2010 outside his home in Tehran. He was forced to re-enter his house which was then searched without a warrant and his computer, personal notebook and other items were confiscated. His family had no news about his whereabouts for 40 days, after which he telephoned them to say he was all right, but did not reveal his location. They later learned that he was being held in Evin Prison. He has so far been allowed two family visits, at which a security official was present, and he was unable to tell them the reasons for his arrest. However, his family believe his arrest may be linked to an interview he filmed around two years ago, between prominent human rights defender Emadeddin Baghi and Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. The film was shown after Grand Ayatollah Montazeri died in December 2009 and shortly afterwards, Emadeddin Baghi was arrested and has been in detention since (see UA: 05/10 Index: MDE 13/003/2010 and follow-up).

Award-winning filmmaker Ja’far Panahi, aged 49, was arrested on 1 March 2010 at his home in Tehranwith several other people, including his wife and daughter. All have since been released except for Ja’far Panahi. His wife, Tahereh Saeedi, was allowed to meet him for the first time on 30 March. On 14 April 2010, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance said that Ja’far Panahi had been arrested because he was making an anti-government film about the disputed presidential election of 2009.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:

• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammad Ali Shirzadi and Ja’far Panahi as they are held solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and are prisoners of conscience;

• Expressing concern that Mohammad Ali Shirzadi was held incommunicado for 40 days and urging that family members of all detainees are informed promptly of their relatives’ whereabouts and allowed to visit them regularly;

• Reminding the Iranian authorities that freedom of expression is guaranteed under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a state party and that the right to freedom of expression includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 16 JUNE 2010 TO:

The village of Kandess Kooh is part of Galikesh  in the town of Minudasht in northern Iranian province of Golestan.  The village lacks basic necessities including suitable roads. The residents use tractors and other slow moving vehicles for transportation.

A woman who has suffered injury due to lack of proper roads

Photos by Aboutaleb Nadri, Mehr News Agency

New York, NY (April 30, 2010) – Jafar Panahi, an internationally acclaimed Iranian director of such award-winning films as The White Balloon, The Circle, Crimson Gold and Offside, was arrested at his home on March 1st and has been held since in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. A number of filmmaking luminaries have come to Mr. Panahi’s defense and “condemn his detention and strongly urge the Iranian government to release Mr. Panahi immediately,” according to a new petition. (Petition text and full list of signatories is available below.)

Islamic Republic officials initially charged Mr. Panahi with “unspecified crimes.” They have since reversed themselves, and the charges now allege that he was making a film against the regime, a very serious accusation in Iran.

Mr. Panahi’s films have been banned from screening in Iran for the past ten years and he has been kept from working for the past four years, but he continues to stay in Iran.

“Mr. Panahi deeply loves his country,” says Jamsheed Akrami, an Iranian-American film scholar and filmmaker, who helped organize the petition. “Even though he knows he could have opportunities to work freely outside of his homeland, he has repeatedly refused to leave. He would never do anything against the national interests of his country and his people.”

Mr. Panahi is one of the most heralded directors in the world. He has won such top prizes as the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Offside (2006), the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Crimson Gold (2003), the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for The Circle (2000), the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for The Mirror

(1997) and the Cannes Camera d’Or for The White Balloon (1995).

For further information please contact:

Susan Norget, susan@norget.com, 212-431-0090 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              212-431-0090      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 917-833-3056 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              917-833-3056      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

PETITION: Free Jafar Panahi

Jafar Panahi, the internationally acclaimed Iranian director of such award-winning films as The White Balloon, The Circle, Crimson Gold and Offside, was arrested at his home on March 1st in a raid by plain-clothed security forces. He has been held since then in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

A recent letter from Mr. Panahi’s wife expressed her deep concerns about her husband’s heart condition, and about his having been moved to a smaller cell. Mr. Panahi’s films have been banned from screening in Iran for the past ten years and he has effectively been kept from working for the past four years. Last October, his passport was confiscated and he was banned from leaving the country. Upon his arrest, Islamic Republic officials initially charged Mr. Panahi with “unspecified crimes.” They have since reversed themselves, and the charges are now specifically related to his work as a filmmaker.

We (the undersigned) stand in solidarity with a fellow filmmaker, condemn this detention, and strongly urge the Iranian government to release Mr. Panahi immediately.

Iran’s contributions to international cinema have been rightfully heralded, and encouraged those of us outside the country to respect and cherish its people and their stories. Like artists everywhere, Iran’s filmmakers should be celebrated, not censored, repressed, and imprisoned.

Signed:

Paul Thomas Anderson

Joel & Ethan Coen

Francis Ford Coppola

Jonathan Demme

Robert De Niro

Curtis Hanson

Jim Jarmusch

Ang Lee

Richard Linklater

Terrence Malick

Michael Moore

Robert Redford

Martin Scorsese

James Schamus

Paul Schrader

Steven Soderbergh

Steven Spielberg

Oliver Stone

Frederick Wiseman

Petition Organizing Committee: Jamsheed Akrami, Godfrey Cheshire, Jem Cohen, Kent Jones, Anthony Kaufman

Source: Norget.com

The following is an excerpt of the letter, as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency:

Dear Mr. Seyed Alireza Sajadpour,

Greetings,

“Based on an approval by the cabinet to ban foreign words in banners, advertisements, etc…from now on, Iranian movies are not permitted to use foreign words in titles. This ban applies to films currently in production as well.”

Translated by  Persian2English.com

In response to removal of the name of “Forough Farokhzad” from Iran and the world’s book of poets, secretary of poets conference in Iran stated: “We have a cultural and a public diplomacy, and that is why the name of ” Forough Farrokhzad “although a known poet among poetry readers was not mentioned in the book for several reasons.”

Based on Khabar online, Omidi, during a press conference added: “This is the first book dedicated to poets of Iran and around the globe and was written after necessary research and study, which was written based on regulations of each country.”

He also added: “Even the name of foreign poets was mentioned in coordination with the respective governments of those countries, and our country has followed the same routine.”

Book of poets of Iran and the world was first published in accordance with poets conference in cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan.

Translated by: St Journalist