Thursday, February 16, 2012

Iran

Iran Bans Best-Seller By Female Author

(RFE/RL)

November 27, 2006 -- Iran has banned an award-winning novel by female Iranian writer Zoya Pirzad.

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November 27, 2006

Publisher Alireza Ramezani is quoted by AFP as saying Iran's Culture Ministry has prohibited the publication of "I Will Turn Out The Lights," about a married woman's unrequited love for another man.

The reasons for the ban are not clear. The book has reportedly sold more than 200,000 copies in Iran since 2001. The move comes amid what is seen as a clampdown on Iran's publishing industry.

In recent months, the Culture Ministry has tightened censorship regulations, banning the publication of dozens of new titles and reprints, including the widely acclaimed "Blind Owl" by one of the giants of Iranian literature, Sadegh Hedayat.

Publishers have warned that the new regulations could destroy Iran's independent publishing industry.

(AFP)

RFE/RL Iran Report

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India -- Investigators work at the site where a vehicle exploded near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, 13Feb2012

Alleged Attacks Tehran's Way Of Lashing Out?

(INTRO) Israel has blamed Iran for two bombings targeting its diplomats in India and Georgia this week, as well as for a botched bombing in Bangkok that Thai intelligence officials said were aimed at top Israeli diplomats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's "terrorist activities" have been exposed, but Iran has denied any involvement. RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari spoke to Juan Zarate, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism about the attacks and Iran's alleged role. More

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (center) looks on as scientists unveil a fuel rod at the Tehran Research Reactor.

Iranian Nuke Still One-To-Three Years Away, Says Expert

Iran on announced on February 15 that it has installed its first domestically produced nuclear fuel rods in a reactor in Tehran. Tehran also announced that it activated a new generation of centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility. RFE/RL spoke with nuclear physicist Frank Barnaby about what the advances reveal regarding Iran's uranium enrichment abilities, which Western countries allege are aimed at secretly building a nuclear weapon. More

Iran has stepped up its pressure on activists using the Internet

Iranian Activists, Journalists Receive Threatening E-mails

A number of Iranian activists and journalists based inside and outside the country have told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda they have been threatened in anonymous e-mails. More