11 Jan 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Brazilian author Paulo Coelho has published a message on his blog claiming his books have been banned in Iran.
The Brazilian author has not been given the specific reasons for this action. However he has said that he has been using social networks to support Arash Hejazi.
Hejazi is the doctor and translator of Coelho’s books to Farsi, who appeared in the footage of Neda Agha-Soltan’s death during the demonstrations following Iran’s disputed presidential elections.
10 Jan 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Prominent Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and human rights activist Shiva Nazar-Ahari have received prison sentences for their activities in the aftermath of the disputed 2009 presidential election. Nazar- Ahari has received a four-year prison sentence for “assembly and collusion against the regime”, while Sotoudeh has received an eleven-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime”, “acting against national security” and “not wearing hijab during a videotaped message”.
21 Dec 10 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Four activists from the youth branch of the reformist Islamic Participation Front have been detained after they were summoned to a resident court in Evin prison. According to opposition website Rahesabz, prison officials cited “plan[s] to hold certain meetings” as the reason of their arrest. The four detained members are Hadi Heidari, Fatemeh Arab-Sorkhi, Mohammad Shafiyi and Alireza Taheri.
16 Dec 10 | Iran, Middle East and North Africa
Iran’s oldest gallery of contemporary art is under threat of closure. Tehran’s Seyhoun Gallery opened its doors in 1966, showcasing, launching and establishing many of Iran’s prominent 20th-century artists. Founded by the painter Massoumeh Seyhoun, the gallery fast became the hub for Iranian and international artists, exhibiting and hosting Andy Warhol in 1976.
During the 1979 revolution Seyhoun was herself imprisoned for one year for her display of “foreign extravaganza”, but re-opened the gallery upon her release, in spite of the significant change in social, political and economic climate, and continued, thereon promoting Iranian artists only.
Sohrab Sepehri, Faramarz Pilaram, Massoud Arabshahi, calligraphers Reza Mafi and (in its abstract form) Hossein Zenderoudi all exhibited at Seyhoun Gallery on Vozara Street in northern Tehran before becoming widely acclaimed outside Iran. In October this year sales of Sepehri’s work secured Sotheby’s a record auction. His Untitled (From the tree trunk series) painting sold for £409,250 more than double the pre-sale low estimate of £200,000.
After land costs soared for the Seyhoun Gallery spot following Seyhoun’s death earlier this year, plans to open a restaurant in its place have been exposed, causing uproar among Iran’s artist community who protested outside the gallery calling for the preservation of this historical site. “The footsteps of Iranian artists from Sohrab Sepeheri to Mokarameh Ghanbari can be heard though the walls of this gallery, and the demolition of this gallery means the demolition of the national and artistic identity of this country,” said Ahmad Nasrollahi, one of the artists. Maryam Seyhoun, the founder’s daughter and leading architect and artist (whose work was exhibited in a group exhibition with Picasso and Dali in Massachusetts in 1972) Houshang Seyhoun, argues that it is the gallery as a landmark that has in fact created the monetary value of the site, adding “This gallery belongs to all the people of Iran and should be preserved as a historical site”.
To sign the petition to save the Seyhoun Gallery click here
