SONG AND MUSIC SONG AND » THIS ISSUE » RESTAURANT, EXHIBITION&BOOK REVIEWS AND EVENTSIN TASTING BLOOD:CALIGULA IN » MAKINGNOISEQUIETLY » »

WHITHER SANCTIONS? » WILL THERE BEWAR ONIRAN? » IRANIANORGANISATIONS INLONDON » FLOWERSOFPERSIAN February-March 2011 February-March Volume 7-Number 7 £4 | €5 » | US$6.5 PLUS

Volume 7 - Number 7 February-March 2011 £4 | €5 | US$6.5

THIS ISSUE » IRAN » WHITHER SANCTIONS? » FLOWERS OF PERSIAN SONG AND MUSIC » MAKING NOISE QUIETLY » IRANIAN ORGANISATIONS IN LONDON » TASTING BLOOD: CALIGULA IN TEHRAN » WILL THERE BE WAR ON IRAN? » PLUS » RESTAURANT, EXHIBITION & BOOK REVIEWS AND EVENTS IN LONDON ‘Angel’ (2010) by Hojat Amani, ‘Concerning Angels’ exhibition (see page 18) About the London Institute (LMEI) Volume 7 - Number 7 February-March 2011 Th e London Middle East Institute (LMEI) draws upon the resources of London and SOAS to provide teaching, training, research, publication, consultancy, outreach and other services related to the Middle Editorial Board East. It serves as a neutral forum for Middle East studies broadly defi ned and helps to create links between Nadje Al-Ali individuals and institutions with academic, commercial, diplomatic, media or other specialisations. SOAS With its own professional staff of Middle East experts, the LMEI is further strengthened by its academic Narguess Farzad SOAS membership – the largest concentration of Middle East expertise in any institution in . Th e LMEI also Nevsal Hughes has access to the SOAS Library, which houses over 150,000 volumes dealing with all aspects of the Middle Association of European Journalists East. LMEI’s Advisory Council is the driving force behind the Institute’s fundraising programme, for which Najm Jarrah it takes primary responsibility. It seeks support for the LMEI generally and for specifi c components of its George Joff é programme of activities. Cambridge University Hugh Kennedy SOAS Max Scott Mission Statement: Stacey International Sarah Searight Th e aim of the LMEI, through education and research, is to promote knowledge of all aspects of the Middle Society for Arabian Studies East including its complexities, problems, achievements and assets, both among the general public and with Kathryn Spellman Poots AKU and LMEI those who have a special interest in the region. In this task it builds on two essential assets. First, it is based Sarah Stewart in London, a city which has unrivalled contemporary and historical connections and communications with LMEI the Middle East including political, social, cultural, commercial and educational aspects. Secondly, the LMEI Ionis Th ompson is closely linked to SOAS, the only tertiary educational institution in the world whose explicit purpose is to Society for Arabian Studies, Saudi-British Society provide education and scholarship on the whole Middle East from prehistory until today. Shelagh Weir SOAS LMEI Staff: Co-ordinating Editor Anabel Inge Director Dr Hassan Hakimian Editorial Assistant Deputy Director and Company Secretary Dr Sarah Stewart Rhiannon Edwards Executive Offi cer Louise Hosking Listings Events and Magazine Coordinator Vincenzo Paci-Delton Vincenzo Paci-Delton Designer Shahla Geramipour Letters to the Editor: Disclaimer:

Th e Middle East in London is published 6 times a year by the London Middle East Opinions and views expressed in the Middle East Institute at SOAS. Please send your letters to the editor at in London are, unless otherwise stated, personal Publisher and the LMEI address provided (see left panel) views of authors and do not refl ect the views of their Editorial Offi ce or email [email protected] organisations nor those of the LMEI or the Editorial Th e London Middle East Institute Board. Although all advertising in the magazine is School of Oriental and African Studies carefully vetted prior to publication, the LMEI does University of London Th ornaugh Street, Russell Square not accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims London WC1H 0XG made by advertisers. United Kingdom SSubscriptions:ubscriptions: T: 44 (0)20 7898 4490 F: 44 (0)20 7898 4329 E: [email protected] To receive Th e Middle East In London regularly, please refer www.lmei.soas.ac.uk to the LMEI affi liation form inside the back cover of this magazine. ISSN 1743-7598 Contents:

4 18 26 FROM THE DIRECTOR London: A hub for contemporary Lebanese Cuisine: Past and Iranian art Present by Andrée Maalouf and LMEI Board of Trustees Mohammad Mirbashiri Karim Haidar Professor Paul Webley (Chairman) 5 Nadje Al Ali and Mark Douglas Director, SOAS EDITORIAL H E Sir Vincent Fean KCVO Consul General to Jerusalem 19 Iran’s lost pixels 27 Dr Ben Fortna, SOAS 6 Haleh Th e Rise and Fall of a Palestinian Professor Graham Furniss, SOAS INSIGHT Dynasty: Th e Husaynis 1700-1948 Professor Robert Hillenbrand Whither sanctions? by Ilan Pappé Edinburgh University Hassan Hakimian 20 Atef Alshaer Dr Karima Laachir, SOAS POETRY Mr Charles Richards Mohammad Reza Shafi ’i Kadkani Professor Annabelle Sreberny, SOAS 8 and Farzaneh Khojandi 28 Professor Sami Zubaida IRAN Books in Brief Birkbeck Flowers of Persian song and LMEI Advisory Council music: digitising the Golha 21 archive REVIEWS: RESTAURANT Lady Barbara Judge (Chair) 29 Jane Lewisohn Kandoo LISTINGS: FEBRUARY- Professor Muhammad A. S. Abdel Near and Middle East Department, SOAS Nadje Al-Ali and Mark Douglas MARCH EVENTS H E Khalid Al-Duwaisan GVCO Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Kuwait 10 Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani Making noise quietly: Iran’s Arab International Women’s Forum 22 contemporary music scene REVIEWS: FILM FESTIVAL Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa President, University College of Bahrain Bronwen Robertson Britain’s fi rst Iranian fi lm festival Professor Tony Allan Fari Bradley King’s College and SOAS Dr Alanoud Alsharekh LMEI and Fellow, St Antony’s College 12 Th irty years in Britain: Iranian 23 Mr Farad Azima Iran Heritage Foundation organisations in London REVIEWS: EXHIBITION Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif Sahba Ladjevardi and Adom Th e Bridge of Knowledge, Brunei Art and Archaeology Department, SOAS Saboonchian Gallery Dr Noel Brehony Madeleine Fry MENAS Associates Ltd. Mr Charles L. O. Buderi Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP 14 Dr Elham Danish : the new face of Iranian 24 Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia television? REVIEWS: BOOKS Professor Nasser D. Khalili Mohammad Mirbashiri Iran’s Infl uence: A Religious- Nour Foundation Political State in the Region and Mr Kasim Kutay Moelis & Company the World by Elaheh Rostami- Ms Heidi Minshall 15 Povey Middle East & North Africa Research Tasting blood: ‘Caligula’ in Tehran Ziba Moshaver Group, Foreign & Commonwealth Offi ce Parastoo Dokouhaki Mr Rod Sampson Barclays Wealth, Dr Mai Yamani 25 Carnegie Middle East Centre 16 Istanbul: A Cultural and Literary Will there be war on Iran? A History by Peter Clark Founding Sponsor and fresh yet divergent look at an old Andrew Mango Member of the question Advisory Council Ali Fathollah-Nejad Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa al Jaber MBI Al Jaber Foundation

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 3 FFROMROM THETHE DIRECTORDIRECTOR FFromrom tthehe DDirectorirector

Hassan Hakimian

elcome to Th e Middle East for us to re-examine the content, style and • a better balance between current aff airs in London’s new series! Th e appeal of the magazine. What you see is and art and culture Wmagazine you have before you the result of much discussion, dialogue and • replacing the ‘Letter from the LMEI’ has been re-designed to look, feel and read refl ection within the Editorial Board over with a lively opinion section entitled diff erently, to capture better the LMEI’s the past months. ‘Insight’ aspirations and also to refl ect our growth While continuing with our commitment • turning the popular poetry page into a and evolution. to exploring the richness and breadth of permanent fi xture Th e Middle East in London has evolved Middle East-related activities in our capital • widening the ‘Profi le’ feature to embrace over the years into a signature publication city, the magazine’s remit will be widened those outside the academic fi eld of the LMEI, assisting us in key ways with to manifest more clearly LMEI’s strategic • adding a new section entitled ‘Books our mission of ‘promoting understanding of intentions to connect better with the Middle in Brief’ to provide concise, to-the-point the Middle East’. Seven years – or 67 issues East region. You will therefore notice a introductions to new titles on the region, to be precise – aft er its launch, time was ripe number of key changes: and • a fresh, new design.

We have also decided to move the magazine to a new, bi-monthly format to enable us to focus on higher quality. Meanwhile, we are increasing the number of pagespages.. East It remains for me to thank our ȱ le ȱȱ Midd The loyallo readers on whose support the in n 5 magazine’sm continuation depends; 00 do ber 2 n ovem o ° 6, N L 2 | N me Volu UK£ 3 | € 5 | US$ 5 ourou numerous contributors over thethe years on whose good will we havehav relied; the staff of LMEI and everyever member of the Editorial Board, includinginclu our able Co-ordinating Editor,Edito whose commitment and competencecomp is second to none. AmendingAmen Iraqi Constitution Turkey and the EU I hohope what is before you will refl ect ourour commitmentcom to a new future for the Interview with John Curtis magazinemagazi and one that you will continue A Heckler as Terrorist? to likelike anda value. Middle Eastern Films at LFF ItIt goesgoes without saying that, as always, wewe look fforward to receiving your thoughtsthoughts and feedback and hope that the newnew seriserieses will achieve this aim – with your help!help!

4 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 EEditorialditorial

Dear Reader

‘untitled’ by Foad Ashtari, AKSbazi.com (see page 19)

Annabelle Sreberny Chair, Centre for Iranian Studies, SOAS

t has been a pleasure to be the guest while a performance of Hedda Gabler was Ladjevardi and Adom Saboonchian Editor for this fi rst issue of the revamped recently closed down, Parastoo Dokouhaki provide a neat history of the development IMiddle East in London with its special describes a highly experimental reading of community organisations here. New focus on Iran. It covers two strands of work of Caligula that resonated with the Tehran gallery spaces for Middle Eastern art have on Iran. Th e fi rst is a focus on the most audience. Musical performance has not had opened and numerous recent art shows serious challenges currently facing Iran, an easy time under the Islamic Republic and have focused on contemporary Iranian including the tightening sanctions regime yet people devise new spaces and creative art. Th ere are poetry recitals, novels are and the ever-present threat of military formats: Bronwen Robertson describes being published, and interest in Iranian intervention. Th ese topics were vigorously a performance of experimental sound fi lm is high, even as the Islamic Republic engaged at the launch of the Centre for and noise music in Tehran that would imprisons its top directors, such as Jafar Iranian Studies at SOAS last year and are have challenged any Western audience. Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof. Even briefl y reprised here. Th e digital arts have found many new television has recently been developed here, Th e second strand is on contemporary practitioners with photography enjoying beaming novel entertainment programmes forms of expression within Iranian culture. a boom time: Haleh Anvari describes her to evidently eager audiences inside Iran. It is a powerful irony that, under the innovative way of allowing Iranians to Not only do these pieces refl ect a wide surveillance of a repressive regime, we are represent themselves and share their images range of cultural themes, they are also witnessing a burgeoning of creativity inside online. written by a new generation of scholars of Iran, using both old and new genres and London is now home to many diff erent popular culture who come from a range of forms. Th eatre, especially from a global communities of Iranians and becoming a new disciplines that open up new academic repertoire, is attracting audiences and major hub of Iranian creative arts. Sahba and intellectual debates about Iran.

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 5 IINSIGHTNSIGHT As economic sanctions against Iran begin to take eff ect, Hassan Hakimian asks whether the right lessons have been drawn from the rich experience of sanctions in the past

WWhitherhither ssanctions?anctions?

Historically, only about one-third of all succeeded in pressing France and Britain to stop the Suez war, and in 1953 a total sanctions are believed to have succeeded in blockade of the Iranian oil industry achieving their intended objectives brought down the country’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. Failed sanctions are, however, hether as tragedy – or as farce WMDs and its ‘existential threat’ to Western no less notable, especially in the context of – we know that history can capital cities. Th e fact that these weapons nuclear non-proliferation: three of the four Wrepeat itself. What is perhaps less were never found is now sadly fading countries that have successfully developed common is that this should happen in the away as a footnote in history. With similar nuclear weapons capability since the 1970s same region, aff ect more or less the same suspicions being raised against Iran recently, (India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel) generation and be justifi ed for ostensibly the we are led to ask whether a similar fate is did so under international sanctions (only same reasons. staring Iraq’s largest neighbour in the eye? Israel has escaped this fate). In the 1990s, Iraq was subjected to the Th e use of sanctions as a foreign policy Although Iran appears well inducted most extensive array of trade and fi nancial tool goes back a long way but has been in dealing with Western sanctions since restrictions since the Second World War. on the increase in the past few decades. the early days of the 1979 revolution, the Th e consequences were dire by most Although sanctions are notorious severity and scope of the recent sanctions accounts. According to the UN, child and for causing human distress, they are leave little doubt as to the seriousness with infant mortality rates more than doubled sometimes represented as a more ethical which the 5+1 Group intends to keep the between 1990 and 1998, leading to the or humanitarian alternative to war. Most spotlight on Iran’s nuclear programme. unnecessary slaughter of an additional sanctions are imposed by large countries on Last June, the UN stepped up its actions to 228,000 children. ‘Lucky’ Iraqis – totalling smaller nations and oft en refl ect domestic prohibit activities relating to Iran’s military some four million by 2002 – managed to considerations and agendas. Historically, capabilities (Security Council Resolution escape their compatriot’s predicament by only about one-third of all sanctions are 1929). Th is was quickly followed by the US seeking refuge abroad. Since then, the Iraqi believed to have succeeded in achieving measures (‘Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, tragedy has unravelled before our eyes with their intended objectives. Undoubtedly, Accountability, and Divestment Act’), which a war that was justifi ed on the grounds there have been some notable ‘success’ introduced far-reaching restrictions on the of the Ba’athist regime’s alleged arsenal of stories: in 1956, for instance, the USA import and export of goods, services and

6 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 technology between the USA and Iran. A rare sense of bipartisan camaraderie was It is hard to see how declining to refuel Iran’s passenger demonstrated in both the Senate and the planes in some airports (including Heathrow) is likely House of Representatives, which voted 99-0 and 408-8 in its favour, respectively. Since to promote peace in the Middle East President Obama swift ly signed it into law on July 1, 2010, speculation has been rife rhetoric of ‘smart’ sanctions, such measures Short of war, sanctions appear as a last as to whether these measures can lead to a amount to ‘collective punishment’ and their throw of the dice: a short-term palliative change in Iran’s behaviour. principal victims tend to be the very victims generating consensus against the target Whether sanctions will ‘work’ depends – of the regimes they intend to infl uence. As country but with little thought given to inter alia – on their underlying objectives, an example, it is hard to see how refusing what may follow aft erwards. Yet, as Gary and this is where the real issue lies. to sell to Iran parts for its passenger planes Sick, the veteran Iran observer and analyst, Ostensibly, sanctions aim to bring Iran back or declining to refuel its commercial fl eet in has rightly pointed out, ‘sanctions do not to the negotiating table and ultimately to some airports (including Heathrow) is likely persuade dictatorial regimes to abandon persuade the regime to give up its nuclear to promote peace in the Middle East. projects that they think are central to their ambitions – which Iran has always insisted Sanctions can presumably lead to ‘change’ security and survival or even their self- are for civilian purposes. Disentangling in two ways: from above when the ruling image’. Th is lesson was learned the hard way fact from fi ction on both sides, however, elite decide to cave in or soft en up, or from in Iraq. Is there evidence to suggest that the continues to be a fraught task. below when masses revolt, deciding they ‘international community’ has drawn the Among the rationales alluded to are have had enough. As for the former, as the right lessons from recent experiences of ‘promoting democracy and improving experience of Iraq showed, the elite quickly sanctions and wars? Th e answer does not human rights’, ‘curtailing Iran’s regional become adept at defl ecting the worst impact seem very encouraging. infl uence’ and even ‘regime change’. Th e of sanctions on themselves. As for the latter, Times newspaper was not atypical in its it is doubtful whether the economic and Dr Hassan Hakimian is the Director of remarks recently (October 15, 2010) that political cycles ever go hand in hand in such the LMEI and Reader in the Economics sanctions have been set up ‘to prevent terror a simplistic manner. Evidence from Iran’s Department, SOAS ([email protected]) and promote Middle East peace’. recent economic history in fact points in Whereas the 1990s’ US sanctions against the opposite direction: the revolution in Iran were mainly trade-related and confi ned 1979 followed a period of unprecedented oil to the energy sector, in the current round, boom (not bust), and the harsh economic Iran’s banking, shipping and international climate of the 1980s saw the consolidation – transactions in general are targeted with not weakening – of the new state apparatus much greater eff ect. And whereas in the in Iran. No wonder that in the current 1990s the EU governments and fi rms politically charged climate inside Iran, readily fl outed the US sanctions, pursuing sanctions are considered unwelcome and and promoting their own interests in Iran, ill-timed for Iran’s civil and human rights this time around the EU has also adopted movements, which view growing external (Opposite) President Obama swiftly signed sanctions on a set of tough, unilateral measures. Such pressures as a distraction from the real quest Iran into law measures have also been emulated by for democratic reform and change in the (Below) Last June, the UN stepped up its actions to other countries, such as Canada, Australia, country. prohibit activities relating to Iran’s military capabilities Norway (and to a more limited extent Japan), which have introduced their own restrictions against Iran. Private sector compliance, too, has been on the increase, with some international giants (Toyota, Kia, Lukoil, Allianz, Lloyds and Royal Dutch Shell – to name a few) pulling out of business with Iran. No surprise that such developments have been cheered by US offi cials as evidence that sanctions are already making a diff erence to the point of ‘hindering’ Iran’s nuclear programme. However, Iran’s position has been characteristically defi ant: whether in denial or going as far as to welcome sanctions as a ‘blessing in disguise’ and ‘assisting Iran’s long-term economic development’. As in Iraq, the impact on the population and civil society at large is ultimately what will leave the real mark and is, sadly, more likely to go unnoticed. Despite the

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 7 IIRANRAN Jane Lewisohn explains the cultural impact of the Golha radio programmes on Iranian life and why digitising the archive is crucial for lovers of Persian culture FFlowerslowers ooff PPersianersian ssongong aandnd mmusic:usic: digitising the Golha archive

Th e greatest Iranian vocalists of the 20th excellence in the sphere of music literature, setting standards that are still looked up to century saw their careers launched on in Iran today, referred to by scholars and these radio programmes musicians as an encyclopaedia of Persian music and poetry. Most of the great and songs in modern were commissioned specifi cally for these he Golha (‘fl owers of Persian song Golha programmes. programmes. and music’) radio programmes Th e foremost literary, academic and Mr Pirnia produced fi ve diff erent Twere broadcast on Iranian National musical talents of his day off ered Mr categories of programme: ‘Eternal Flowers’ Radio for 23 years from 1956 to 1979. Pirnia their collaboration and support. Th e (Golha-ye javidan), ‘Multicoloured Flowers’ Th ey comprised approximately 850 greatest Iranian vocalists of the 20th century (Golha -ye rangarang), ‘A Green leaf’ (Barg-e hours of programmes made up of literary saw their careers launched on these radio sabz), ‘A Single Flower’ (Yek shakh-e gol) and commentary with the declamation of programmes. Besides having such a rich ‘Desert Flowers’ (Golha-ye sahra’i), each poetry, which was sung with musical pool of talent at his fi ngertips, Mr Pirnia had featuring choice selections from the lyrics accompaniment interspersed with solo the support of the director of the Iranian of the great classical and contemporary musical pieces. Th e Golha were the National Radio (1950-1960s), Nusrato’llah Persian poets, combining song, declamation brainchild of Davoud Pirnia, a one-time Mu‘niyan, who transformed the radio with musical accompaniment, learned assistant prime minister, enthusiastic patriot from a commercial advertising platform commentary and Persian . and scholar who harboured a deep love for entertainers and a parking place for Th e Golha marked a watershed in Persian for Persian culture and its rich literary and relatives of political elites into a respected culture. Before this, due to the conservative musical traditions. He retired from political and infl uential vehicle for the preservation socio-religious bias, music had been life in 1956 and for the next 11 years he and promotion of Persian culture. Th e practised behind closed doors. Where they devoted himself tirelessly to producing the Golha programmes became exemplars of performed in public spaces, performers

8 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 Th e most important eff ect of the Golha programmes on Archives Programme, assisted by many generous private and institutional collectors Iranian society was that they encouraged people to in Iran, France, Germany, Canada and the listen to good poetry and music on the radio United States, the Golha programmes were collected. In July 2007 a digital copy of the complete Golha archive was deposited in were branded as street minstrels. Due to edited or published before were suddenly the ’s World Sound Archive. the high literary and musical quality of in high demand. Th is was crucial as the In 2008 the second phase of the Golha these programmes, the public perception illiteracy rate was 85 per cent in some places project was launched, supported by the Iran of music and musicians in Iran shift ed and in the period 1950-60. Heritage Foundation, the British Academy, its participants became referred to – for the When Pirnia retired in 1967, several other the Parsa Foundation and the Department fi rst time – as maestros, virtuosos, divas and musicians, scholars and poets succeeded of Music at SOAS. Th is aims to construct adepts of a fi ne art, no longer inhabiting the him. In 1972 Hushang Ibtihaj, a well-known a searchable, relational database for the lowest rung of the social ladder. modern Persian poet, took responsibility Golha programmes, which will include bio- Th e Golha programmes were so popular for the programmes, changing their bibliographical data on the performers and that people organised their schedules name, consolidating all the various types authors, photographs, musical notation of around listening to the broadcasts. Th ey of ‘fl owers’ into one programme called the songs and transcriptions of the poetry. also evoked a neo-classical revival in Persian ‘Fresh Flowers’ (Golha-yi tazeh). Ebtehaj Th e database will be searchable through song and verse of the late Qajar period, patronised the revival of interest in Persian a purpose-built website allowing one to which were re-interpreted and performed music of the Qajar period (1794-1925). As a search it by programme name, number, by modern musicians and vocalists, and partial result of Ebtehaj’s vision, despite the singer of the avaz and tarana, song-writer, likewise promoted Persian vernacular music general ban on music in Iran aft er the 1979 poet of the avaz, fi rst line of the song or that was carefully researched, recorded and Islamic revolution, a movement to preserve poem sung, name of the song, instrument, broadcast. Th is helped to preserve both the and cultivate the traditions of Persian urban musician, composer, name of poet whose vernacular and classical traditions of Persian art music is still alive and fl ourishing in poetry is sung or declaimed, poetic genre, music and poetry, which were under threat present-day Iran. or avaz and gusha of the music from infl uences both outside and within Th e Golha Project began in early 2005 performed and so on. Iran that wished to modernise the society. with a pilot project supported by the Iran Th e searchable relational database for Th e most important eff ect of the Golha Heritage Foundation, the British Institute this important archive, which will be a programmes on Iranian society was of Persian Studies and the Department unique cultural resource for students and that they encouraged people to listen of Music at SOAS to see if was possible lovers of Persian culture and a teaching to good poetry and music on the radio, to collect, archive and digitise the tool for Persian music and literature, will be re-introducing over 560 Persian poets programmes. Following the success of the accessible at www.golha.co.uk in late 2011. from the ancients to the moderns, thus pilot project, over the next two years, with Since 2005 many other archives have re-invigorating interest in classical Persian the support of the Department of Music been collected by or donated to the Golha literature. Divans of poets never properly at SOAS and British Library Endangered project, including folk recordings, private recordings and additional archives of radio programmes, comprising thousands of hours of 20th-century Persian music. Some of these resources have already been digitised, but over 1,000 reel and cassette recordings still need to be digitised, archived, indexed and included in the Golha database. We hope that in its future phases, the Golha Project will fi nd the support it needs to make this intangible heritage of Iran available to all.

Jane Lewisohn is a Research Associate for the Department of Music and an Associate Member for the Centre for Iranian Studies, SOAS

(Opp0site) Puran (Left) Left to right: Abu’l-Hasan Saba, ‘Ali Tajvidi and Murtaza Mahjubi of the Golha radio programmes

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 9 IIRANRAN From rap and rock to experimental sound and noise music, Iran’s music scene is rapidly evolving despite ongoing state restrictions, says Bronwen Robertson MMakingaking nnoiseoise

© B Robertson qquietlyuietly

Concerts take place in converted underground infrequently enforced due to the secrecy of performers. Art galleries can host audio- car parks, soundproofed sheds and living visual performances and some coff ee shops rooms, but demand far outweighs supply have licences to host small, ‘unplugged’-style music performances. Concerts also take place in converted underground car parks, t is November 1, 2010 and 30 people are rare occurrences due to visa restrictions. soundproofed sheds and living rooms, but are huddled along the edges of a small, Th e performance also demonstrates the demand far outweighs supply. Iindependent art space called ‘Sazmanab ingenuity of dedicated performers with During the year I lived in Tehran from Project’. An inconspicuous apartment regard to circumventing state restrictions 2007-08, I was invited to four unoffi cial unit near Tehran’s Mehrabad airport – music was banned following Iran’s concerts through the rock musicians I was camoufl ages the gathering space and an Islamic Revolution in 1979. Classical and working with for my PhD. One concert, oscillating fan separates the audience from folk music were re-approved shortly aft er which I thankfully did not attend, took the performers, recycling the stagnant air the revolution and subsequently enjoyed place in a garden between Tehran and its and providing a sympathetic hum. For most a palpable renaissance. Th is is partly neighbouring city Karaj. Police raided the of the audience, this is their fi rst concert because these were the only sounds publicly mini-festival, arresting and imprisoning 200 of experimental sound and noise music available, even though female voices were audience members, as well as the headlining and their expressions fl uctuate between conspicuous by their absence, and partly act and key organisers, who ended up attentive and perplexed as they listen as because many Iranians were desperate to serving 21 days in the notorious Rajai Shahr Bijan Moosavi introduces Francisco, his reconnect with pre-revolutionary life. But prison. Two concerts were held in the car Argentinian ally for the evening’s brief other forms of music remained hidden until park of an apartment building that had proceedings. 1999, when the internet’s infi ltration into been converted into a unoffi cial nightclub, Bijan explains the genre and what the the lives of young Iranians fi nally provided a rivalling even the trendiest dank venue on improvised performance will entail to platform for its production and distribution. New York’s lower east side with its graffi ti- make his audience feel more comfortable Yet Bijan is one of the few unoffi cial bombed walls and laser lights, and one was with the new sounds. ‘Experimental musicians in Iran who performs concerts held in the Brazilian Embassy, which like music aims to break the established rules publicly. other embassies is exempt from the rules of of music, and its result is unforeseen,’ he Venues for independent music the Islamic Republic. However, the biggest says. In addition to the musical content, performances are limited and punishments ‘stage’ these musicians have is the internet. the concert is signifi cant in that it crosses for evading the rules (including fl ogging, Sohrab Mohebbi of the band 127 once geographical boundaries: collaborations fi nes, imprisonment and confi scation of exclaimed: ‘Th e only nightclub we have to between non-Iranian and Iranian musicians musical instruments) are harsh but very perform in is our website.’

10 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 Bijan and I fi rst met in 2007, having ‘Th e only nightclub we have to perform in is our website’ become acquainted with each other’s work through a biennial online music festival run by TehranAvenue.com. His submission to approval. Th is is a lengthy process with of public life means that it is oft en more the festival, a song called ‘Th e Dark City’, very little chance of success. Th e application diffi cult for those inside Iran to access the was an autobiographical ode to Tehran sung process is mitigated by reams of forms music that those enjoying faster internet in Persian, its musical borrowings hinting including the ‘Form for the Information speeds and an absence of fi ltering outside at Radiohead and Massive Attack. Bijan Bank of the Country’s Musicians’, which do. Facebook and Myspace, two vital tools sang: ‘Th e city remains outside, beyond contributes the data it generates to an index for music distribution, are both fi ltered in my window; this small room is my new of extremely sensitive information on all Iran and access can only be gained with city.’ Th e song resonated with a small yet those who do choose to apply. Many of technological knowhow and patience. thriving community of unoffi cial musicians Iran’s musicians have elected to bypass this Iran’s independent and illegal musicians in Tehran who do spend most of their time process, favouring their own websites, social will continue to struggle against adversity, behind closed doors, creating temporary networking sites, home studios and private however, and although for every two steps ‘cities’ of respite, away from the gaze of concerts as methods of distribution in lieu forward the government presses backwards, the omnipresent Islamic state. Despite the of a supportive and open music industry. the music scene is constantly evolving. audience’s positive reaction to his debut, At a seminar for London’s Institute When I asked Bijan ‘what next?’, he replied: Bijan, a graphic designer by trade, told me of Musical Research on November 24, ‘Now I’m trying to combine the experiments at our fi rst meeting that he was ready to quit 2010, Kaveh, the bassist from Font, boldly I have done so far with multimedia and by music, asking himself: ‘Am I wasting my life proclaimed that there is no music in Iran. inviting others to collaborate with me... and living in this fantasy world?’ He was playing the devil’s advocate, of I guess I should also think of more ways to Since writing ‘Th e Dark City’ and course, as there most certainly is ‘music’ make money to be able to survive.’ releasing it on a self-produced album in Iran, but what he meant was that the called ‘In My Headphones’ (2008), Bijan’s public availability of musical performances www.bijanmoosavi.com www.tehranavenue. enthusiasm for music has been renewed is limited to a few styles and government- com www.sazmanab.com through his encounter with experimental accepted artists, and that following the strict sound and noise music in Berlin. ‘Despite censorship of music following the Iranian Bronwen Robertson is a University of the music lacking many of the vital elements Revolution, the music scene was not allowed Melbourne PhD graduate. She is currently for one’s perception of music, like rhythm to evolve naturally. However, musicians rewriting her thesis, ‘Subterranean Sounds and melody, I discovered that the concept in Iran are beginning to experiment with and Reverberations and Dissent’, in book plays a very important role and that these new styles; indeed, discussions of content form for publishing by Continuum musicians were using symbols to make a and quality aside, Bijan’s concert represents narrative storyline for the audience.’ Bijan’s a small step towards the expansion of the new sound, improvised and unfamiliar to unoffi cial music scene. Th ere is rap, heavy its listeners, is far from abrasive, especially metal, pop, rock and roll, classical, folk and considering the sonic environment that they now experimental sound and noise music are used to living in. With its 14 million in Iran, but censorship of the internet and

permanent residents and an ever-increasing © Sazmanab Project/Mehdi Alizadeh population, Tehran struggles to keep up with the demands of its inhabitants. Street sellers, taxi drivers, construction sites, sirens and water charging down from the Alborz mountains through a system of large gutters and street-side canals contribute to a soundscape that is but a small step away from noise music itself. Th e problems that Bijan faces as a young musician are multifarious. Musicians face socioeconomic strife as unemployment and infl ation continue to soar. Th e government’s strict control over all aspects of public life and entertainment means that if he wants to distribute, promote or perform his music in public he must apply to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance for their

(Opposite) Due to restrictions, bands like Audiofl ows are accustomed to recognising the potential of any hidden place – such as this sauna – as a practice room (Right) Bijan delivers his lecture on experimental sound and noise music before the performance with Francisco

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 11 IIRANRAN Sahba Ladjevardi and Adom Saboonchian provide an overview of the formation and evolution of some Iranian organisations in London TThirtyhirty yyearsears aandnd sstilltill ccountingounting

he history of the British-Iranian language, culture and heritage of Iran alive Trust Fund, established in 1996, community in Britain goes back in exile. It was with this aim that Rustam, which has become more active in Ealing Tto the of 1979. the fi rst Iranian school, was established since 2009 under the name ‘Ferdowsi Before then, Iranians travelled abroad, in Barnet in 1981 under the initiative of Forum’; Forum Iran (Anjoman Sokhan), mainly to the West, to study and gain Shahla and David White. Today, it teaches established in 1998; and Omid Cultural valuable qualifi cations but returned to around 400 pupils per year and acts as an Society, established in 2010 in Ealing. Iran to occupy prestigious and well-paid examination centre for AS and A Levels in In the early 1980s, in the wake of attacks jobs in government or the private sector. Persian. on anti-regime political parties and groups Th e few who settled in Britain and other A year later, another group with similar in Iran, the second wave of immigrants Western countries were mainly anti-Shah objectives, the Iranian Culture Centre – middle-class political activists – fl ed to activists gathered around the so-called (Kanoon Iran), started a Persian school Britain in search of a safe haven. If the more Confederation of Iranian Students, which in Hammersmith and embarked on a affl uent Iranians were mainly concerned was active in many European cities. programme of regular monthly cultural with the preservation of Iranian language In the 1970s, aft er the oil boom, a limited talks on Iranian subjects by Iranian artists, and culture, those with progressive political number of affl uent Iranians travelled writers, poets, musicians and scholars. Since backgrounds were more concerned with regularly to Britain and spent part of the 1935, the Iran Society had been a gathering the welfare of new arrivals that lacked year in this country. But this temporary point for those interested in Iran’s culture knowledge of the system and the language residence cannot be categorised as and history through their regular talks in of their adoptive land. It was with such immigration per se. Th e establishment of Belgrave Square, but from the outset it ran aims that the Iranian Community Centre the Islamic regime in 1979 and persecution its activities in English. Th e establishment (Kanoon Iranian) was established in of those among the upper classes who of Kanoon Iran provided migrants with 1984 in Green Lanes in North London, were affi liated to the Shah’s regime and a welcome opportunity to attend a range forming the fi rst Iranian registered charity confi scation of their properties led to the of talks in Persian. Kanoon Iran has been in Britain. A year later, in 1985, the fi rst wave of migration – of mainly wealthy directed by the ex-diplomat Dr Reza Iranian Association (Jame’eye Iranian) was Iranians – to Britain. Ghasemi for more than two decades. founded in Hammersmith. Since then, One of the main and early concerns of Kanoon Iran was followed by other these organisations have provided advice, these Iranian migrants was to keep the cultural organisations and groups, such as information and practical help to thousands

12 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 of Iranian refugees and immigrants in of refugees and their welfare, members in 1988; the Popli Khalatbari Foundation, accessing the health, education, housing and of the ‘fi rst wave’ entered a new phase of founded in 1991; the Science and Arts welfare services. activities. As their children grew, so did Foundation, established in 2000; Action for Access to Iranian art and culture would the need to attract them to cultural events Orphans, established in 2003; the Omid not be possible without an Iranian library. and to induce in the young a sense of pride Foundation, established in 2006; and the Th e Library for Iranian Studies was in their Iranian heritage and culture. As Iran’s Children Charity, founded in 2009. established in Acton in 1991 through the an established community, they also felt Over the 30 years since the arrival of eff orts of Dr Mashallah Ajoudani and a the need to extend their boundaries and the ‘fi rst wave’ of Iranian immigrants, number of other Iranian scholars. to promote their culture among members many charitable, cultural and artistic Th e post Iran-Iraq war situation in of the host society. It was with this in organisations, circles and groups have come the late 1980s drove many Iranians in mind that a new generation of cultural into being. In 2004 the authors of this article search of better life prospects out of the organisations were formed, including the tried to bring many of them together in a country, creating the ‘third wave’ of Iranian Iran Heritage Foundation, established in network in order to mobilise resources for immigrants to Britain. At this point, the 1991, and the Magic of Persia, established the establishment of an Iran Centre to house main route of settlement in Britain was to in 2004. Both provide some fi nancial Iranian events and act as a focal point for seek political asylum, although many of support to other cultural projects. Toos Iranian cultural activities. However, this these new arrivals were in fact economic Foundation was established in 2005 and eff ort was not successful for a number of refugees. While the ‘second wave’ of refugees took the innovative approach of providing reasons, including the residue of political – having been educated political activists educational information on the history mistrust among Iranians. Now, at the dawn – adapted quickly, entered the education and in entertaining forms. of 2011, there is new hope that British- system and integrated, the ‘third wave’, Today, the cultural events off ered by these Iranians have developed the potential to be which generally consisted of less educated organisations attract large numbers of more tolerant of each other and to embark Iranians, remained more dependent on the Iranians and non-Iranians alike. on joint projects and form partnerships. welfare system. An increase in the number At the same time, Iranian professionals of such immigrants led to the establishment created their own networks: the British- Sahba Ladjevardi is a fundraising consultant of yet more organisations: the Farsophone Iranian Business Association, established and manages cultural and artistic projects in Association was formed in Barnet in in 1994 by Babak Emamian; the British- London 1998; the Iranian Youth Development Iranian Business and Professional Society Association (IYDA) was established in (Anjoman), founded in 1996; and, later, the Adom Saboonchian is a freelance video / 1989 in Woolwich; and the Harrow Iranian Iranian Medical Society. media producer mainly active in cultural Community Association (HICA) was Th e comparative affl uence of the and community projects within Iranian and established in 2001. All these organisations integrated British-Iranian community gave Armenian communities in Britain provide advisory and support services and them the opportunity to ‘give back’ targeted celebrate Iranian festivities. IYDA and support to needy groups inside the country. HICA also run schools, A number of charitable organisations were and the Farsophone Association has a established to help Iranians inside Iran or (Opposite) ‘SOAS’ Centre for Iranian Studies launch included a panel discussion with several Iranian library of Iranian books. those travelling to Britain with medical community groups attending While these organisations were needs, among which are the Mohammad (Below) A 2009 TOOS Foundation show in Bloomsbury, concerned about supporting the ‘third wave’ Salehi Medical Foundation, established showcasing Iranian folk music and dance

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 13 IIRANRAN TThehe nnewew ffaceace ooff IIranianranian ttelevision?elevision?

Mohammad Mirbashiri on a London-based channel focused on providing trendy entertainment programmes to young Iranians

he immigrant Iranian communities Following the success of Bebin Soroush Tehrani, 28, recently became the in the West have been growing since in avoiding political and religious winner of the gripping competition. Th e Tthe revolution of 1979 and media programmes, Manoto TV is focused Music Academy was fi lled with outlets that serve them have grown in on providing trendy entertainment excitement and suspense and viewers tandem. programmes to young Iranians. It includes avidly watched via satellite and online to Jaam-e-Jam, the fi rst Iranian exile shows such as Befarmayeed Sham, a dining follow their favourite contestants. Judging television channel, was launched in Los competition with four contestants who from the show’s blog and Facebook fan Angeles in 1981, and in the following years compete for a cash prize, produced by ITV page, audiences in Iran have thoroughly well over 30 similar networks have been who also produce Channel 4’s Come Dine applauded the talent show contest, sending established worldwide, beaming into Iran With Me. messages of gratitude and appreciation. and the rest of the Persian-speaking world Th e channel’s fl agship programme, The It seems that Manoto TV has identifi ed via satellite. Googoosh Music Academy, caused quite a gap in the entertainment market for Recently, Dubai has also emerged as a stir among Persian-speaking audiences Iranians, but whether it can continue to a popular choice for diaspora media inside and outside Iran. Styled along produce immensely successful shows like satellite channels, with the arrival in 2003 the lines of Th e X-factor and the BBC’s Googoosh Music Academy remains to be of channels such as PMC, MiTV and Fame Academy, the show’s fi rst series seen. However, as one avid viewer told me IranMusic. Now London is emerging as a followed eight hopefuls as they trained in a slightly obsessed tone: ‘Manoto TV’s new broadcasting hub. Aft er the success of under world-class coaches – Googoosh, programmes are so diff erent to the other the Persian radio programme of the BBC a pop singer famous not only in Iran, but Persian channels, their shows are trendy and World Service, which last month celebrated also the rest of central Asia and coaches fresh. I started watching Googoosh Music its 70th anniversary, the corporation Hooman Khalatbari and Babak Saeidi. Academy and now I tune into Manoto every launched the BBC Persian TV in January Th e hopefuls tried out to become world- day without fail.’ 2009 with headquarters in Central London. class stars, with the audience voting for Recently, a new name has been added their favourite singers each week aft er a Mohammad Mirbashiri is a recent MA to the London networks with the arrival live-studio performance in South London. graduate of Near and Middle Eastern Studies of Manoto TV. Th e network began Th e contestants with the lowest votes were at SOAS broadcasting from the newly refurbished eliminated from the show each week until Capital Studios in Wandsworth in late the winner was awarded a prize of $10,000. October 2010 and has so far off ered a refreshing mix of light entertainment programmes to the Iranian diaspora and to Iranians in Iran. Th e channel is owned by Kayvan Abbassi, the man behind two LA-based channels, as well as the extremely successful fi rst Iranian internet portal television, Bebin.

Manoto TV is serving an audience with entertainment television, rather than focusing on news and politics. Credit inju

14 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 IIRANRAN TTastingasting bblood:lood: Caligula in Tehran

Parastoo Dokouhaki argues that the recent performance of Camus’ Caligula in Tehran impacts upon more than just the theatrical world

Permission to stage a show is required from the Ministry of Islamic Culture and performances usually run for just one month, stretching to two if successful. Sometimes the state closes a performance aft er a few nights or asks for scenes to be removed. Th e performers are under close observation: are they supporting the state or on our side? Iran’s best playwrights were the fi rst group of artists to condemn the state’s conduct towards protesters last year, vowing not to participate in any state-run festivals if they could not write freely about social concerns. Albert Camus’ Caligula, performed Yet despite the diffi culties, last year’s at Iranshahr Hall, Tehran theatrical successes included Where were you on 17th of Dey? by Amirreza Kouhestani; CALIGULA (...passionate voice) Just a Try to resist, but it’s just not fi nished with Writing in Darkness by Mohammad minute. Th is letter is the only evidence. you yet Ya’ghoubi; Just for a bunch of Roubles by Right? A hold too intense to forget Hassan Ma’jooni; Jen-gir (Th e Exorcist) CHEREA Evidence? When have you Camus’s Caligula was performed on the by Kourosh Narimani; and Ghanizadeh’s needed evidence to send a man to his Tehran stage recently, in an avant-garde Caligula. death? production directed and designed by Under the state’s bowdlerisation one relies CALIGULA Th at’s true. But for once I Homayoun Ghanizadeh. He juxtaposed on small and unimportant indications, want to contradict myself. It will harm no Roman senators with cowardly chefs baking a sentence here and a reference there, to one, and it’s good to contradict oneself for their survival in Caligula’s kitchen. become convinced that the director and occasionally. It relaxes a person. And I Caligula lost his sister whom he loved the cast are sympathetic to the Green need relaxation, Cherea.i and slept with. Aft er her death he is faced Movement; a single word could result in with the absurdity of life when happiness is the opposite conclusion. Sometimes the thirst for destruction and brutality; unattainable, loses his idealism and moves audience cannot decide what the orientation dictatorship as interrogator, to torture his own people, becoming a mad of the performance is and futile, heated Aprosecutor, judge and executioner; murderer. arguments start. I don’t think such dualism a strong desire for the impossible - all Th e violent scenes in Ghanizadeh’s does anything good for the development of performed on the stage. And the desperate production were without dialogue, our growing modern arts. people engaged with such action were the beautifully performed through body But most reviews of Caligula echoed audience in Iranshahr Hall, Tehran, with language. Th ey triggered fl ashbacks of my feelings. Being an artist, passionate melancholic western rock music playing: violent street scenes in last year’s Iran for society, is as hard as being a soldier in political turmoil. Yes, politics is in the eye of Tehran. I get a taste of blood in my mouth when the beholder. you’re near Tehran has about 20 theatres, most of Parastoo Dokouhaki is an Iran-based A feeling that’s too painful to bear them in downtown and all are busy, even journalist and blogger. She has studied her Straight to my head though ticket prices are expensive compared MA in Global Media and Postnational I get a look of fear on my face with you here to cinema, so typically theatregoers Communications at SOAS (www.parastood. A feeling that shivers down my skin are students and middle-class couples. ir)

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 15 IIRANRAN Ali Fathollah-Nejad on an explosive panel debate between two SOAS experts that contributed to a richer understanding of the ongoing crisis WWillill therethere bbee wwarar oonn IIran?ran?

A fresh yet divergent look at an old question

n 2002 Iran was added to the is a huge gulf that separates the US from diplomacy but not military action. neoconservative-designated ‘Axis of Evil’ Iran in terms of military capabilities. While Today, explained Adib-Moghaddam, the Iand thus declared ripe for US military Israel would be able seriously to damage US is aware that a war would unleash at and political intervention. Th e threat of Iranian facilities, it could not fi nalise a the very least a protracted, asymmetrical war in the ‘greatest crisis of modern times’ military campaign. Also, the US military regional war. Iran’s retaliatory capabilities (John Pilger in the New Statesman, July 12, is hardly overstretched in the Iraqi and would span from Hezbollah’s fi ring of Scud 2007) was at its height in 2006-2007. With Afghan war theatres, since the Air Force missiles on Tel Aviv, the targeting of US President Obama assuming offi ce in 2009, and Navy are ‘almost unused’, said Plesch. interests in Iraq and and the a great hope for peaceful change emerged. Key bones of contention emerged around destabilisation of Shia areas in US-allied But still, Washington’s mantra of ‘all options ‘the politics preceding the war cycle’, as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. However, Plesch are on the table’ looms over the ongoing Adib-Moghaddam put it: the economic responded, all these retaliatory measures are US-Iran confl ict. dimensions of war and the multilayered already factored into Washington’s military Th e SOAS Centre for Iranian Studies fallout from an attack. planning. He added that the launch last October featured a debate Adib-Moghaddam agreed that in the Arab rulers would feel quite confi dent in between two in-house experts – Arshin US, ‘there is an organised, systematic containing any domestic turmoil. Also, Adib-Moghaddam, who lectures on the movement for war on Iran, which should in the wake of a vast bombing campaign politics of West Asia, and Dan Plesch, not be underestimated’. But the Obama against Iran, out of self-interest, neither who directs the Centre for International administration is realistic enough to fear the Hezbollah nor Hamas would be willing to Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) – on the fallout of an attack since Iran has emerged stand with an ‘imploded’ regional power, he literally explosive theme of ‘Is war with Iran as the most powerful regional player aft er claimed. inevitable?’ Th eir answers could not have the neoconservative wars on Afghanistan One might add that a future major Israeli been more diff erent as they discussed the and Iraq. Th ere is now an understanding war on Lebanon or Gaza, which many military, political and economic dimensions in Washington that military success does experts at the turn of 2010-2011 saw to be of a possible war. not necessarily translate into strategic gain. in the offi ng, could be part of a strategy to Militarily, both agreed, the US could Today’s ‘buzzword’ is ‘smart power’, instead weaken Iranian allies there so paving the easily destroy Iran. Plesch stressed that there of the ‘war on terror’, mandating aggressive way for a future war on Iran. But what if

16 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 Iran, as another retaliation to an attack, blocked the Straits of Hormuz through Today’s ‘buzzword’ is ‘smart power’, instead of the ‘war on which the bulk of the world’s oil supplies is shipped? Based on 25 years of scenario terror’, mandating aggressive diplomacy but not military action exercises, the US would be able to destroy and take over that sea lane, said Plesch, who consequences of a war, while the alleged of sheer fantasy. Urgent action is therefore has an extensive background in researching threat posed by Iran provides the basis of required to lower the temperatures the US military. massive US weapons sales to Iran’s wealthy While Plesch assessed that the forces southern neighbours? Ali Fathollah-Nejad, author of Th e Iran for a peaceful resolution are too weak as Th e controversy proved to be refreshingly Confl ict and the Obama Administration: the lack of diplomatic success illustrates, stimulating and contributed to a richer Old Wine in New Skins? (2010), is a PhD Adib-Moghaddam emphasised that the understanding of the ongoing crisis, helping candidate in International Relations and power of civil society to organise anti-war us in the eff ort – shared by both panellists Graduate Teaching Assistant at SOAS movements should not be underestimated. – to avoid another cataclysmic war in the While the former favoured the notion of region. In that vein, Adib-Moghaddam ‘military Keynesianism’ to argue that waging fi nally called on everyone to work towards war could serve as means to save the US dialogue and reconciliation, as ‘no war economy, the latter held that aft er the $1 is inevitable’, thus making ‘a “cold peace” trillion Iraq War, ‘another protracted war is between the United States and Iran viable’. simply not fi nanceable’ and would plunge Plesch’s focus on the military prowess of the the world into deeper recession. US as well as the Machiavellian sphere of On the political front, opinions also politics is a valuable reminder of the utterly diverged. Adib-Moghaddam stressed that destructive potential of a war that would not an Iran war would be a unilateral one limit itself to the bombing of Iranian nuclear without international support, further facilities but would extend to a whole range exacerbating the US’ reputation. But for of military and civilian infrastructures. Th e Plesch, such calculations would not matter annual CISD conference on a WMD-free that much as ‘the Iraq experience can only zone in the Middle East is an indispensable encourage those intent, such as Tony Blair, element for a way towards regional peace on a military confrontation with Iran to and security. However, as was pointed out think that they can get away with it because in a lively discussion that followed, wars are they did so already once’. oft en kicked off accidentally. Indeed, that an Due to time pressures, other issues incident in the heavily militarised Persian could not be suffi ciently explored. What Gulf could be utilised as a casus belli by war about Israel? Can it tolerate Iran attaining profi teers who have overcome obstacles on In 2002 Iran was earmarked for potential US military a ‘nuclear weapons capability’ that would the political scene is certainly not a matter intervention deprive it of its nuclear monopoly and hence potentially from its ‘special relationship’ with Washington in the context of a strategic re-alignment of US policy in the region? Would the power of the so-called ‘Israel Lobby’ and the military-industrial complex in the US be strong enough to lure Washington into a war on Iran if Israel struck fi rst? Moreover, is the comprehensive sanctions regime on Iran that very much weakens its economy not a satisfying replacement for military action? And as we know from the press, there is already an ongoing small- scale war, which has been waged for many years, which includes (1) the sabotage of Iran’s nuclear programme through the assassination of leading Iranian scientists and cyber-warfare and (2) US and Israeli support for terrorist separatist groups in Iran’s strategically important border regions. In other words, can crippling sanctions coupled with small-scale warfare not do the job of weakening and containing Iran without risking the unpredictable

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 17 IIRANRAN TThehe ccontemporaryontemporary IIranianranian aartrt sscenecene iinn LLondonondon Mohammad Mirbashiri n recent years, Iranian art has become Gallery in Bloomsbury ran from November Not only is Iranian art being exhibited, more prominent on the Middle East art 2010 to January 2011, highlighting the it is increasingly becoming the topic Iscene, and cities such as Dubai, New unconventional calligraphic paintings of for discussion. Th e newly refurbished York and have become exciting venues Golnaz Fathi. Janet Rady Fine Art held Leighton House in Holland Park was the to see and buy the latest from Iranian artists. two exhibitions in December 2010, one setting for a symposium on contemporary Th e winter of 2010-11 proved that entitled New Faces featuring the works of Middle Eastern art in November 2010. London, in particular, is central to Iranian nine Iranian artists on depictions of the Th e conference explored the complex and art exposition. 2010 saw the Britain at the human face while the second, Concerning oft en overlooked relationship between art centre of the millennium celebration of the Angels showed the works of artists from Iran and politics. It was a well-attended event , the epic of kings by Ferdowsi, and the Middle East around the concept with a varied audience of experts on the which Professor Dick David has deemed of supernatural beings, including work Middle Eastern arts scene: academics, to be as the most signifi cant literary work by celebrated artists Malekeh Nayiny and artists, students and art enthusiasts. Th e to have shaped Iranian identity throughout Fereydoun Ave. speakers included Dr Venetia Porter (British history. Th e Prince’s Foundation housed a Th e Iranian art boom in London Museum), Mona Khazindar (Institut du refreshing exhibition of contemporary art is not confi ned to conventional art, monde Arabe) Rose Issa (curator and inspired by the literary work. ‘Shahnama as the Muniments: Iran photographic writer) and artists Leili Shawa and Fathi Contemporary Paintings – Th e Millennium installation exhibition of Afshin Dehkordi Hassan, who all spoke on the theme of Exhibition’ showcased contemporary artistic demonstrated at the Black Dog Space. In contemporary art as protest in the Middle depictions of the Shahnameh. Paraaava October 2010, the Delfi na Foundation East. Th e conference of artists, art collectors, also held a small exhibition celebrating hosted a series of events and talks on the academics and curators highlighted the the millennium of the Shahnameh, its One visual culture of Iran. Th e Knowledge – Stop importance of promoting and exhibiting Night with Rostam featuring the work of 2: Tehran featured Mahmoud Bakhshi, works of art in museums and collections. artists Afsoon, Farnaz, Neda Dana-Haeri Amirali Ghassemi and a lecture by Malu As part of Leighton House’s ‘Nour Festival’ and Yassi Golshani. Halasa on the new generation of artists and the work of Parastoo Forouhar was also Liminal-Subliminal at the October popular culture producers in Tehran. exhibited. London remains the hub for activities and events related to Iranian art, though some believed the art scene may move to Dubai, a more sensible regional location. However, while the promotion and commercialisation of contemporary Iranian art should be celebrated, one should consider to what extent works lose their potency as a form of protest art when commercialised by galleries and museums. Given this, Londoners are lucky to be at such an interesting juncture; Iranian ‘Blows of Memories’ (2008) by Mohammad art continues to thrive despite severe Hassan Morshedzadeh, restrictions, boosted by a wide range of ‘New Faces / Iran’ exhibition conferences and exhibitions.

18 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 IIRANRAN Iran’sIran’s llostost ppixelsixels

Haleh Anvari explores AKSbazi.com, a crowdsourcing photography site that is bringing the reality of life in Iran into focus

n the early nineties, a visitor to Iran photojournalists picked up on this marker ‘Carpet’ by Omid Omidvari, AKSbazi.com would be struck by the lack of colour in and began to use it as if they had also seen Ithe public space; the streets were drab the or their own female population and the people dressed in dark colours. In for the fi rst time. the same way, Iranian newspapers of the Th e problem of this strange way time were monotonous broadsheets with of looking at ourselves in the fi eld of only black and white images that were photojournalism is now moot. Since last acquired from agencies. Th e rare photos by year’s elections, few photojournalists are staff photographers were sombre images of allowed to work and the reformist papers political fi gures or offi cial events. are closed. Photojournalism in its previous In the mid nineties, a new tabloid-sized form is now on hold in Iran. newspaper called Hamshahri changed this Remarkably, it was against this backdrop prevalent look by using colour within the that AKSbazi.com was set up less than two pages of the newspaper; a third colour in years ago, only a handful of months before the advertising or a photograph of a fl ower the elections. Th e website was launched accompanying a verse by on the last with an express hope to provide a forum page. By President Khatami’s second term, for ordinary Iranians to recreate their own a number of reformist newspapers had image, away from the clichés and exotic arrived on the newsstands, all emulating shorthands. In a series of games, members Hamshahri in its tabloid format. Th ese are encouraged to show spaces or moods new papers understood the importance of that may not be ordinarily available to images accompanying text, and slowly their the outsider. And in less than two years, attitude created a cool new job: that of the an archive of nearly 2,000 photographs photojournalist. Th e younger generation, provides both Iranians and non-Iranians armed with digital cameras, were happy to with images that are familiar yet oft en be part of this new boom, oft en learning unseen. Games such as ‘Kitchen’ and their skills on the job. ‘Balcony’ take us inside Iranian homes. In Th ese photojournalists looked to their ‘How are you?’, created two months aft er the the past 32 years. Th e internet, although more experienced Western colleagues for elections, members demonstrate the age-old heavily policed, still provides Iranians with their professional cues; foreign reporters Iranian skill for indirect expression, where a chance to create spaces of their own. who visited the country intermittently and symbols, allusions and innuendo act as AKSbazi.com has created a place for citizen viewed the place through their own West- poetics of self-censored expression. documentation of the most ordinary aspects centric lens. Foreign papers provided the Although AKSbazi.com is unique in of life in Iran. A kind of de-exotifi cation, main market for photographs paying good its nature, it is a continuation of a trend for sure, but also a reclaiming of one’s own fees in dollars, but the foreign photo editor among Iranians wishing to be seen in a image and memories; displaying the subtle needed images that would have a bold local more realistic and personal light. Th is human colour that exists in the country marker. Th e photographic marker for Iran is an eff ort that has been ongoing in the even if it is not always visible to the outside was its women and their chador. Iranian country’s cinema and art throughout eye or offi cially approved.

Since last year’s elections, few photojournalists Haleh Anvari studied Politics and Philosophy at Keele University before returning to Iran in are allowed to work and photojournalism the 1990s. She is a self-taught photographer, in its previous form is now on hold in Iran fascinated by images in politics

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 19 PPOETRYOETRY A NightingaleNightingale iinn tthehe CCageage ooff MMyy MMigrationigration BBreastreast ((1998)1998) ((MarchMarch 11966)966) By Farzaneh Khojandi

The national poet of , born in 1964 in By Mohammad Reza Shafi ’i Kadkani Khojand, is heir to a rich Persian literary tradition and immersed in an elaborate poetic culture dating back th Born in Khorasan in 1936, the celebrated Iranian to the 9 century AD, yet she is also at home with the writer, poet, literary critic and professor of Persian subtleties of the great Russian authors, thus making literature is one of the remaining powerful voices her one of the most outstanding contemporary that developed the modernist Persian poetic genre in poets of Tajikistan. Her prominence, infl uence and the 1960s in Iran. Author of numerous collections of popularity have transcended national borders and poetry, he continues to teach and live in Tehran. she is held in high esteem by readers and critics of her poems in Iran and Afghanistan, too. Indeed, hers is Translated by Narguess Farzad one of the most signifi cant poetic voices that inform the literary developments in all three countries, which have a millennium of shared heritage in poetic Th e journey of migrant winter-violets, composition. in the last days of March, transfi xes me. On a bright March mid-day, Translated by Narguess Farzad and Jo when they fetch violets from cold shadows, Shapcott in little wooden boxes – their transportable homeland – In this leafy orchard is a nightingale, wrapped in brocades of spring fragrance, a nightingale whose songs are the dawn with roots and all, in earth, and take me into the light, the brook of a thousand murmurs to the mountains of legendary Farhad, bubbles in me: and to the place where mad Majnun talks to the raven: Would that... ‘Hello gorgeous!’ And to that lucky cave, Would that man could one day luminous with solitude, basking in gold, carry his homeland with him, wherever he pleased. and to a paradise where Adam and Eve stare at a wheat : In the brightness of rain, in the pure sun. ‘Shall we taste it or not?’ If I were Eve, I wouldn’t taste it. Th ank goodness I’m not Eve or else mankind would never forgive me for not sinning. O tiny, miraculous wheat grain, O tiny apple of amazement, O simple beginnings of myself. Th ere is a nightingale who sings my see-through thoughts, sings back to the beginning of memory. Th ere is a nightingale fl ying out of the cage of my breast; it’s chirping now at the edge of morning. I am leaving; I am leaving, my friend. You have to step into life, spread your existence, you must hurry, Farzaneh Khojandi en-route to Cardiff , you must bring to Farhad in the story, following her the good news about Shirin, his beloved, poetry tour of London (2010) you must enter Zoroaster’s cave and taste the light. To taste the wheat grain of paradise – or not? O… Introductions and compilation by I am leaving, I am leaving at last: Narguess Farzad my friend, open your heart for me.

20 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 RReviews:eviews: RRestaurantestaurant KKandooandoo

Kandoo, 458 Edgware Road, London W2 1EJ. Tel: (020) 7724 6769 / 2428. Kandoo has a BYO policy. Starters are around £3 and main courses are between £6 and £12

Nadje Al-Ali and Mark Douglas taste the phenomenon that is Persian minced on Edgware Road

ow better to fi nish a year than by eating well? It’s New Years Eve Hand we are destined ultimately for a small party where drinks and music will prevail. But fi rst we must eat. Well. Guided by a recent recommendation from none other than Sami Zubaida, noted food scholar, cook and gourmand, we happily turn our backs on a fridge full of festive left overs and drive across chilly London. Sami has said that in this particular place it is possible to experience the phenomenon that is Persian minced kebab, and now as we swing past the Christmas lights at Marble Mixed Kabab, including the famous Arch our appetite is doing little warm-up zershk polo exercises. Kandoo is located on Edgware Road, nearing Maida Vale. Parking is relatively fl avoured spinach-based soup, silky with day, which on Fridays is Karafs, easy to fi nd; alternatively, it is only a fat noodles. For Mark, it has the quality of a interestingly advertised as celery cooked few minutes’ walk from Edgware Road childhood memory. It banishes winter . with lamb (not vice versa). All these come tube station. Arriving early, we fi nd the As we eat, the staff are quietly attentive with rice: al dente topped with saff ron restaurant almost empty but it fi lls up before and pleasant, off ering extra plates when and served with a bowl of melted butter. we get to the end of our fi ve starters. Th ese they see us do our customary plate swap. Yum! Th e Khoresh Karafs has an appeal are chosen from a range of mostly cold We speak to the manager, who tells us that that grows gradually with each mouthful: mezze dishes on off er, though Mark gets a they’ve been there for 12 years. We learn the moist lamb pieces really serve as a soup order in for the winter night. We order that there is additional seating at the back, supplement to an abundance of celery in Kashk-o-Bademjan, which is a beautifully which is closed for renovations during our a light fresh sauce. We both agree though balanced dish of luscious aubergine fl esh visit, and there is also garden area for the that the Chelo-Kabab Barg is a low point of perked up with fried and then summer months. Th e place has a traditional tonight – overcooked and uninteresting. tempered with just enough kashk (aged feel, with terracotta walls, a at one Now for the Koobideh... It is astonishingly yoghurt). We’ve tasted similar purees where end and the tanoor at the other: it’s clearly tender on the tongue – gently grilled meat the yoghurt carries all before it, but not not attempting to look contemporary or with the simplest of seasoning. Th ank you, here. Th is works well in combination with fashionable. Sami! We should have had two. turshi (a tangy bowl of pickles) and Paneer- Time for the mains. We decide that we Sabzi (crunchy crudités and hidden can’t just eat the minced kebab, so Nadje Nadje Al-Ali is a member of the MEL under a mountain of fresh herbs). We order goes for a combination of Chelo-Kabab Editorial Board and Mark Douglas is her naan – you can watch a man press each Koobideh (minced) and Chelo-Kabab Barg eating partner fl oury disk against the wall of the tanoor (fi llet), while Mark orders the special of the (clay oven) just moments before serving. Th e bread is very thin and fl akes easily, and is dotted with sesame. We think it is nan-e , a simple bread with a long history. Th e Koobideh is astonishingly tender on the tongue – gently Th e soup arrives. Aash Reshteh is a richly grilled meat with the simplest of seasoning

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 21 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: FILMFILM FFESTIVALESTIVAL BBritain’sritain’s fi rrstst © Shadi Ghadirian IIranianranian fi llmm ffestivalestival

Review by Fari Bradley

t had been a long time coming. opportunity to promote far more current Londoners were already discussing the and as yet unscreened fi lms in London. From ‘Pearls on the Ocean Floor’ by Robert Adanto, Ineed for an Iranian fi lm festival, so the One fi lm that unquestionably deserved shown at the festival news that independents were initiating more exposure in Britain was White a yearly one here was welcome. As the Meadows by Mohammad Rasoulof. Set in festival and the image contest they ran took the astonishing salt lake Urmia, the story shape, interested parties looked on and follows a tear collector rowing around naturally asked who was behind it? Finally, the islands. With superbly masterful I met London-based Iranian fi lm-maker camerawork, the fi lm deals with its themes Pejman Danaei, the festival director, who and concerns through allegory and myth stressed the event’s non-political stance. as opposed to the usual realism that Costas Sarkas, a volunteer programmer, characterises what Iranian fi lm is famous for said: ‘Th ere was a real need in London for a today. Films like this serve better to profi le a fi lm festival focussing on Iranian cinema… country with an already prolifi c presence in Th ere has been no festival focusing world cinema but whose fame has become on and next year will undoubtedly be even specifi cally on Iranian cinema and there’s a bound somewhat by genre stereotypes. A better. However, the overall success was real demand in this city.’ home-grown Iranian fi lm festival could despite some hiccups, such as late starts and Th e fi lm selection was the festival’s expose this other, less ubiquitous side of the endings due to repeats of sections of fi lms. defi ning feature. Over 450 fi lms were coin. Sweet touches – biscuits, submitted from Iran and beyond and about Th e judging panel included venerable – prompted the question of to whom was 40 were screened. Attendees enjoyed Q&As directors, such as documentary-maker the festival catering? No one I canvassed was with fi lm-makers, including Robert Adanto Kamran Shirdel, and some Europeans, all a fan of hired staff wearing traditional dress (Pearls on the Ocean Floor, a documentary with a variety of expertise – yet no women. at the launch (Turkmen hats, long billowy about female Iranian artists), visiting from Resonance FM’s ‘Six Pillars to Persia’ skirts and coin-decked waistcoats). I asked abroad. Several fi lms had already been programme broadcast an interview about one of the personable staff if she knew what shown in London: My City Pizza, screened the festival, the launch at the Apollo Cinema she was wearing: ‘No, but I’ve been told this by Maziar Bahari three years ago; Th e Glass was brimming and several journalists is traditional in Iran.’ Th is was tantamount House, which had several screenings and turned up to the press meet – yet there are to holding a UK fi lm festival in Dubai was shown on Channel 4; And Life Went no reviews of the festival online at the time and dressing locals as traditional maypole On, previously on loop in a London art of writing. Only a handful of my contacts dancers and farmers. Since the audience gallery; and About Elly, which received even saw any fi lms, stating that information at the launch was mainly Iranian, it was acclaim in the 2009 London International about screenings came too late. not necessarily appropriate but, broadly Film Festival. I’m a fan of re-screening Th e festival’s main achievement is that it speaking, entertaining. worthy fi lms but the festival was an now has a history and experience to build Fari Bradley is an Iranian broadcaster, I’m a fan of re-screening worthy fi lms but the festival sound artist and musician living in London. You can listen to the ‘Six Pillars to Persia’ was an opportunity to promote far more current interview at http://podcasts.resonancefm. and as yet unscreened fi lms in London com/archives/5525

22 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: EXHIBITIONEXHIBITION TThehe BBridgeridge ooff KKnowledgenowledge

Madeleine Fry

he SOAS Brunei Gallery is renowned of Islam, along with books on the Byzantine for its exquisite and sometimes Empire written by Jesuit priests in the 17th Tunorthodox displays concerning the century and texts recording the grammar Middle East, of which the latest exhibition, and idioms of local languages observed by Th e Bridge of Knowledge, is no exception. 16th-century Christian pilgrims journeying Drawn from materials held by the Arcadian to Jerusalem. Library, a private collection specialising in Th e organisers wished to emphasise links between Europe and the Levant, the how much co-existence there had been display consists of a huge range of texts, throughout history between East and West, paintings and manuscripts. Exhibition while not wishing to hide the moments curator Dr Robert Jones describes these as: where priorities diverged. Amid the ‘A rare chance to see powerfully evocative mainstream media’s hysterical declarations books from the holdings of the most of the ‘clash of civilisations’, the Brunei prestigious and specialised of private Gallery once again shows how in the realm libraries on the East-West Interface’ which of education and discovery, a discourse ‘respects and celebrates the centuries-old existed that was nothing if not civilised. relationship between the West and the Arab and Islamic world.’ Th e Bridge of Knowledge is at the Brunei Th e result is superb. Th e exhibition an area where the exhibition does not Gallery, SOAS, until March 26 emphasises the immense networks of shy from showing the tensions between academic exchange the two civilisations had East and West, as well as the moments of Maddy Fry is a freelance journalist and with one another. For one thing, the objects co-operation, with copies of the gospels undergraduate student at SOAS, studying for are beautifully preserved; delicate pages of in translated by missionaries lying a BA in History with a focus on Africa and parchment from the 16th century contain alongside the fi rst ever edition of the Qur’an the Middle East writings as clear and decipherable as though to be printed in Latin, dated 1543. published barely 50 years ago. Th ere is an In the area of diplomacy, the exhibition is extensive section on science, including also thoughtful and sensitive, with paintings displays of 15th-century medical texts from of Ottoman sultans (including an impressive the respected Islamic physician Abucasis, one of Suleiman the Magnifi cent) and whose intricate water-colour drawings Eastern dress, drawn by French and Spanish (Above) Laurence Housman illustration (1907) by of forceps, lancets and syringes helped to artists, free from crude racial stereotyping. Edmund Dulac, ‘Stories from the Arabian Nights’, revolutionise European renaissance surgery. Here, the discourse between the two worlds London Also noteworthy are the works from the is depicted as one of mutual respect between (Below) Illuminated page from ’s ‘Canon Medicinae’ (1479), Padua famous Muslim astronomer Albumasar, men of equal standing in world aff airs. Th e whose written observations were same is the case with paintings of hallways immensely popular in 9th-century Europe. and mosques by the Orientalist artist Other volumes on alchemy, meteorology Frederick Lewis, which show realistic and and zoology, written in both Arabic and nuanced images of Alhambra in the 19th Latin, are laid out in stunning red-bound century. tomes with gold inlays, enticing those with Curiosity and a hunger for knowledge any interest in the history of science. abounds in the works left behind by For everyone else, there is a wealth of European visitors to the East, shown via an material on a varied number of disciplines, immense and impressive red edition of the including linguistics, diplomacy, history Bibliothèque Orientale from 1777, thought and religion. Th e latter, in particular, is to be the pre-cursor text to the Encyclopedia

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 23 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS IIran’sran’s IInnfl uence:uence: A RReligious-Politicaleligious-Political SStatetate iinn tthehe RRegionegion aandnd tthehe WWorldorld By Elaheh Rostami-Povey

Iran’s Infl uence: A Religious-Political State in the Region and the World by Elaheh Rostami-Povey is published by Zed Books, 2010. Price: 18.99 (paperback) / £70 (hardback)

Reviewed by Ziba Moshaver

t is a monumental anomaly that Arabs infl uence with a popular Arab metaphor: other forms of power, more transient by and Iranians, who have shared so ‘Me and my brother against my cousin, but its very nature and thus more prone to Imuch for so long, have so little interest me and my cousin against the stranger.’ circumstantial changes – and, fi nally, more or understanding of one another. None Th e study also off ers a critical assessment diffi cult to measure with the scientifi c of their shared interests have shift ed of the internal socioeconomic and political precision used by other disciplinary this: geographical proximity; common dynamics that divide the Arab populations approaches. Not necessarily, but oft en, geostrategic conditions; a common religion, from their ruling regimes. In particular, infl uence may be detached from enduring albeit diff erentiation; and a common source the author blames the US as the central rational calculations. of economic sustenance: oil. If anything, ‘hegemonic economic and political’ Indeed, Iran’s Infl uence indicates that the two have continuously maintained force that supports both Israel and an much sympathy for the Islamic Republic is a reservoirs of unfl attering attributes for each ‘authoritarian’ Arab elite. bi-product of grass-root Arab dissatisfaction other. Th e author also argues that the resurgence with internal socioeconomic and political Th is indiff erence is somewhat of diverse Islamic political tendencies and conditions, rather than representing understandable as Iran’s relations with weakened popularity of ‘nationalists and sympathy for Iran as a separate and Arabs were primarily a function of its secular left ’ are the outcome of this regional enduring entity. Th is also raises the question relations with the Ottoman Empire up to order. In this regard, the Islamic Republic’s of how Iran’s infl uence may shift if the the end of World War I and with the global anti-American, anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli present or a future regime decides to change powers ever since. Contacts were limited policies are believed to be most decisive in the country’s anti-American and anti-Israeli to centres of Islamic scholarship and ties promoting Iran’s popularity. In support of policies? Or how Iranians who took to between religious families from Iran and this thesis, Rostami-Povey off ers a useful the streets following the 2009 Presidential those in Iraq and Lebanon. Th is gap began and insightful analysis of relationships at election view Arab sympathy for a to narrow in the 1980s with the rise of the the grass-root level supported by extensive regime they regard as undemocratic and Islamic Republic in Iran (many leaders of interviews with ordinary Arabs and political authoritarian? Rostami-Povey cites a few post-1979 Iran can trace their roots and activists. concerned voices among those interviewed family ties to Iraq and Lebanon). Th e book’s title, Iran’s Infl uence, is useful but the overall impression is one of little Iran’s Infl uence is a welcome attempt to in clarifying the boundaries of this study. sympathy for the Iranian grass-root among explain the complexity of this relationship. Infl uence as a concept is in the realm of the Arab grass-root but a good deal of Th e author argues that changes in Iran’s ‘soft ’ power. As such, it is a valuable and support for Iran’s policies. religious-political and regional dynamics necessary component of any relationship have helped to bring the two closer together, – yet it has long been underestimated Dr Ziba Moshaver, a former Stanford raising Iran’s infl uence among Arab by mainstream Politics, Economics and Lecturer at Magdalen and St Antony’s populations. Analysing relations with Iraq, International Relations theories. But Colleges at Oxford University, specialises in Egypt, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas infl uence has its analytical limitations. International Relations and Middle East in Gaza, Rostami-Povey sums up Iran’s As a concept, it is more subjective than politics

24 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS IIstanbul:stanbul: A CulturalCultural aandnd LLiteraryiterary HHistoryistory By Peter Clark

Istanbul: A Cultural and Literary History by Peter Clark is published by Signal Books, 2010. Price: £12

Reviewed by Andrew Mango

stanbul was and remains the capital building. A few inaccuracies are bound to Peter Clark generously acknowledges of Turkish culture, regardless of the slip into a book that compresses a mass of the pre-eminence in guiding the visitor Imove of the administrative capital to information in a limited compass. One that through Istanbul of John Freely. His book’s Ankara in 1923. In 2010 it became also the caught my eye concerns the Grand Rabbi virtue is that it comes at a time when the European Capital of Culture. Peter Clark’s Haim Nahum Efendi. He was not involved intellectual leaders of the vastly increased timely cultural history justifi es the choice in negotiating ‘the Ottoman surrender... at Turkish population of Istanbul are learning of the Eurocrats. It comes at a time when Mudanya in 1918’. Th e fi rst armistice was to take pride in the multicultural past of Istanbul, now secure in its Turkishness, is signed in Mudros by the defeated Ottoman their city. Th e wearing down to a trace rediscovering its cosmopolitan heritage. state, while Mudanya witnessed the second of the once large and prosperous Greek, Istanbul has been a cosmopolis, a world armistice concluded by Turkish nationalists Armenian and Jewish communities is no city, ever since 330 AD when the Emperor aft er their victory in 1922. Nahum Efendi longer glossed over, but regretted. Th e term Constantine made it the capital of the had no part in either, but acted as adviser ‘Levantine’, once a term of abuse, is now Roman Empire. But cosmopolitanism to the Turkish delegation at the peace seen in a sympathetic light. Th e rediscovery can breed enmity as well as amity, and as conference in Lausanne in 1923. More of the past is accompanied by the gradual the ideology of nationalism spread from importantly, the wrong conclusion can be recreation of multiculturalism as Istanbul Western Europe in the 19th century, drawn from Peter Clark’s brief history of becomes a global city hosting regional cosmopolitanism moved out of the Eastern Ottoman Greeks. He writes that aft er the headquarters of multinational corporations. Mediterranean. As the Levant became creation of an independent Greek state, Geography and history cannot be negated. increasingly monocultural, it was the West Phanariot Greeks no longer had a vested Multiculturalism expelled through one door that became multicultural. interest in the Ottoman Empire. In fact, is re-entering through another. Peter Clark Peter Clark is well qualifi ed to record the ethnic Greeks went on to serve the empire has done his readers a service by marking changes that have taken place in Istanbul in to the end of the 19th century, as witness this turning point in the history of Istanbul. recent years. He fi rst went in Istanbul nearly the careers of Alexander Karatheodori half a century ago; his wife taught in the (Karatodori) Paşa, Ottoman plenipotentiary Dr Andrew Mango is the author of the latest English High School in the city and his son at the congress of Berlin, and later biography of Atatürk and of its sequel Th e now lives in Istanbul with his Turkish wife. ambassador to St Petersburg, or Musuros Turks Today. He goes back in his latest book, Clark says that his book is neither a guide Paşa, Ottoman ambassador in London. From the Sultan to Atatürk (2009) nor a history of the city. It is rather a series It was in the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid of vignettes illustrating the past and present II, reviled by European liberals as a of a capital of culture. Th e only exception bloodthirsty tyrant, that Greeks, Armenians is the chapter of Belle Époque (late 19th (in spite of risings and killings), Jews and, century) Istanbul, where he describes the of course, West European residents enjoyed centre of Beyoğlu, formerly the European their most prosperous years in the Ottoman neighbourhood known as Pera, building by Empire.

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 25 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS LLebaneseebanese CCuisine:uisine: PPastast aandnd PPresentresent By Andrée Maalouf and Karim Haidar

Lebanese Cuisine: Past and Present by Andrée Maalouf and Karim Haidaris is published by Al-Saqi Books, 2010. Price: £25

Reviewed by Nadje Al Ali and Mark Douglas

or those who have left their country, cooking times, servings and ingredients indulge yourself with freeket-touyour with cookery is – if I dare distort a to the left ; numbered steps, variations and three birds (quail, pigeon and partridge). ‘F famous saying – what remains of comments to the right. Th e longer chapters We enjoyed the sweet soup with fried the original culture when everything else are helpfully subdivided. In the mezze mini kibbeh. Speaking of kibbeh, this book has been forgotten. All migrant peoples chapter we may dip into salads, , features fi sh and pumpkin versions, and know this, particularly the Lebanese,’ writes sesame dishes, pulses, mouajanats (pastries) did you know that traditionally the meat the famous Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf or cheeses; in meat and poultry we can was not minced but pounded using a stone in the preface to this recent addition to an choose from kaft ahs, grilled meats and pestle and mortar? already large range of Lebanese cookbooks. festive dishes. Th ere are individual chapters Th is is an endearing quality of this book: What makes this particular book special is on soups, kibbeh, dishes and fi sh traditions and their passing are noted, the way it demonstrates how migration not dishes (vegetarians should be aware that perhaps wistfully, but never mawkishly. only makes food central in the attempt to the main ingredient in most recipes for Read the brief meditation on shanklish. keep traditions and culture alive, but also vegetable dishes is lamb). As we near the Dying methods are oft en recorded and allows for the opening up for new tastes, end we may sample sweets, ice-creams and pragmatic contemporary accommodations ingredients and recipes. Andree Maalouf coff ee, each with its own chapter. Finally, off ered, along with regional variations. and Karim Haidar’s appealing concept there is a useful and eye-catching glossary of Th rough such notes, luscious photographs of mixing tradition with innovation runs Lebanese products. and the sparky stanzas tagged as ‘Karim’s through this beautifully illustrated book Not surprisingly, a large number of the twist’ we are enriched with a sense of how a with over 100 recipes. Th e authors also try recipes are classic dishes. We are presented history of devoted cooks and the glamorous to combine two gastronomic traditions: with takes on fattoush, tabouleh, moutabal, kitchens of world-class eateries have helped home and restaurant cookery. Maalouf, falafel and hummus. Th ere is also a range of to enliven this cuisine and to deliciously who herself comes from a long tradition of familiar pastries, including the famous ‘meat extend it. pastry cooks and confectioners, appears to pizza’ lahm bi ajeen, and most will recognise be the specialist in home cooking. Haidar is some cheese-based dishes, like fried Nadje Al-Ali is a member of the MEL known for trying to revitalise Fakhreddine halloumi and labneh. Th ere are lentil soups, Editorial Board and Mark Douglas is her restaurant in London and for opening the stuff ed vine leaves and other vegetables, eating partner famous Lebanese seafood restaurant La including kibbeh, kaft ah and shish taouke. Branche d’Olivier in Paris, and is the chef of Five-spice lamb with rice also features the award-winning Comptoir Libanais in along with Lebanese rice pudding and London. halwa ice-cream. All is expected fare in this Lebanese Cuisine is a gorgeous and corner of the world. But a closer look reveals carefully presented book. Th e layout is some twists: look out for the spectacular simple and consistent: preparation and aubergine layer cake maqloubet-batenjan or

26 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS TThehe RRiseise aandnd FFallall ooff a PPalestinianalestinian DDynasty:ynasty: TThehe HHusaynisusaynis 11700-1948700-1948 By Ilan Pappé

The Rise and Fall of a Palestinian Dynasty: The Husaynis 1700-1948 by Ilan Pappé is published by Saqi books, 2010. Price: £20

Reviewed by Atef Alshaer

lmost everyone is touched by families, such as the al-Khalidis and to revolutions, which were quelled harshly history, particularly those who Nashashibis. in 1929 and 1936. Pappé paints Hajj Amin Astrive for a place in it. Th e Husaynis Th e Husaynis witnessed the rise and as a moderate leader who tried to make refl ect this, a family who stood at the heart fall of major powers. Th ey struck a chord cause with the British, but failed and was of Palestinian politics, as described in Ilan with Sultan Abd al-Hamid II (1876-1909), exiled unjustly. With his implication in Pappé’s new book. Th e book is not only who helped to expand their power through many setbacks abroad, he foolishly threw invaluable to historians and those interested various positions in Jerusalem. However, himself into the hands of the fascists and in the history of Palestine but also to all Abd al-Hamid was in confl ict with the Nazis. Pappé writes of him: ‘Th ese events who want to understand the processes Young Turks who dispensed with the are highly important as an indication of that shape major historical events. Pappé traditional Ottoman support for infl uential al-Hajj Amin’s transformation from a is a competent historian equipped with aristocratic families in the Middle East. bright, sensible leader of a movement into a astute and critical intellectual abilities Th us ended four centuries of Ottoman rule hallucinatory fi gure losing touch with reality and sensitive attitudes, making his book based on the satisfaction of the Sultan in and assuming roles and capabilities far resonate with humanity and depth. Th e Istanbul and the micro-management of beyond those he actually possessed.’ Husaynis dominated Palestinian politics civil and economic aff airs by the notables As the Zionists occupied Palestine, the for more than two centuries before their and their allies. During the British mandate political infl uence of the Husaynis waned, political demise in 1948. Th ey were part period (1918-1947), and the growth of except for the late Faysal al-Husayni. of what Albert Hourani described as the Palestinian Nationalism that the Husaynis Although Pappé’s book signifi cantly ‘politics of notables’. Perhaps the Husaynis’ were challenged, repressed and their contributes to our understanding of the thirst for power manifests itself most with political infl uence declined. Here, names Palestinian Husaynis, shedding light on the the change of their original family name from the late 19th and 20th centuries are mighty powers they were up against, there from Ghudayyas to Husayni in the late 18th helpful, particularly Abd al-Qadir, Musa is more research to be done to complement century in order to be linked to the Prophet Kazim al-Husayni, and Hajj Amin al- this signifi cant, inevitably broad book. Mohammad through his grandson Hussein. Husayni, the man who acquired a notorious However, the power of the Husaynis reputation given his embroilment in the Atef Alshaer is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at owes itself in large part to the continuous murky politics of the Second World War. SOAS decline in the Ottoman Empire with which Th is period is characterised by Palestinian the loyal Husaynis gradually gained favour resistance to the new realities which and occupied prominent positions. Th e emerged under the aegis of British rule, Husaynis also produced a crop of leaders including increased Jewish immigration to who were able enough to withstand the Palestine, expropriation of land and other tribulations of their time, including the harsh measures that raised Palestinian rivalry among each other and with other fears about their country, propelling them

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 27 BBooksooks iinn BBriefrief LLapisapis LLazuli:azuli: TThehe SShahhah IInn PPursuitursuit ooff a by Abbas Milani is CCelestialelestial StoneStone published by Palgrave Macmillan (2011). Price: by Sarah Searight is £14.99 published by East & West Publications (2010). Price: £18.95

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IIsrael,srael, Turkey,Turkey, IIranran hough his monarchy was toppled in 1979 and he died in 1980, the life Tof Mohammad-Reza Shah Pahlevi, by Stephen Kinzer is the last Shah of Iran, continues to resonate apis Lazuli: In Pursuit of a Celestial today. Here, internationally respected Stone follows the travels over published by I B Tauris author Abbas Milani has produced the Lthousands of years of this precious (2010). Price: £9.99 defi nitive biography, more than 10 years blue stone – as stone and as pigment – in the making, of the monarch who eastwards and westwards from the mines eace and democracy in the Middle shaped Iran’s modern age and with it the in north-east Afghanistan. Lapis is found East have been the aim of world contemporary politics of the Middle East. elsewhere – in Siberia and Chile for instance Pleaders for generations, yet the USA, Th e Shah’s was a life fi lled with – but the most vivid blue is Afghan and for Britain or their closest allies in the region contradiction as a social reformer he built purist painters only this oltramarino will have been behind nearly every war in the schools, increased equality for women, do for their pigment. In early millennia Middle East in the last century. How did and greatly reduced the power of the it travelled to Mesopotamia and ancient the West get everything so wrong? In this Shia clergy. He made Iran a global power, Egypt; later it followed eastwards the path of book, Stephen Kinzer takes the reader on courting Western leaders from Churchill Buddhism and westwards to the Byzantine a tour of modern Middle Eastern history, to Carter, and nationalised his country’s world and so into medieval Europe. Th e highlighting the errors, alliances and many natural resources. He was deeply author’s travels have oft en followed similar betrayals all acted out for what was seen as confl icted and insecure in his powerful tracks – well-worn trade routes across the being in the interest of Western states. His role. Intolerant of political dissent, he was ancient and medieval worlds, moving from insight and historical knowledge culminate eventually overthrown by the very people raw stone to ground stone – ultramarine in the startling conclusion that the USA has whose loyalty he so desperately sought. Th is pigment - taking in wall paintings, formed alliances with the wrong Middle comprehensive and gripping account shows illuminated manuscripts and Renaissance Eastern states. Rather than Israel and Saudi us how Iran went from politically moderate Madonnas. Th e emphasis in the book is Arabia, the USA’s natural allies according to monarchy to totalitarian Islamic republic. on the sacred apart from a chapter looking Kinzer’s controversial but closely reasoned Milani reveals the complex and sweeping at hard stone (pietra dura) inlay – in Italy, analysis should be Iran and Turkey. road that would bring the USA and Iran to Russia and India. where they are today.

28 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 PProrofi lele AAlmutlmut HintzeHintze

Zartoshty Professor of , SOAS

Oxford, for a Michael-Foster scholarship Zartoshty. Subsequently the two brothers to do a two-year MPhil in Comparative made a substantial donation to SOAS Philology and General Linguistics, towards the endowment of the post, which specializing in Ancient Greek and Sanskrit. now bears their family name. Th anks to It was through Sanskrit that I found my a recent, substantial donation by the late way into the languages and cultures of Professor Mary Boyce, SOAS can now ancient Iran and I decided to do a PhD in boast the fi rst ever fully-endowed university Indo-Iranian Studies at Erlangen University, position in Zoroastrianism in the world, the with Johanna Narten and Karl Hoff mann. Zartoshty Chair in the Department of the Th e topic of my thesis was the edition of an Study of Religions. ancient Iranian, Zoroastrian, hymn. I chose Th roughout the ten years it took for the Zamyad Yast because of the beauty I saw getting from an endowed course to an in a passage at the end of that text about the endowed Chair, SOAS has displayed resurrection of the dead and the fi nal defeat unwavering commitment to the cause of the of Evil and its removal from the world. Even study of Zoroastrianism. Although the post while at Erlangen I regularly returned to was only partly endowed, I was appointed England during the summer vacations to full-time lecturer in 2000, promoted to use the splendid library collections of the Senior lecturer in 2005, Reader in 2008 and Ancient India and Iran Trust in Cambridge Professor in 2010. My service as Head of the and consult British scholars in Cambridge, Department of the Study of Religions since London and Manchester. On one of these 2008 has been demanding but rewarding, visits I met Eugenio Biagini, then Junior and it has been fascinating to follow more Research Fellow at Churchill College. He closely the working of the department and was to become my husband in 1996 and in of SOAS as a whole. While my teaching 2008 we adopted William, a lovely English covers the languages of the Zoroastrian nine-year old. In spring 1990 I took up my scriptures (Avestan and Pahlavi) and its fi rst academic post as assistant professor in religious ideas and history, my research aughter of a Lutheran pastor, whose the Department of Indo-European Studies focuses on the text-critical and linguistic devotion to learning and critical at the Freie Universität Berlin and, aft er my analysis of the Zoroastrian sacred texts and Danalysis were a source of inspiration Habilitation in 1997, a Heisenberg research on their tradition, which spans the period for me, and only sister of four brothers, professorship, which I was able to hold in from prehistoric Indo-Iranian times to the who claim to have given me a good training conjunction with a research fellowship at present. However, I regard such analysis not for life, I became a student of Classics and Clare Hall, Cambridge. as an end in itself but as a crucial stepping- Indo-European Philology in my hometown, Th e opportunity arose in 1998 for me to stone towards unravelling the ideas and Heidelberg, Germany. Th ere I also attended teach a course on Zoroastrianism at SOAS, culture of which such texts are the vehicle. lectures in other subjects, including music and I could then combine my interest in and philosophy. Particularly memorable languages and religions. Th is course, and was Hans-Georg Gadamer speaking on a year later its endowment, was due to hermeneutics. In 1984 I was fortunate the generosity of the Iranian Zoroastrian enough to be selected by Wadham College, philanthropists Mehraban and Faridoon

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 29 Listings EEventsvents iinn LLondonondon

HE EVENTS and paintings from the tomb of organisations listed below Nebamun (Gallery Talk) George Tare not necessarily endorsed Hart, independent speaker. or supported by The Middle East in Organised by: BM. Admission free. London. The accompanying texts Room 61, BM. T 020 7323 8299 W and images are based primarily www.britishmuseum.org on information provided by the organisers and do not necessarily 6:00 pm | Hidden Histories: reflect the views of the compilers reclaiming truths (Lecture) or publishers. While every possible Basem Ra’ad, Al-Quds University, effort is made to ascertain the Jerusalem. Organised by: London accuracy of these listings, readers Middle East Institute, SOAS are advised to seek confirmation (LMEI). Part of the LMEI’s Tuesday of all events using the contact Evening Lecture Programme on details provided for each event. the Contemporary Middle East. Submitting entries and updates: Presentation and discussion on please send all updates and Ra’ad’s book, Hidden Histories: submissions for entries related Palestine and the Eastern Keeping it Real: an exhibition of four acts: act 3: Mona Hatoum: current disturbance. to future events via e-mail to Mediterranean (Pluto Press, 2010), Photo: Geoff Craddick/PA/Whitechapel Gallery (see Exhibitions, page 38) [email protected] or by fax to which looks at various mythologies 020 7898 4329. and complexes and how colonialism Lacey returned to Saudi Arabia to 7:00 pm | Saif Ghobash–Banipal in Palestine contrasts with earlier research and write a completely Prize for Arabic Literary BM – , Great colonial forms worldwide. Chaired new and critically acclaimed book, Translation (Reception) Organised Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG by Ruba Salih, SOAS. Tea and Inside the Kingdom. Admission free. by: Th e Banipal Trust for Arab SOAS – School of Oriental and biscuits available from 5.30pm. Committee Room 14, Houses of Literature and Th e Mosaic Rooms. African Studies, Th ornhaugh Street, Admission free. Khalili Lecture Parliament, Westminster, London 6.30pm for 7.00pm start. A Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E SW1A (Via St Stephens Entrance). reception and conversation with the LSE – London School of Economics [email protected] W www.lmei.soas. T 020 7832 1321 E caabu@caabu. 2010 winner of the Saif Ghobash– and Political Science, Houghton ac.uk org W www.caabu.org Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Street, London WC2 2AE Translation, Humphrey Davies, 6:00 pm | Israel and Lebanon: 7:00 pm | Simon Sebag Montefi ore and Elias Khoury, which will also another round of confl ict? on Jerusalem (Talk) Organised by: celebrate the 5th year of the Prize. (Forum) Ahron Bregman, Kings Intelligence Squared. Doors open Chaired by André Naffi s-Sahely. FEBRUARY EVENTS College, London; Nadim Shehadi, at 6.30pm. Drawing on archives, Admission free, booking advised. Chatham House and former current scholarship, his own Th e Mosaic Rooms (A M Qattan Tuesday 1 February Director, Centre of Lebanese family papers and a lifetime’s study, Foundation), 226 Cromwell Road, Studies, Oxford. Organised by: Montefi ore illuminates the essence London SW5 0SW. T 020 7370 9990 9:30 am | Middle East and North Olive Tree Programme. Olive Tree of sanctity and mysticism, identity E [email protected] W www. Africa Energy - Investment Middle East Forum. Tonight’s and empire in a 3000-year journey banipaltrust.org.uk Prospects (Two-Day Conference: Forum will explore the factors that through Jerusalem. Tickets £25. Monday 31 January - Tuesday 1 brought Israel and Lebanon to war Th e Tabernacle, London W11 2AY. Wednesday 2 February February) Organised by: Chatham in the past and assess what is at stake T 020 7221 1177 E ted.maxwell@ House. Speakers include HE El in the event of renewed confl ict. intelligencesquared.com W www. 1:15 pm | Lasting impressions: Badri, OPEC; Edward L Morse, Admission free. A130, College intelligencesquared.com/events/ seals and practices in the Islamic Credit Suisse; Jon Marks, Cross- Building, City University London, jerusalem World (Gallery Talk) Annabel Border Information Ltd; Javier 280 John Street, London EC1V Gallop; Venetia Porter, BM. Blas; Financial Times. How is the 0HB. E [email protected] 7:00 pm | Th e Aural Contract Organised by: BM. Admission free. MENA region’s increasing energy Audio Archive Evening (Talk) Room 34, BM. T 020 7323 8000 W consumption aff ecting investment 6:30 pm | Saudi Arabia: inside the With Lawrence Abu Hamdan. Part www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk decisions and global supplies? Kingdom – A talk by Robert Lacey of Sonic Grounds, a series of events Tickets: See contact details. Chatham (Lecture) Robert Lacey, historian. curated by Rayya Badran organised 3:00 pm | Th e Changing House, 10 St James’s Square, London Organised by: Council for Arab- to complement the exhibition Geostrategic Landscape in SW1Y 4LE. T 020 7957 5753 E British Understanding (CAABU). Raed Yassin – Th e Best Of Sammy the Middle East (Symposium) [email protected]. Robert Lacey’s Th e Kingdom, a study Clark (see Exhibitions). Admission Mohammed Ayoob, Michigan uk W www.chathamhouse.org.uk/ of Saudi Arabia published in 1981, is free. Th e Delfi na Foundation, 29 State University; Clovis Maksoud, MENA2011/ acknowledged as required reading Catherine Place, SW1E 6DY. E American University. Organised by: for businessmen, diplomats and info@delfi nafoundation.com W Middle East Centre, LSE. Discussant: 1:15 pm | Art for Eternity: students all over the world, in 2005 www.delfi nafoundation.com Avi Shlaim, St Antony’s College,

30 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 University of Oxford. Chaired by Mohajerani, historian, journalist, 9FX. T 07954 601372 W www. 5:15 pm | Forgeries, Sacred History Hassan Hakimian, London Middle and author; and Saeed Zeydabadi- silkroads.co.uk and Religious Minorities: the East Institute & SOAS. Followed by Nejad, SOAS. Admission free. hidden story of Miguel de Luna a reception at 5.30pm. Admission Room G3, SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E 1:15 pm | Curator’s Introduction (Seminar) Mercedes Garcia-Arenal, free. Hong Kong Th eatre, Clement [email protected] W www.soas.ac.uk/ to the Book of the Dead (Talk) CSIC, Madrid. Organised by: House, LSE. E [email protected] W iranianstudies/ Organised by: BM. Exhibition Department of History, SOAS. Part www.lse.ac.uk/middleEastCentre/ curator John Taylor gives an of the Seminar on the History of the home.aspx Friday 4 February illustrated 45-minute talk on the Near and Middle East. Admission exhibition Journey Th rough the free. Room G3, SOAS. E tb31@soas. 6:30 pm | Society’s Annual Dinner 11:00 am | Heart-Warming Aft erlife: Ancient Egyptian Book ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/history/ and Presentation of the Rawabi Lebanese Stews with Nada Saleh of the Dead (see Exhibitions). events/nmehistseminar/ Holding Awards Organised by: (Talk) A lesson in how to make slow Admission free, booking advised . Saudi-British Society. Th e awards, simmered dishes from one of the BP Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 6:45 pm | Sufi Meditation for making a signifi cant contribution great cuisines of the world. Tickets 8299 W www.britishmuseum.org (Meeting) Organised by: to Saudi-British relations, will be £40. Books for Cooks, 4 Blenheim Caravansary. Every Monday. Sufi presented to Venetia Porter and Crescent, Notting Hill, London, 7:30 pm | Dance Queens of Th e Meditation Circle using practices Robert Lacey. Tickets: £35. Institute W11 1NN. T 020 7221 1992 W Nile: connections (Performance) traditionally known as zikr. Tickets: of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London www.booksforcooks.com Doors open at 6.30pm. Hossam and Suggested contribution £6/£5. SW1. E ionisthompson@yahoo. Serena Ramzy at the Bloomsbury Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace co.uk W www.saudibritishsociety. 12:00 pm | Turkey as a Rising Th eatre for one night only to Gardens Terrace, Notting Hill Gate, org.uk Power: ambitions, opportunities support the Petrie Museum of London W8 4RT. T 079 4448 9527 and prospects (Seminar) Fadi Egyptian Archaeology at UCL. E [email protected] W www. Th ursday 3 February Hakura, Chatham House. Music and traditional dances of caravansary.org Organised by: SOAS Modern the Nile to modern fusion. Tickets: 5:00 pm | Fieldwork in Th eory: Turkish Studies Programme £20/£15 conc. Th e Bloomsbury 7:00 pm | Open Sufi Meetings Levantine polemics around (London Middle East Institute, Th eatre, 15 Gordon Street, London and Zikr (Meeting) Organised by: Edward Said and post-colonial SOAS). Part of the Seminars on WC1H 0AH. T 020 7388 8822 W Ansari UK. First Monday of every critique (Seminar) Fadi Bardawil. Turkey series. Sponsored by Nurol www.thebloomsbury.com / www. month. An open Sufi meeting. Part of the Southwest Asia and Bank. Convened by Benjamin ucl.ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie Tickets: Donations welcome. North Africa (SWANA) Research Fortna, SOAS. Admission free. Kensington Unitarians, 112 Palace Seminar Series. Series organised Room 116, SOAS. T 020 7898 4431 7:30 pm | An Evening of Classical Gardens Terrace, W8 4TR. T 07954 jointly by graduate students in the E [email protected] W www.soas.ac.uk Persian Music (Performance) 601372 / 07941 653337 W www. LSE and Goldsmiths anthropology Performance and talk with maestro ansaripublications.com departments. Admission free. 6:30 pm | Poetry, Meditation, vocalist Touraj Kiaras and leading Room 3.05, New Academic Music: Poetry Circle composer and instrumentalist 8:00 pm | Rebetiko Jam Sessions Building, Goldsmiths, University of (Meeting) Every fi rst Friday of the Hamid Motebassem. Tickets: of the SOAS Ad Hoc Rebetiko London, New Cross, London, SE14 month. Informal poetry circle. £15 - £35. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Band Organised by: Ed Emery. 6NW. E [email protected] / Admission free. Colet House, 151 Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Every fi rst Monday of the month. [email protected] Talgarth Road, London W14 9DA. T London SE1 8XX. T 0844 847 9910 With musicians from the Greek 079 4448 9527 E info@caravansary. W www.southbankcentre.co.uk / community along with musicians 5:00 pm | More than Trade and org W www.caravansary.org from Turkey, Iran and other areas Sex? Th e Greeks in Egypt Trail Sunday 6 February of the Middle East also taking part. (Lecture) Organised by: Petrie All musicians, singers and dancers, Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. Saturday 5 February 6:00 pm | , as well as the listening public, are Part of Lates at the Petrie. LGBT Drum Circle (Meeting) Organised welcome. Admission free. Th e History Month event. Admission 10:30 am | Papyri and the Making by: London Drum Circle. Every Horseshoe Pub, 24 Clerkenwell free. Petrie Museum of Egyptian of Books of the Dead (Study fi rst Sunday of the month. Close, London EC1. E ee11@soas. Archaeology, Malet Place, London Day) Organised by: BM. Curator Admission free. Colet House, 151 ac.uk WC1. T 020 7679 4138 E d.challis@ John Taylor and other specialist Talgarth Rd, London W14 9DA. ucl.ac.uk W www.petrie.ucl.ac.uk speakers discuss the history, context, E [email protected] W www. development and ‘consumers’ of LondonDrumCircle.com Tuesday 8 February 7:00 pm | Crimson Gold (Film) the Book of the Dead. Conservator Organised by: Centre for Iranian Bridget Leach explores the TBC | Books for Cooks Lunch Greg Studies, SOAS. Part of the Centre’s materials and pigments used, and Monday 7 February and Lucy Malouf will be hosting the monthly fi lm screenings. Dir. Jafar David Simpson, Royal Botanic Tuesday Vegetarian Lunch service Panahi (2003), Iran, 95 min. Award- Gardens, Kew, discusses what TBC | Dock Kitchen Dinner at Notting Hill’s famous cookbook winning fi lm about Hussein, a papyrus is. £30/£25 members and Greg Malouf, will join head chef shop. Tickets £5. Books for Cooks, Tehran pizza delivery man. Aft er conc. Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, Stevie Parle and his team in the 4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, being insulted by a jewellery store BM. T 020 7323 8299 W www. kitchen where they will prepare London W11 1NN. T 020 7221 owner, who refuses to let him into britishmuseum.org a Persian feast of dishes inspired 1992 W www.booksforcooks.com his shop, the taciturn war veteran by Greg and Lucy Malouf’s becomes increasingly conscious of 11:30 am | Sufi Frame-Drumming book Saraban: A Chef’s Journey TBC | La Fromagerie Talk and the split in Iranian society between (Workshop) Organised by: Silk Th rough Persia (Hardie Grant, Dinner Greg and Lucy Malouf those with money and those without. Roads. Every Saturday. Sufi frame- 2010). Tickets: £35/£45. Th e Dock will host a dairy rich dinner with In Persian with English subtitles. drumming (daf) workshops suitable Kitchen, Portobello Docks, 344/342 a short talk on their journey Discussants: Drewery Dyke, Iran for beginners and intermediate level. Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Road, through modern-day Persia. Tickets Team at Amnesty International’s Tickets: £5. Chalkhill Community London W10 5BU. T 0208 962 1610 £60/£75. La Fromagerie, 2-6 Moxon International Secretariat; Ata’ollah Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, HA9 W www.dockkitchen.co.uk Street, Marylebone, London W1U

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 31 4EW. T 020 7935 0341 W www. Peyman Heydarian (Concert) Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 7480 175 min. Th e Egyptian empire is lafromagerie.co.uk Doors open at 7:00pm. Tickets: E [email protected] W showing deterioration and powerful £8/£6 students and the unwaged/£4 www.soas.ac.uk priests clash with Prince Ramesses 6:00 pm | In search of the ‘French- SOAS students. Khalili Lecture over war with Assyria. Dubbed in Arab Th ing’ (Lecture) Henry Th eatre, SOAS. E events.santur@ 7:00 pm | Surface Noise: English. Tickets: £3/£2 members Laurens, Collège de France. yahoo.com W www.thesantur.com hauntology and the metaphysics and conc. Stevenson Lecture Organised by: London Middle East of crackle (Talk) With Mark Fisher. Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 8299 W Institute, SOAS (LMEI). Part of the Wednesday 9 February Part of Sonic Grounds. See listing www.britishmuseum.org LMEI’s Tuesday Evening Lecture for Tuesday 1 February for more Programme on the Contemporary 6:30 pm | Fortnum & Mason Talk details. 6:30 pm | Alexander the Great and Middle East. Chaired by Gilbert and Evening Demonstration Greg the Conquest of Egypt (Lecture) Achcar, SOAS. Tea and biscuits Malouf will show guests how to Th ursday 10 February George Hart. Organised by: Friends available from 5.30pm. Admission recreate his favourite Persian dishes of the Petrie Museum. Admission free. Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. using ingredients from the Food Hall 1:15 pm | Creating borders: new free. G6, Institute of Archaeology, T 020 7898 4490 E [email protected] at Fortnum & Mason. Tickets: £15. insights into the making and 31 Gordon Square, London WC1. W www.lmei.soas.ac.uk Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, painting of the papyrus of Ani T 020 7679 2369 E janpicton@ijnet. London W1A 1ER. T 020 7973 4136 (Lecture) Organised by: BM. Bridget demon.co.uk / [email protected] 6:00 pm | Alexander and W www.fortnumandmason.com Leach and Richard Parkinson, W www.ucl.ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie/ Hephaestion: Homeric romance? discuss the science behind the (Lecture) John J Johnston. 7:00 pm | An Overview of the famous Book of the Dead papyrus Saturday 12 February Organised by: Petrie Museum of Recent Discoveries of the Mamluk of Ani. Admission free, booking Egyptian Archaeology. Admission and Ottoman Pottery from the advised. Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, TBC | Petersham Nurseries free. Petrie Museum of Egyptian Citadel of Damascus (Lecture) BM. T 020 7323 8299 W www. Demonstration and Tasting A talk, Archaeology, Malet Place, London Véronique François, CNRS, Aix- britishmuseum.org tasting and cooking demonstration WC1. T 020 7679 4138 E d.challis@ en-Provence. Organised by: by Greg and Lucy Malouf. Following ucl.ac.uk W www.ucl.ac.uk/ Islamic Art Circle at SOAS. Part Friday 11 February the morning event, Head Chef museums/petrie of the Islamic Art Circle at SOAS Skye Gyngell will cook a Persian Lecture Programme. Chaired by 6:30 pm | Faroan (Pharoah) lunch menu based on recipes from 7:30 pm | Th e Voice of Santur: a Doris Behrens-Abouseif, SOAS. (Film) Organised by: BM. Dir. the Malouf’s cook-book Saraban. multicultural santur recital by Admission free. Khalili Lecture Jerzy Kawalerowicz (1966), Poland, Tickets: TBC. Petersham Nurseries, NEW

The Internet and Politics in Iran Annabelle Sreberny and Gholam Khiabany

‘An excellent Study’ – Steven Poole’s non-fiction choice, the Guardian ‘A remarkable study’ – Toby Miller, University of California Riverside ‘Essential reading’ – Faye Ginsburg, Director, Centre of Media, Culture and History, New York University

www.ibtauris.com 232 pages 216 x 134mm 9781845116071 PB £14.99

32 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 took up the Olive Tree Directorship re Hamas, the Palestinians and aft er having completed three the peace process. Followed by years as Director of Research at a discussion with the director. Chatham House. Th e focus of her Tickets: £5/£4 members/£3.50 conc. own research and writing is foreign Hashomer House, 37a Broadhurst MIDDLE EAST BRIEFINGS policy and security issues in the Gardens, London NW6 3BN. T 020 Middle East. Admission free. Grand 3286 1616 E [email protected] W Committee Room (off Westminster www.meretz.org.uk The London Middle East Institute offers tailored briefings Hall), Houses of Parliament, on the politics, economics, cultures and languages of the Middle East. Westminster, London SW1A (Via Friday 18 February Previous clients include UK and foreign governmental bodies St Stephens Entrance). T 020 7832 and private entities. 1321 E [email protected] W www. 1:15 pm | Curator’s Introduction Contact us for details. caabu.org to the Book of the Dead (Lecture) See listing for Saturday 5 February Tel: 020 7898 4330 E-mail: [email protected] Th ursday 17 February for details. Church Lane, Off Petersham the Arts of the Islamic World Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 (Gallery Talk) Ladan Akbarnia, BM. 1:30 pm | David Roberts in Egypt 1:15 pm | Women’s Lives in Ancient 7AG. T 020 8605 3627 W http:// Organised by: BM. Admission free. (Study Session) Organised by: BM. Egypt (Gallery Talk) Lorna Oakes, gregmalouflondontour.wordpress. Room 34, BM. T 020 7323 8299 W Independent lecturer George Hart independent speaker. Organised com / www.petershamnurseries. www.britishmuseum.org and Hilary Williams, BM, discuss by: BM. Admission free. Room com the importance and infl uence of 61, BM. T 020 7323 8299 W www. 5:30 pm | Th e Western Marmarica the journey made by Scottish artist britishmuseum.org 10:30 am | ZIPANG Day Out Coastal Survey: life on the fringe David Roberts through Egypt Organised by: Th e Enheduanna (Lecture) Linda Hulin, Oxford in 1838–1839. Tickets: £15/£12 7:00 pm | Writing Across Borders: Society. Monthly event. Between Centre for Maritime Archaeology, members and conc. Stevenson empathy in the age of confl ict 10.30am and 12.30pm, collect a University of Oxford. Organised Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 (Lecture) Elif Shafak, Turkish writer. Heritage Trail from the BM and by: Society for Libyan Studies. 8299 W www.britishmuseum.org Organised by: LSE Contemporary follow the Heritage Trail to fi nd Admission free. Th e British Turkish Studies and Forum for clues to a long-lost Mesopotamian Academy, 10 Carlton House 5:00 pm | Children in Militias: European Philosophy. Part of the story. Gather from 3.00pm at the Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH. E learning adulthood in wartime LSE Contemporary Turkish Studies Poetry Café in Covent Garden [email protected] W Lebanon (1975-1990) (Lecture) Research Seminar Series. See listing for the storytelling performance/ www.britac.ac.uk/institutes/libya/ Sami Hermez, University of Oxford. for Monday 14 February for ticket workshop. Admission free. BM and Part of the Southwest Asia and and contact details. Sheikh Zayed Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, 7:00 pm | Is the World Running North Africa (SWANA) Research Th eatre, New Academic Building, London WC2H 9BX. T 020 7278 Out of Oil? Th e Oil Market: OPEC Seminar Series. See listing for LSE. 3624 E [email protected] W and Iran in particular (Lecture) Th ursday 3 February for details. www.zipang.org.uk Manouchehr Takin, Centre for Global Energy Studies and former 6:30 pm | Book of the Dead: the Saturday 19 February 11:30 am | Passport to the Aft erlife offi cial at OPEC. Organised by: Th e fi nal chapter (Lecture) Organised (Family Activity) Organised by: BM. Iran Society. 6.30pm for 7.00pm. by: BM. Even aft er the demise of 11:00 am | Book of the Dead Use mobile phones to fi nd secret Admission free. Canning House, 2 the Book of the Dead, Egyptians Family Day Organised by: BM. A codes around the Museum and solve Belgrave Square, London SW1. T continued to reuse and reinterpret range of activities. Admission free. clues about the ancient Egyptian 020 7235 5122 E info@iransociety. parts of it. Author Mark Smith Paul Hamlyn Library and Samsung Book of the Dead. Suitable for ages org W www.iransociety.org discusses his book Traversing Digital Discovery Centre, BM. T 020 7+ Admission free. Samsung Digital Eternity. Tickets: £5/£3 members 7323 8299 W www.britishmuseum. Discovery Centre, BM. T 020 7323 Wednesday 16 February and conc. BP Lecture Th eatre, org 8299 W www.britishmuseum.org BM. T 020 7323 8299 W www. 4:30 pm | Desertec, Masdar and britishmuseum.org 11:30 am | Passport to the Aft erlife Monday 14 February Beyond: renewable energy policy (Family Activity) See listing for in the Maghreb and in the Gulf 6:30 pm | Book of the Dead Late Saturday 12 February for details. 6:00 pm | Kurdish Developments region (Seminar) Dennis Kumetat, (Various) Organised by: BM. and Turkish Policies: taking risks or LSE. Organised by: LSE Kuwait Explore the Book of the Dead and 6:30 pm | Literature and facing realities? (Lecture) Bill Park, Programme. In his talk Kumetat celebrate the art, culture and beliefs Islamophobia: three Dutch King’s College. Organised by: LSE will look at the renewable energy of ancient Egypt through an evening Muslim authors speak out Contemporary Turkish Studies. Part initiatives that have been announced of performances and installations (Lecture) Organised by: LSE. of the LSE Contemporary Turkish in the MENA region in recent with talks, readings, music and Department of Philosophy, Logic Studies Research Seminar Series. years. Admission free. STC.S78, St dance. Admission free. Great Court, and Scientifi c Method Literary Admission free. J116, Cowdray Clements Building, LSE. T 020 7955 BM. T 020 7323 8299 W www. Festival Panel. Migrant fi ction House, LSE. T 020 7955 6067 E 6639 E [email protected] W www. britishmuseum.org writers from Muslim backgrounds [email protected] lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEKP/ explore how they see their art as / [email protected] W www2.lse. 7:30 pm | Views from the Border a tool to facilitate cross-cultural ac.uk/europeanInstitute/Research/ 6:30 pm | British policy in the (Documentary) Organised by: dialogue. With three bestselling ContemporaryTurkishStudies/ Middle East – A Talk by Rosemary Meretz UK - for Equality, Civil women Muslim writers living Home.aspx Hollis (Lecture) Rosemary Hollis, Rights, Peace & Th e Environment. and working in the Netherlands: Olive Tree Scholarship Programme, Dir. Dani Landau. A road trip Naima El Bezaz; Senay Özdemir; Tuesday 15 February City University London. Organised around Israel’s southern border and Naema Tahir. Chaired by Luc by: Council for Arab-British during Operation Cast Lead. Bovens. Admission free. Wolfson 1:15 pm | Selected Treasures from Understanding (CAABU). Hollis Discussed are Israel’s policies Th eatre, New Academic Building,

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 33 LSE. T 020 7405 7686 W www2.lse. 4490 E [email protected] W www. BP Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 Monday 28 February ac.uk lmei.soas.ac.uk 8299 W www.britishmuseum.org 5:15 pm | A Pilgrimage to Arawân: Wednesday 23 February 6:45 pm | Iran is a Paper Tiger salt, oil, manuscripts, and history Sunday 20 February (Panel Debate) Ali Ansari, Institute in northern Mali (Lecture) Judith 2:00 pm | Th e Tygrine Cat (Family for Iranian Studies, University of St Scheele, University of Oxford. Part 11:00 am | Mega-Mummy Event) Inbali Iserles. Organised Andrews; Roger Cohen, Th e New of the Seminar on the History of the Animation Workshop (Family by: Petrie Museum of Egyptian York Times and the International Near and Middle East. See listing for Activity) Organised by: BM. Archaeology. Also on at 3.30pm. Herald Tribune; Karim Sadjadpour, Monday 7 February for details. Also on at 2.00pm. Create a giant Explore the Petrie cat collection. Carnegie Endowment and formerly animation of the mummifi cation Admission free. Petrie Museum of International Crisis Group; 6:00 pm | How to Become a process using a digital video camera Egyptian Archaeology, Malet Place, Nazenin Ansari, Kayhan; Reuel Baylonian Preist? Straight and and stop-motion soft ware. Sessions London WC1. T 020 7679 4138 E Marc Gerecht, Foundation for Crooked Paths to Priesthood last 120 min. Suitable for ages 7+ [email protected] W www.ucl. Defense of Democracies and former (Seminar) Caroline Waerzeggers. Admission free, booking advised. ac.uk/museums/petrie specialist at the CIA’s Directorate Organised by: Th e London Centre Samsung Digital Discovery Centre, of Operations; Geoff rey Robertson for the Ancient Near East. Part of the BM. T 020 7323 8299 W www. Th ursday 24 February QC, human rights lawyer and Current Research seminar series. britishmuseum.org author. Organised by: Intelligence Admission free. Room G51, SOAS. 6:00 pm | Th e Marshes of Southern Squared. Doors open at 6.00pm. W www.soas.ac.uk/anecentre Mesopotamia, Past, Present, and Th e Islamic regime in Iran loves to Monday 21 February Future (Talk) Azzam Alwash, bare its claws and snarl, but isn’t this Director of Eden Again/Nature Iraq. all just drama posturing? Chaired EVENTS OUTSIDE 5:15 pm | Th e Fatimid State as seen Organised by: Th e British Institute by Richard Lindley, journalist by Medieval Jews and Modern for the Study of Iraq (Gertrude Bell and former Panorama reporter. LONDON Social Th eorists (Seminar) Marina Memorial). BISI Appeal Talk & Tickets: £25/£12.50 students. Royal Rustow, Johns Hopkins University. Reception in aid of Iraqi Scholars. Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Part of the Seminar on the History Sponsored by HE Sheikh Hamed Gore, London SW7 2AR. T 020 7792 Friday 4 February of the Near and Middle East. See Bin Ahmed Al Hamed. Tickets: 4830 W www.intelligencesquared. 5:00 pm | Sudan Aft er the listing for Monday 7 February for £12.50/£10 BISI members and com/events/iran Referendum:two state solution details. students. Th e British Academy, or return to civil war? (Seminar) Wolfson Auditorium, 10 Carlton 7:00 pm | Planet Egypt Showcase Richard Barltrop, Alert 6:00 pm | The Assyrian Empire and House Terrace, London SW1Y (Performance) Organised by: International, London, and author its Vassals at the Close of the 8th 5AH. T 020 7969 5274 / 01440 785 Planet Egypt. Monthly bellydance of Darfur and the International Century BC: the seige of Jerusalem 244 E [email protected] W www. showcases held on the last Th ursday Community (2010); Faisal Elbagir, in context (Lecture) Karen Radner, bisi.ac.uk of every month. Tickets: £12 on the Reuters Institute for the Study UCL. Organised by: Anglo Israel door. Darbucka, 182 St John Street, of Journalism, Green Templeton Archaeological Society. Admission 6:00 pm | From Moveable Empire London EC1V 4JZ. T 020 7490 8295 College, Oxford. Organised by: free. Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, to Immovable State: Ottoman / 8772 E [email protected] W Middle East Centre, Oxford. Chair: Clore Education Centre, BM. T 020 policies toward Nomads and www.planetegypt.co.uk Ahmed Al-Shahi. Admission free. 8349 5754 W www.aias.org.uk refugees in the modern era Middle East Centre, 68 Woodstock (Seminar) Reşat Kasaba, Th e Saturday 26 February Road, Oxford OX2 6JF. T 01865 6:00 pm | How does the Turkish Henry M Jackson School of 284780 W www.sant.ox.ac.uk/mec Voter Decide? (Lecture) Ersin International Studies, University of 11:00 am | Exciting Near Eastern Kalaycıoğlu, Sabancı University, Washington (Seminar) Organised Adventure(r)s Abroad in North Istanbul. Part of the LSE by: SOAS Modern Turkish Studies and South (Seminar) Kenneth Friday 11 February Contemporary Turkish Studies Programme (London Middle East Kitchen, University of Liverpool. 5:00 pm | Arab Voices: what are Research Seminar Series. See listing Institute, SOAS) in conjunction Organised by: Th e Egypt they saying to us, and why it for Monday 14 February for ticket with the LSE’s Contemporary Exploration Society. Egyptians matters (Seminar) James Zogby, and contact details. J116, Cowdray Turkish Studies Programme. and Near-Easterners in each President, Arab American Institute. House, LSE. Part of the Seminars on Turkey others’ Lands (3000-1000 BC), and Organised by: Middle East Centre, series. Sponsored by Nurol Bank. Jigsaw-puzzling all the way to fi nd Oxford. See listing for Friday 4 Convened by Benjamin Fortna, “Mysterious” Punt. Tickets: £20 February for details. Tuesday 22 February SOAS. Admission free. Khalili EES members/£15 EES student Lecture Th eatre, SOAS.T 020 7898 members/£25 non-members. 6:00 pm | Southern Yemen 4431 E [email protected] W www.soas. Th e Egypt Exploration Society, 3 Friday 18 February Today and Rise and Fall of the ac.uk Doughty Mews London WC1N 5:00 pm | Iran, the Middle East People’s Democratic Republic 2PG. T 020 7242 1880 E contact@ and the USA: a view from Israel of Yemen (1967-1990) (Lecture) 6:30 pm | In Conversation with ees.ac.uk W www.ees.ac.uk/events/ (Seminar) David Menashri, Tel Aviv Noel Brehony, LMEI and MENAS Ahdaf Soueif and Jamal Mahjoub index/54.html University. Organised by: Middle Associates Ltd. Organised by: (Lecture) Organised by: BM. East Centre, Oxford. See listing for London Middle East Institute, SOAS Bestselling author of Th e Map of 12:00 pm | Mesopotamian Myths Friday 4 February for details. (LMEI). Part of the LMEI’s Tuesday Love, Booker Prize nominee, and (Family Event) Organised by: BM. Evening Lecture Programme on political and cultural commentator Also on at 1.30pm and 3.00pm. the Contemporary Middle East. Ahdaf Soueif, and award-winning Learn about the gods, goddesses, Chaired by Karima Laachir, SOAS. novelist, translator and essayist monsters and demons of ancient Friday 25 February Tea and biscuits available from Jamal Mahjoub refl ect on notions of Mesopotamia. Admission free. 5:00 pm | Al-Qaida in Iraq: 5.30pm. Admission free. Khalili ancient Egypt in modern life and art. Room 10, BM. T 020 7323 8000 W revolutionary terrorism in a Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 7898 Tickets: £5/£3 members and conc. www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

34 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011

LONDON MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE School of Oriental and African Studies

TUESDAY EVENING LECTURE PROGRAMME ON THE CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EAST: SPRING 2011

1 February Hidden Histories: Reclaiming Truths Basem Ra'ad, Al-Quds University

8 February In search of the ‘French-Arab Thing’ Henry Laurens, Collège de France

15 February Reading Week

22 February Southern Yemen Today and Rise and Fall of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967-1990) Noel Brehony, LMEI and MENAS Associates Ltd.

1 March (Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre) Screening of Michel Khleifi’s Fertile Memory followed by a talk on: Palestinian Cinema – From Militant Propaganda to Independence? Michel Khleifi, Institut National Supérieur des Arts du spectacle

8 March Between Ideology and Pragmatism: Zionism in National Socialist Jewish Policy Francis Nicosia, University of Vermont

6.00pm, Khalili Lecture Theatre, Main Building, SOAS

Admission Free - All Welcome

Tea and biscuits are available from 5.30pm

For further information contact: London Middle East Institute, SOAS (LMEI), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square,February-March London WC1H 2011 OXG. » The Middle East in London » 35 T: 020 7898 4330 F: 020 7898 4329 E: [email protected] W: www.lmei.soas.ac.uk struggling democracy (Seminar) Petrie. Trail by Carolyn Perry 9:30 am | Past is Present: settler and author, from his childhood in Tom Schiller, BAE Inc. Organised explores Islamic objects in the colonialism in Palestine (Two-Day Iran and his life in France until his by: Middle East Centre, Oxford. collection. Admission free. Petrie Conference: Saturday 5 - Sunday suicide in Paris. Followed by a panel See listing for Friday 4 February for Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, 6 March) Organised by: SOAS discussion. Admission free. Khalili details. Malet Place, London WC1. T 020 Palestine Society and hosted by the Lecture Th eatre, SOAS.T 020 7898 7679 4138 E [email protected] W London Middle East Institute, SOAS 4490 E [email protected] W www. www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie (LMEI). 7th Annual Conference lmei.soas.ac.uk MARCH EVENTS which will seek to reclaim settler 5:30 pm | Pedagogy, Memory colonialism as the central paradigm 6:45 pm | Sufi Meditation Tuesday 1 March and Alterity - Conceptions of from which to understand Palestine. (Meeting) Every Monday. See listing the Muslim World in European Tickets £30/£20 conc. Brunei for Monday 7 February for details. 6:00 pm | Palestinian Cinema - Textbooks (Lecture) Organised by: Gallery Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. E From Militant Propaganda to Aga Khan University Institute for [email protected] W 7:00 pm | Open Sufi Meetings and Independence? (Film Screening the Study of Muslim Civilisations. www.soaspalsoc.org Zikr (Meeting) First Monday of & Lecture) Michel Khleifi , Institut Th e lecture will examine recent every month. See listing for Monday National Supérieur des Arts du research probing into the pedagogic 11:00 am | Forensic Aspects of 7 February for details. spectacle. Organised by: London constructions of Islam in the Ancient Egypt (Study Day) Joyce Middle East Institute, SOAS European past and the scripting Filer. Tickets: £30 (booking closes 8:00 pm | Rebetiko Jam Sessions of (LMEI). Screening of Khleifi ’s fi lm of Muslims in contemporary 17 February). Hughes-Parry Hall, the SOAS Ad Hoc Rebetiko Band Fertile Memory (1980) followed textbooks. Admission free. AKU 19-26 Cartwright Gardens, London Every fi rst Monday of the month. by a lecture on the evolution of - Institute for the Study of Muslim WC1. T 07973 695 168 E rikki_ Please see listing for Monday 7 Palestinian cinema. Part of the Civilisations, 210 Euston Road, [email protected] February for details. LMEI’s Tuesday Evening Lecture London NW1 2DA. T 020 7380 Programme on the Contemporary 3865 E [email protected] 11:30 am | Sufi Frame-Drumming Tuesday 8 March Middle East. Chaired by Gilbert W www.aku.edu/ismc/shortcourses (Workshop) Every Saturday. See Achcar, SOAS. Tea and biscuits listing for Saturday 5 February for 6:00 pm | Between Ideology and available from 5.30pm. Admission 7:00 pm | TBC (Film) Organised by: details. Pragmatism: Zionism in National free. Brunei Gallery Lecture Th eatre, Centre for Iranian Studies, SOAS. Socialist Jewish Policy (Lecture) SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E vp6@soas. Part of the Centre’s monthly fi lm Sunday 6 March Francis Nicosia, University of ac.uk W www.lmei.soas.ac.uk screenings. Admission free. Room Vermont. Organised by: London G3, SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E vp6@ 11:00 am | Past is Present: settler Middle East Institute, SOAS Th ursday 3 March soas.ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/ colonialism in Palestine (Two-Day (LMEI). Part of the LMEI’s Tuesday iranianstudies/ Conference: Saturday 5 - Sunday Evening Lecture Programme on 11:00 am | Flavours of Babylon - 6 March) Please see listing for the Contemporary Middle East. In the Iraqi Kitchen with Linda Friday 4 March Saturday 5 March for details. Chaired by Gilbert Achcar, SOAS. Dangoor-Khalatschi (Talk) Tea and biscuits available from Discover the rich tradition of the 6:30 pm | Poetry, Meditation, 6:00 pm | Middle Eastern Music 5.30pm. Admission free. Khalili Iraqi table with cookbook author Music: Rumi Poetry Circle and Percussion (Meeting) Every Lecture, SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E Linda Dangoor as she introduces (Meeting) Every fi rst Friday of fi rst Sunday of the month. See listing [email protected] W www.lmei.soas. one of the world’s most ancient the month. See listing for Friday 4 for Sunday 6 February for details. ac.uk cuisines. Tickets: £40. Books for February for details. Cooks, 4 Blenheim Crescent, Monday 7 March 6:00 pm | Hers was the Earth - Notting Hill, London, W11 6:30 pm | Demons, Disease and the the Extraordinary Life of Amelia 1NN. T 020 7221 1992 W www. Dead: the darker side of religion 5:15 pm | Abd al-Mu’min, the First Edwards (Performance) Kim Hicks. booksforcooks.com in pharaonic Egypt (Lecture) Almohad Caliph (TBC) (Seminar) Organised by: Friends of the Organised by: BM. Tickets: £5/£3 Maribel Fierro, CSIC, Madrid. Part Petrie Museum. Tickets: £12/10 1:15 pm | Th e Book of the Dead: BM Friends. BP Lecture Th eatre, of the Seminar on the History of the PMF. Petrie Museum of Egyptian narratives and infl uences in BM. T 020 7323 8299/ 8181 W Near and Middle East. See listing for Archaeology, Malet Place, contemporary Egyptian art www.britishmuseum.org Monday 7 February for details. London WC1. T 020 7679 2369 (Lecture) Khaled Hafez. Organised E [email protected] by: British Museum. Admission free, 6:00 pm | Inequalities in Turkey: / [email protected] W www.ucl. booking advised. Stevenson Lecture Saturday 5 March multi-dimensional and entrenched ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie/ Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 8299 / (Seminar) Ayşen Candaş, Boğaziçi 8181 W www.britishmuseum.org 9:30 am | Muslim Family Law: University, Istanbul. Part of the Wednesday 9 March theories and practices (Seminar) LSE Contemporary Turkish Studies 5:00 pm | Th e “Invention” of Organised by: Aga Khan University Research Seminar Series. See listing 7:00 pm | Ottoman Istanbul Palestinian Citizenship: discourses Institute for the Study of Muslim for Monday 14 February for ticket Displayed in London Panorama and practices, 1918-1931 (Lecture) Civilisations. Explore the various and contact details. Th eatres, 1800-1863 (Lecture) Lauren Banko, SOAS. Part of the components of family law in Muslim Namik Erkal, Middle East Technical Southwest Asia and North Africa legal thought. Tickets: £75/£60 early 6:00 pm | From No. 37 University, Istanbul. Organised by: (SWANA) Research Seminar Series. bird until 4 February/£45 conc. (Documentary & Panel Discussion) Islamic Art Circle at SOAS. Part See listing for Th ursday 3 February Deadline for registration: 1 March Organised by: Centre for Iranian of the Islamic Art Circle at SOAS for details. 2011. AKU - Institute for the Study Studies, SOAS. Dirs Sam Kalantari Lecture Programme. Chaired by of Muslim Civilisations, 210 Euston and Mohsen Shahrnazdar (2010), Doris Behrens-Abouseif, SOAS. 5:00 pm | Objects from Islamic Road, London NW1 2DA. T 020 Iran, 68 min. Reception followed by Admission free. Khalili Lecture Egypt (Lecture) Organised by: 7380 3865 E ismc.shortcourses@ a documentary screening about the Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 7480 Petrie Museum of Egyptian aku.edu W www.aku.edu/ismc/ life and works of Sadegh Hedayat, E [email protected] W Archaeology. Part of Lates at the shortcourses the renowned Iranian novelist www.soas.ac.uk

36 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 Wittek’s Rûmtürkische Studien Th ursday 17 March School of Oriental and African Studies and other ghosts in the machine (Lecture) Colin Heywood, SOAS 4:00 pm | Th e Textiles at Masada and University of Hull. Part of the - An Insight into the Material Diploma in Seminar on the History of the Near Culture of Classical Antiquity and Middle East. See listing for (Lecture) Hero Granger-Taylor. Asian Art Monday 7 February for details. Organised by: Anglo Israel Archaeological Society. Admission 6:00 pm | Democratisation in free. Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, Object-based study of the arts of India, Turkey: the wave approach BM. T 020 8349 5754 W www.aias. China, the Islamic world, Japan, Korea and (Lecture) Bill Kissane, LSE. Part org.uk South East Asia, through access to the of the LSE Contemporary Turkish reserve collections in the British Museum Studies Research Seminar Series. 5:00 pm | Counterfeit Citizenship. and Victoria and Albert Museum Please see listing for Monday 14 On the Politics of Property in February for ticket and contact Nahr el Bared, a Palestinian Short courses available details. J116, Cowdray House, LSE. Refugee Camp in Lebanon (Lecture) Monika Halkort, Queens Further details from: 6:00 pm | New Insights from the Universtiy. Part of the Southwest Dr Heather Elgood Nuzi Temple Texts (Seminar) Asia and North Africa (SWANA) Phone: 020 7898 4451 Diana Stein. Organised by: Th e Research Seminar Series. See listing Email: [email protected] London Centre for the Ancient for Th ursday 3 February for details. Near East. Part of the Current School of Oriental and Research seminar series. Admission Enrol now for 5:30 pm | Iraqi Voices from the African Studies free. Room G51, SOAS. W www. Margins: ‘Abbud al-Karkhi, ‘Aziz University of London ISLAMIC ART Thornhaugh Street soas.ac.uk/anecentre ‘Ali and ‘Abbas Jijan’ (Lecture) Russell Square April - July Clive Holes FBA. Organised by: Th e London WC1H OXG 2011 Tuesday 15 March British Institute for the Study of Iraq (Gertrude Bell Memorial). Lecture www.soas.ac.uk/art 6:30 pm | Kant, Hobbes or... to follow BISI AGM. Admission Machiavelli? Facing the Grim free. Th e British Academy, 10 Choices of State-Building in Carlton House Terrace, London Afghanistan (Lecture) Antonio SW1Y 5AH. T 020 7969 5274 / Giustozzi, LSE. Organised by: 01440 785 244 E [email protected] Centre for Contemporary Central W www.bisi.ac.uk Th ursday 10 March Gordon Square, London WC1. T Asia and the Caucasus, SOAS. 020 7679 2369 E janpicton@ijnet. Anthony Hyman Memorial Lecture Saturday 19 March 5:30 pm | In Stone: Egyptian demon.co.uk / [email protected] 2011. Admission free. SOAS. T 020 archaeological stonework (Talk) W www.ucl.ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie/ 7898 4892/3 E [email protected] 11:00 am | Mummies of Ancient Organised by: Petrie Museum of W www.soas.ac.uk/cccac/events/ Egypt (Study Day) Joyce Filer. See Egyptian Archaeology. Talk and Saturday 12 March anthonyhyman/ listing for the Study Day on Saturday hands-on events on conservation. 5 March for details. Admission free. Petrie Museum of 10:30 am | ZIPANG Day Out Egyptian Archaeology, Malet Place, Monthly event. See listing for Wednesday 16 March Monday 21 March London WC1. T 020 7679 4138 E Saturday 12 February for details. [email protected] W www.ucl. 4:30 pm | Being the Other in 5:15 pm | Th e Bedouin Fallahun: ac.uk/museums/petrie 11:00 am | 5,000 Years of Tradition: 21st Century Saudi Arabia: Shia mapping the tribes of medieval mudbrick architecture ancient identity politics, nationalism Fayyum (Lecture) Yossi Rapoport, Friday 11 March and modern (Seminar) Maria and Saudi paranoia about Iran Queen Mary, University of London. Correas, University of Durham; (Seminar) Toby Matthiesen, Part of the Seminar on the History 12:00 pm | Angry Nation: exploring Caroline Simpson, Friends of Qurna SOAS. Organised by: LSE Kuwait of the Near and Middle East. See the foundations of Turkey’s Discovery; Jeff rey Spencer, British Programme. Talk on the Shia in listing for Monday 7 February for polarised politics (Seminar) Museum. Organised by: Th e Egypt the Eastern Province and the fear details. Kerem Öktem, Oxford University. Exploration Society. At look at how of the Saudi elite that Iran could Organised by: SOAS Modern the study of mudbrick buildings use the Shia of the Gulf as proxies. Th ursday 24 March Turkish Studies Programme might enhance our understanding Admission free. Graham Wallas (London Middle East Institute, of ancient Egyptian practices. Room, LSE. T 020 7955 6639 E 6:00 pm | Objects from Islamic SOAS). Part of the Seminars on Tickets: £20 EES members/£15 [email protected] W www.lse. Egypt (Lecture) Please see listing on Turkey series. Sponsored by Nurol EES student members/£25 non- ac.uk/collections/LSEKP/ Th ursday 3 March for details. Bank. Convened by Benjamin members. Th e Egypt Exploration Fortna, SOAS. Admission free. Society, 3 Doughty Mews London 6:00 pm | Reading the Stars: Friday 25 March Room 116, SOAS. T 020 7898 4431 WC1N 2PG. T 020 7242 1880 E astronomy in ancient Egypt (Talk) E [email protected] W www.soas.ac.uk [email protected] W www.ees. Marek Kukula. Organised by: Petrie 6:00 pm | Runaki! (Festival: Friday 6:30 pm | Old Kingdom Family ac.uk/events/index/54.html Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. 25 - Sunday 27 March) Organised Tombs: who did what for whom? Admission free. Petrie Museum of by: Gulan. Gulan’s third weekend (Lecture) Violaine Chauvet. Monday 14 March Egyptian Archaeology, Malet Place, festival of Kurdish culture which Organised by: Friends of the Petrie London WC1. T 020 7679 4138 E will include an exhibition of Kurdish Museum. Tickets: Admission free. 5:15 pm | Spectrality, ‘Presence’ [email protected] W www.ucl. art, fi lm screenings, music and G6, Institute of Archaeology, 31 and the Ottoman Past: Paul ac.uk/museums/petrie dance, poetry, Kurdish costume and

February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 37 Kurdish food. Tickets: See contact Power: ambitions and prospects Admission free. Selma Feriani ac.uk W http://socialsciences.exeter. details. St Ethelburga’s Centre (Seminar) Fadi Hakura, Chatham Gallery, 23 Maddox Street, Mayfair, ac.uk/iais/all-events/ for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 House. Organised by: Middle East London W1S 2QN. T 0207 493 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG. E Centre, Oxford. See listing for 6090 E [email protected] W Until 17 April | Giorgio Andreotta [email protected] W www.gulan. Friday 4 February for details. www.selmaferiani.com Calo, Jalal Toufi c, Huang org.uk Xiaopeng Artists from around the Friday 11 March Until 6 March | Journey through world show moving image work at Saturday 26 March the Aft erlife: Ancient Egyptian the Gallery with the performance 5:00 pm | Princes, Brokers and Book of the Dead Follow the of the Shiite ritual Ashura captured 12:00 pm | Runaki! (Festival: Friday Bureaucrats: how princely whims ancient Egyptians’ journey from by Lebanese writer and artist Jalal 25 - Sunday 27 March) See listing and rivalries have shaped the Saudi death to the aft erlife in this once- Toufi c. Admission free. Whitechapel for Friday 25 March for details. state (Seminar) Steff en Hertog, in-a-lifetime exhibition focusing Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High LSE Department of Government. on the Book of the Dead. Various Street, London E1 7QX. T 020 7522 Sunday 27 March Organised by: Middle East Centre, ticket prices. BM. T 020 7323 8299 7888 E [email protected] Oxford. See listing for Friday 4 W www.britishmuseum.org W www.whitechapelgallery.org 12:00 pm | Runaki! (Festival: Friday February for details. 25 - Sunday 27 March) See listing Until 6 March | Keeping it Real: an Until 11 September | Adornment for Friday 25 March for details. Friday 25 March exhibition in 4 acts: act 3: Mona and Identity: jewellery and Hatoum: current disturbance costume from Oman A unique Th ursday 31 March TBC | Current Research in Installation by renowned British- display featuring a selection of 20th- Egyptology - CREXII (Two-Day Palestinian artist Mona Hatoum, century silver jewellery, weaponry 5:00 pm | Framing a Housing Crises Conference: Friday 25 - Saturday 26 whose ambitious work in sculpture and male and female dress from in South Tel Aviv Jaff a (Seminar) March) See contact details below for and video emanates a pervasive Oman. Admission free. BM. T 020 Zsuzsa Katona, Goldsmiths. Part ticket and venue details. E djedra. sense of threat as much as it 7323 8299 W www.britishmuseum. of the Southwest Asia and North [email protected] W www. generates an alluring spectacle. org Africa (SWANA) Research Seminar current-research-egyptology.org.uk Admission free. Whitechapel Series. See listing for Th ursday 3 Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Ongoing | Th e Baghdad Car February for details. Saturday 26 March Street, London E1 7QX. T 020 7522 Installation by the artist Jeremy 7888 E [email protected] Deller of a car salvaged from 7:00 pm | Planet Egypt Showcase TBC | Current Research in W www.whitechapelgallery.org the bombing of the historic Al- (Performance) See listing for Egyptology - CREXII (Two-Day Mutanabbi street book market in Th ursday 24 February for details. Conference: Friday 25 - Saturday Until 25 March | Soul House: Baghdad. Th e bombing on 5 March 26 March) See listing for Friday 25 exhibition by Sara Bevan Sara 2007 killed thirty-eight people and 6:30 pm | PalFest Event: art sale, March for details. Bevan presents digital collages wounded many more, and is viewed music, festival speakers Organised refl ecting on the unique space and as an attack on Baghdad’s cultural by: PalFest in association with the atmosphere of the Petrie Museum. life. Admission free. Imperial War London Middle East Institute, EXHIBITIONS Admission free. Petrie Museum of Museum London, Lambeth Road, SOAS (LMEI). Admission free. Egyptian Archaeology, Malet Place, London SE1 6HZ. T 020 7416 5000 Brunei Suite, SOAS. T 020 7898 Tuesday 1 February London WC1. T 020 7679 3148 E W http://london.iwm.org.uk 4330 E [email protected] W www. [email protected] W www. lmei.soas.ac.uk Until 18 February | Raed Yassin ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie Wednesday 23 February – Th e Best Of Sammy Clark A tribute to Raed Yassin’s fi ctive Until 26 March | Bridge of Until 9 April | Shadows of My Self EVENTS OUTSIDE mentor, the eponymous Lebanese Knowledge: Western appreciation Drawings, paintings and sculptures LONDON pop culture icon, and a contrived of Arab and Islamic civilisation of Selma Gürbüz, one of Turkey’s genealogy, which links the artist in the Arcadian Library A rare leading contemporary artists. Friday 4 March to the 1980s singer. Admission glimpse of powerfully evocative Tickets: Museum entry charge: free. Th e Delfi na Foundation, 29 books from the holdings of the £5/£1 conc. (includes free return 5:00 pm | Turkey as a Rising Catherine Place, SW1E 6DY. E most prestigious and specialised of entry within 12 months) Leighton info@delfi nafoundation.com W private libraries which celebrate the House Museum, 12 Holland Park Mohamed Abaoubida (From Here to www.delfi nafoundation.com centuries-old relationship between Road, London W14. T 020 7602 Eternity, see Exhibitions, page38) the West and the Arab and Islamic 7700 E [email protected] W www. Until 23 February | Lasting world. Admission free. Brunei roseissa.com impressions: seals from the Gallery, SOAS. T 020 7898 4046 E Islamic world A photographic [email protected] W www.soas. Th ursday 3 March exhibition exploring how Islamic ac.uk/gallery seals were made and used, what was Until 3 July | Surviving Treasures written on them and how they were Until 1 April | From Here to Eternity from the National Museum of decorated. Admission free. BM. An exhibition of calligraphy and Afghanistan Th e exhibition will Information T 020 7323 8299 W mosaic art by the artists Elaine M highlight some of the most important www.britishmuseum.org Goodwin and Mohamed Abaoubida archaeological discoveries from which coincides with and celebrates ancient Afghanistan. Various ticket Until 26 February 2011 | Identity the inauguration of the Centre for prices. Room 35, BM. T 020 7323 Exhibition of works by the multi- the Study of Islam. Admission free. 8299 W www.britishmuseum.org media artist, Ayman Yossri Th e Street Gallery, Institute of Arab Daydban, who looks at themes and Islamic Studies, University of relating to cultural heritage, national Exeter (IAIS), Exeter EX4 4ND. T integration and assimilation. 01392 264040 E Jane.Clark@exeter.

38 » The Middle East in London » February-March 2011 Affi liationliation FFormorm

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February-March 2011 » The Middle East in London » 39 POLITICALPOLITICAL4 - 8 APRIL 2011 ISLAMISLAM

A one week programme offered by the London Middle East Institute and the Research and Enterprise office, SOAS GLOBAL AND LOCAL MANIFESTATIONS AND CHALLENGES

ENQUIRIES Louise Hosking E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0207 898 4330 Design: RB, C&P , SOAS,