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Persian Heri tage Persian Heritage Vol. 25, No. 97 Spring 2020 www.persian-heritage.com Persian Heritage, Inc. FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK 6 110 Passaic Avenue LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 8 Passaic, NJ 07055 NEWS E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (973) 471-4283 Honoring Victims of the Plane Crash 9 Fax: 973 471 8534 Iran in Reverse Brain Drain 11 Protest Migration of Athletes 13 EDITOR Another Sundance Win 14 SHAHROKH AHKAMI EDITORIAL BOARD COMMENTARY Dr. Mehdi Abusaidi, Shirin Ahkami Raiszadeh, Dr. Mahvash Alavi Naini, Money Transfer from Iran Under U.S. Sanctions 15 Mohammad Bagher Alavi, Dr. Talat Bassari, Mohammad H. Hakami, (Zaher Fallahi) Ardeshir Lotfalian, K. B. Navi, Dr. Kamshad Raiszadeh, Farhang A. Thank You for Directing Our Attention to... 16 Sadeghpour, Mohammad K. Sadigh, Peace Corps Iran Association (Brian Appleton) 17 M. A. Dowlatshahi. MANAGING EDITOR THE ARTS & CULTURE HALLEH NIA The Sakas (Michael McClain) 18 ADVERTISING HALLEH NIA Millenium of Ferdowsi (Rasoul Sorkhabi) 20 Norouz Banner Design Competition 22 * The contents of the articles and ad ver tisements in this journal, with the ex ception An Introduction to Norouz in the Islamic Era of the edi torial, are the sole works of each in di vidual writers and contributors. This maga (Shapur Shahbazi) 23 zine does not have any confirmed knowledge as to the truth and ve racity of these articles. Persian Women in Fashion Entrepreneurship 24 all contributors agree to hold harmless and Persian Roots of Puccini’s Opera Turandot indemnify Persian Heri tage (Mirass-e Iran), Persian Heritage Inc., its editors, staff, board (Asghar Seyed Gohrab) 25 of directors, and all those in di viduals di rectly associated with the publishing of this maga Sister Arch Bridges 27 zine. The opinions ex pressed in these articles are the sole opinions of the writers and not the Wine & Prayer / Ghazal 8 28 journal. No article or pic ture submitted will be A Question and Answer with: returned to the writer or contributor. All articles submitted in English must be typed. Elizabeth T. Gray & Iraj Anvar 29 * The appearance of advertising in this maga zine does not constitute a guaran tee or en Gazal 13 (English/Persian) 32 dorsement of the products by Persian Heri tage. In addition, articles and letters published do not reflect the views of this publication. * Letters to the Editor should be mailed, faxed or Important Notice emailed to the above addresses and num bers. The journal reserves the right to edit same for All written sub missions to Persian space and clarity or as deemed appro priate. * All requests for permissions and reprints must Heri tage with the ex pec tation of Special be made in writing to the managing editor. publication in the maga zine must Announcement: PUBLISHED BY include the writer’s name, address PERSIAN HERITAGE, INC. A corporation organized for cultural and and telephone num ber. When an Contact our California lit erary purposes article is submitted we assume based Advertising Agent Cover Price: $6.00 the author has complete owner- Subscriptions: $24.00/year (domestic); for your ads. $30.00 & 50.00/year (International) ship of the article and the right to Typesetting & Layout grant permission for publication. (973) 471 4283 TALIEH PUBLICATIONS Spring 2020 5 FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Norouz is a symbol of rebirth, joy and the celebration their people. They sensationalize and create their own events of the arrival of spring. It is the beginning of a new year for in order to redirect the people’s interests from their quest for Iranians. Instead of being filled with joy and happiness this human rights and other issues of concern. This government’s Norouz finds the people of Iran with more suffering, more technique started with the horrific war between Iran and Iraq. worries, more sadness, more anxiety and more agony. Despite After three years of fighting, Saddam was willing to end and this suffering that is visible to those of us outside of Iran and pay retributions, but the Iranian regime continued the war for seems to have become part of their daily routine, we still try another five years. This war, in defense of Iran’s borders lasted to engage in celebration. We still extend our best wishes for a eight years and cost the lives of thousands of innocent people healthy, happy and prosperous Norouz to those who celebrate and trillions of dollars in damages. around the world. The arrival of Norouz coincides with the 25th Every time Iran got closer to mending its relationship with anniversary of Persian Heritage magazine. I want to person- the West, due to this regime’s inability or bad policymaking ally thank all those who make Persian Heritage a success; our and in order to divert their citizen’s legitimate protest against dedicated workforce, our contributors, our subscribers, our them, they created another international conflict. They did this readers and our sponsors. through intentional actions and words. They did this with the The focus of the first few years of Persian Heritage’s publi- specific intention to silence the discontent of the Iranian people cation was creating a magazine that concentrated on Persian art AND to cover up their own CORRUPT policies and ineptness. and culture and the significance Iran and Iranians have made in Look at the neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the world. We were determined to show the world the history and Dubai, Qatar and Turkey. They have provided a stable economy accomplishments of all who share Iranian/Persian heritage. We and life for their citizens. These countries have created a future focused on a history that goes back thousands of years; one with for their youth allowing them to benefit from the fruits of their a proud culture. We encouraged the younger generation Iranians labor. The regime in Iran has done nothing but create more to continue their cultural values and explained the importance misery for its people (young and old). It has destabilized the of passing their traditions and customs down to their children. country and thrown it into an economic crisis! They have placed We did this through articles and interviews. their citizens and the future of the youth in great peril. I fear the THEN CAME THE HOSTAGE CRISIS, and with it the strength and the spirit of the people of Iran has been weakened incarceration of political prisoners, executions, political asylum by this regime’s rhetoric but pray that their determination has cases and the Diaspora who wandered around the world look- not been broken! ing for a country that would take them in; a place they could The destabilization of Iran’s economy, by this regime, has make a new home and a new life. Some believed and hoped it allowed them more power against their citizens. They have would be temporary, others realized that Iran’s future would be become, like weeds, so deeply rooted in Iran’s soil that I fear a struggle. Many years have passed since the Revolution. The it is becoming almost impossible, short of a war, to pull them circumstances in Iran have become more unbearable; conditions from their grasp of power. The people’s voices, in protest to the have worsened, and the number of political prisoners increased. injustices and suffering placed on them and the women disput- Currently over two hundred thousand prisoners remain in the ing their right to wear or not wear the Hijab, are being quickly dungeon like conditions of the Iranian prison system. Iran be- silenced. They are being jailed or worse murdered! came oppressors with the numbers of prisoners and executions In recent months there have been new uprisings in Iran. compatible with countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and They have resulted in an estimated four-five thousand deaths the US. In fact, Iran surpasses these countries in the number committed by the government (contrary to the government’s of executions. It is ironic and sad to see the country where I estimate of a few hundred.) Interesting enough there is no way grew up, who taught harmony, love, compassion and respect to verify the accuracy of the numbers, but even one death of an for your neighbor, now professes oppression against the young, innocent person, speaking out for their rights, is unacceptable. old, men and women. The people of Iran are looking to be heard. They no longer In analyzing the situation, it is easy to see why the young want anything to do with this regime. The inflation and sanc- people, willing to sacrifice their freedom and lives to voice their tions imposed on them, because of this regime’s behavior, has opinions, are being executed by this regime, without remorse! crippled the economy. People are tired of living in these condi- THEIR VOICES CAN ONLY BE HEARD IF THEY ARE NOT tions. According to the U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo, Iran has MUTED! It is Ironic that this regime, in the name of a religion lost over fifty billion dollars because of the sanctions. Despite that preaches truth, morals and values, does nothing but lie to the U.S.’s position that these sanctions are not affecting food 6 No. 97 F R O M T H E E D I T O R ’ S D E S K and medication delivery to Iran, the sanctions are impacting the 28, 2020 an additional two hundred and ten deaths of innocent flow of these goods getting to the people in Iran. These are the people in Iran needs to be added to the already thousands of effects of the present regime’s policies; a regime that is brutal others who have lost their lives at the hands of this regime, be and shows no mercy for its people.