IRAN AT A GLANCE MIRRORPUBLICATION OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OF THE EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN, NIAIROBI-KENYA OCTOBER 2018 | ISSUE NO. 4 Why we mourn Imam Hussein (a.s) MILAD TOWER, TEHRAN Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegh and Shrine Ensemble is the tomb of Sheikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili located in Ardabil, Iran Profile The Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nairobi promotes mutual understanding and Contents cultural co-operation among people of Kenya and Iran in line with the principles of the cultural agreement between Iran and Kenya. Editorial ..................................................................... 4 The Cultural Council aims to create enduring partnership between Iran and other cultures and we do this by creating Muharram ................................................................. 5 opportunities to connect with the latest skills, ideas and experience from Iran. Imam Hussein (a.s) ................................................... 8 Activities Library: Arbaeen of Imam Hussein (a.s) ............................. 11 The Cultural Council has a very rich library consisting of myriad of books in the field of Persian language Resistance Economy ................................................. 18 and literature. Besides, books on human sciences, history of Iran, Islamic studies, world history, religion, Islamic Sanctions .................................................................. 22 philosophy, a large number of books on social sciences, political science, culture and art are also available for Interview .................................................................. 24 readers and scholars. Film and Art Division: View on the ststus of Women ............................... 27 The film and art division consists of video and audio tapes of classical Persian music, art books, calligraphy models, Refugee Students .................................................... 30 attractive sceneries, handicrafts and various prominent Iranian films. In addition, film festivals and cultural Film ............................................................................ 34 exhibitions in various parts of Kenya are also organised by this Office. National Library of Iran ....................................... 37 Public Relations Department: The department arranges meetings with prominent University of Tehran central Library ................... 40 personalities from the domain of Kenya art and culture. Organises seminars, round table discussions and cultural City of Tehran ......................................................... 43 programmes. Information Centre: The Enamelling ........................................................ 46 The centre provides necessary information about Iranian art, culture and all other facets of the Islamic Republic of Architecture ............................................................. 52 Iran. Distribution Unit: Persian Garden ...................................................... 56 This unit is responsible for providing Persian books, periodicals, magazines to the Persian loving people. Persian Gilding ....................................................... 60 Persian Language Teaching Centre: This unit is responsible for organising Beginners, Intermidiate Pomegranate ............................................................ 64 and advance level Persian courses for interested students. Besides, the unit has introduced Persian language teaching programme in Kenyan Universities. Scholarship for Kenyan Students We offer scholarships to study in the Islamic Republic of CULTURAL COUNCIL Iran to pursue either Bachelors, Masters or PhD. Please EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN visit www.irankenya.org for more information. NAIROBI-KENYA Translation Unit: AmBank House, 11th Floor, University Way The Cultural Council also does translation of books from +254-02) 2241216 (+254) 713 836041 Persian to English. [email protected] | [email protected] www.nairobi.icro.ir | www.irankenya.org irani culture Editorial elcome once again the pilgrims’ path. The tents dear readers for (called ‘mawkeb’) are places Wanother edition of where pilgrims get practically the Iran Mirror online- Magazine everything they need. From IRAN MIRROR ran Mirror a bi-monthly fresh meals to eat and a space magazine designed to provide to rest, to free international Ia source of information, phone calls to assure concerned insight and inspiration from the relatives, to baby diapers, to Mr. Mahmoud Majlesain Iranian sources to the Kenyan practically every other amenity, readership. free of charge. In fact, pilgrims The magazine reflects both do not need to carry anything international trends and local on the 400 mile journey except concerns through enlightening the clothes they wear. articles with the intention of My dear reader you can also ameliorating ties between peruse through an article about Kenya and the Islamic Republic the magnificent Persian garden. of Iran. To many of us, when we hear In this edition our main the word garden it evokes the focus is on Arbaeen, one of idea of a tranquil, well kept EDITORIAL TEAM the world’s biggest religious garden. It might be new for you festivals that mark the end of to hear that the reason you see Executive Director the 40-day mourning period paradise through the prism of a Mahmoud Majlesain for the seventh-century killing of garden could be because of the Imam Hussein, the grandson of Persians. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). Read through this article to Editor/Research Dear readers, one peculiar learn how Iranian gardens have Khamis Mohamed feature of Arbaeen is while it combined the beauty of nature is a distinctively Shia spiritual with the aesthetic qualities of Graphic Editor/Production exercise, Our Sunni brothers art and architecture to create Athman Farsi and adherents from other a symbolic representation of faiths including Christians, Jews, paradise on earth. and Zoroastrians, partake in Also of interest is the article Distribution both the pilgrimage as well as about Tehran city, a beautiful Osman Rajab serving of devotees. modern city, the capital of the This is remarkable given the Islamic Republic of Iran. exclusive nature of religious Tehran a city of long rituals, and it could only mean boulevards, impressive mosques, one thing: people regardless of busy bazaars and Persian color or creed see Imam Hussein gardens filled with trickling as a universal, borderless, fountains. and meta-religious symbol of For more insight about Tehran Cultural Council freedom and compassion. and other stories it’s your time to Embassy of I.R.Iran Another part of the dissect through our stories P.o. Box 59595-00200 pilgrimage which leave every From the family of Iran Mirror Nairobi-Kenya visitor perplexed is the sight Magazine we send our heartfelt Tel: +254 713 836 041|022241216 Email: [email protected] of thousands of tents with appreciation for continuing [email protected] makeshift kitchens set up by being our ardent reader. Be www.nairobi.icro.ir|www.irankenya.org local villagers who live around blessed. 4 IRAN MIRROR OCTOBER 2018 MUHARRAM The Significance of Muharram commemorations IRAN MIRROR uharram, contrary to the popular perception, of Karbala and the significance of these annual is not merely a poignant chapter in history, commemorations. Morbiting around a grief-centric ritual. It is a Muharram and Karbala are in a way symbolic profoundly illuminating philosophy that defines the and their appeal cuts across the frontiers of time and relationship between truth and falsehood, between space. Imam Khomeini (ra) often used this phrase in his righteousness and impiousness, between dignity and speeches – ‘Kullu yaumin Ashura, kullu arzin Karbala’ ignominy. (every day is Ashura and every place is Karbala). The leader of challengers Imam Husain’s (a.s) Despots, crooks and scoundrels have existed in every uprising on the desert plains of Karbala 1400 years age and every time. They have tried to disrupt social ago was not a struggle for paltry political gains or order, ban peaceful religious practices, create civil one-upmanship. It was the beginning of a movement disturbance, and target innocents on flimsy grounds. for Islamic awakening and social reformation. The They exist even today, in various forms and shapes movement about the eternal struggle of right versus and manifestations, across the world. Karbala teaches might, just versus unjust, truth versus falsehood. us the importance of defiance and resistance against The movement, which has gripped the hearts and these forces. minds of people throughout history, continues even In Maqtal al-Hussain by Al-Khwarizmi Hanafi, it is today – in Palestine, in Syria, in Afghanistan, in Yemen, in mentioned that when Waleed ibn Uqbah, the governor Nigeria, in Myanmar, in Iraq, in Kashmir. This movement of Medina, summoned Imam Hussain (a.s) to pay will be relevant and significant as long as tyrants and allegiance to Yazid, he categorically refused. “We aggressors exist. are the household of the Holy Prophet, the core of His Understanding the essence of Imam’s uprising message, the place where angels descend to, and the is essential to understand the profound philosophy place of mercy. Allah brought victory through us and IRAN MIRROR OCTOBER 2018 5 MUHARRAM will conclude by us, while Yazid is a corrupt the position of their Prophet (pbuh). He then raised a man who consumes alcohol, kills the innocent, call, an immortal call. “Is there anyone to come to our and openly disobeys God.