Pari Esfandiari's blog http://www.blogher.com/blog/7468/atom/feed 2006-10-27T11:19:25-05:00 A presidential reception http://www.blogher.com/presidential-reception 2007-09-27T18:44:03-05:00 2007-09-27T18:44:03-05:00 Pari Esfandiari Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, arrived in a New York with a clear mission: to convince both the American public and UN general assembly that if anyone is eager for war it is American government, not Iranian.

His efforts to strike a friendlier note began prior to his arrival with a request to visit Ground Zero to pay respect to the victims – a symbolic gesture. Considering Iran response right after 9/11 was immense sympathy and there has never been a link between Iran and al-Qaeda, the refusal to grant a visit seemed unnecessary and unfriendly.

]]> Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, arrived in a New York with a clear mission: to convince both the American public and UN general assembly that if anyone is eager for war it is American government, not Iranian.

His efforts to strike a friendlier note began prior to his arrival with a request to visit Ground Zero to pay respect to the victims – a symbolic gesture. Considering Iran response right after 9/11 was immense sympathy and there has never been a link between Iran and al-Qaeda, the refusal to grant a visit seemed unnecessary and unfriendly.

After his arrival, despite a mirage of insults and welcome-for-devil reception he has held himself pretty calm, carefully drawing a new and far softer picture of himself. His balanced response to mean-spirited introduction by the University of Columbia’s president, Lee Bollinger, did Ahmadi-Nejad more good than harm. He politely complained about the insulting introduction but quickly shifted the focus of his discussion to the importance of science, and then moved to discuss current politics revealing a much softer president and policies.

For the first time he made it clear that US and Iran could be great friends. He talked of brotherhood between the two countries provided US shows respect for Iran - a clear step away from the hardliners in Iran. He emphasized that there is "no war in the offing", in effect throwing the ball into the US court.

He also showed a new approach to Israel, limiting his demands to a referendum in Palestine. His previous denial of the holocaust was now rephrased by a call for further research. Even that was framed as his personal concern as a scholar and not as a president “I am an academic, and you are as well. Can you argue that researching a phenomenon is finished, forever done? Can we close the books for good on a historical event? There are different perspectives that come to light after every research is done. Why should we stop research at all? Why should we stop the progress of science and knowledge?” Finally he made it clear that “Iran will not attack Israel.

He goofed when asked about the gays in Iran by saying “In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country. We don't have that in our country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have it.” Still, as many scholars have pointed out, constructions of sexuality in the United States can differ from those in other cultures.

In Iran officials and media put political differences aside and showed outrage over the insults. "Although reformists disagree with Mr. Ahmadinejad ... an insult to his legal personality abroad is in fact an insult to our country as a legal entity." Published in Ethmad newspaper. It went as far as suggesting that the president should have walked out. Meanwhile, state television made no mention of the unfriendly reception.

But president himself remained calm. In his conversation with CNN’s Christine Amanpour, when asked if he has any regrets in going to Colombia university, he surprisingly was positive, saying “what mattered that I spoke to 7000 students for over an hour”, he thought that the introduction was “under influence of politics” and unnecessary. He went on saying never-the-less “students could draw their own conclusion”. His conversation with Charlie Rose showed him focused on his message. He stated that he was ready for negotiation and pointed out that “the willingness was not there in the part of US administration”. He stressed that Iran wants to be friends with everyone saying “we have no enmity with anyone”. He complained that “authorities here are over sensitive unnecessarily” and finally said “there is no need for war”.

Unfortunately, the US media chose to focus their attention on homosexuality, and completely ignored his far more important message on the far more important question of war.

With the Senate poised to pass the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment (No. 3017) that would allow the US government to use any means deemed necessary including military to stop Iran's involvement in Iraq--a critical step towards war--Ahmadi-Nejad's visit should have been seized as an occasion for diplomacy, not cultural derision.

While many comments previously made by Mr. Ahmadi-Nejad, especially about the holocaust are offensive and indefensible to many inside and outside Iran, one should not lose sight of the fact that US-Iranian relations go far beyond personal animosity towards Ahmadi-Nejad. Ahmadi-Nejad's trip to the US should have been used for setting mechanisms to defuse the anger between the two countries and to create a constructive dialogue. Such diplomacy has worked in the case of US relations with North Korea and Libya. The same mechanism should be used with Iran. It can prevent yet another Middle Eastern war in which the United States and Iran will both lose.

]]> Green Businesses http://www.blogher.com/node/21265 2007-06-22T13:16:29-05:00 2007-06-22T13:16:29-05:00 Pari Esfandiari The much celebrated notion of green business emerged in 1990s as a result of confluence of circumstances. The term implies that business, as a responsible agent of society, would voluntarily embrace green values. It is argued that green business is a natural, inevitable, and essential progression, and the environmental responsibility is an expansion of earlier social responsibility of business towards employee and community, now expanded to include the national and international community as well as the environment.

]]> The much celebrated notion of green business emerged in 1990s as a result of confluence of circumstances. The term implies that business, as a responsible agent of society, would voluntarily embrace green values. It is argued that green business is a natural, inevitable, and essential progression, and the environmental responsibility is an expansion of earlier social responsibility of business towards employee and community, now expanded to include the national and international community as well as the environment.

Green business advocates use economic arguments and market mechanisms to illustrate the inevitability of business conversion to green. They maintain that the key to restoring economic vitality today is to recognize that social goals and profits are not only compatible, but so interdependent that a business cannot succeed unless it unifies these.

Considering the current state of environment and in view of business as usual practice of most corporations, one can not help but to wonder to what extent this argument holds true.

Since the governments either do not care or are incapable of enforcing green standards, then it is time for us, the citizens to take the matter into our own hands by making smart choices that reflect our green values. This could provide the financial incentive that is crucial for businesses to adhere to green values while allowing us to penalize those who do not care for our deepest concerns.

]]> Crackdown in Iran: What women wear http://www.blogher.com/node/18790 2007-04-27T11:52:28-05:00 2007-04-28T16:33:24-05:00 Pari Esfandiari Since few days ago the Iranian police have launched a crack down on women whose hijabs do not match the government’s expectations.

]]> Since few days ago the Iranian police have launched a crack down on women whose hijabs do not match the government’s expectations.

Every spring Iranian authorities increase pressure on women to observe the Islamic dress code, fearing that the unbearable summer heat may encourage women to bare more skin and hair. But this year government is exhibiting the toughest approach in last two decades. The streets of Tehran were filled with morality police, many of whom are women, although the area north of Tehran was quiet. Many women decided to remain at home; as a consequence, many shops and some shopping malls were closed. Still, 3500 warnings were handed over to women and about 300 women were arrested for wearing an overcoat that was too short or tight, for having a loose scarf, for wearing three-quarter length pants, or for showing their toes. Men with short sleeves or long hair were also arrested. Everyone is hoping “this madness” will calm down in few days time.

Considering the extent of international and national crisis Iran is facing, the move may seem irrational. In May issue of Play Boy in an article titled "Sex in Iran" written by Pari Esfandiari and Richard Buskin; we explained how authorities in Iran use foreign threat as an excuse to strangle civil rights and crash oppositions in the name of national security. The current nuclear dispute and the imposed sanctions serve well for this purpose. Over last few month pressure on civil rights have been mounting and arrests have been made of activists and human right proponents.

But the move could cause a backlash, since it clearly conflicts with President Ahmadinejad’s election promises, not to mention his increasing unpopularity due to bad economy and increasing unemployment. The move has been criticized by several members of parliament, and brought up roar from many intellectuals, not to mention the anger from general public. Fearing a backlash, the authorities have issued warnings to the press about how to treat this sensitive issue. The hijab is an obvious and critical indicator of the un/popularity of the government’s hardliner ideology. This bold move seems to be a show of the government’s power to more moderate factions, and at the same time an alarming indication of what may happen should the outside pressure on Iran mount up.

Images of the crackdown in Iran:






]]> Iran opens Holocaust conference http://www.blogher.com/node/13442 2006-12-12T12:44:49-06:00 2006-12-12T14:13:16-06:00 Pari Esfandiari To deny the truth of the Holocaust would not bring justice to the Palestinians whose lives have been destroyed by aggressive policies of Modern Israel. However, it will strengthen the argument that Israel is under threat and therefore entitled to use extreme measures in order to defend itself.

]]> To deny the truth of the Holocaust would not bring justice to the Palestinians whose lives have been destroyed by aggressive policies of Modern Israel. However, it will strengthen the argument that Israel is under threat and therefore entitled to use extreme measures in order to defend itself.

After all "Denial is the first step to repetition."

]]> Hajib hijacked: Politics of the Veil http://www.blogher.com/node/11971 2006-10-26T22:57:43-05:00 2006-10-27T11:19:25-05:00 Pari Esfandiari The murder of a Muslim woman, who was shot and killed recently while walking with her three-year-old child, has been labeled as a hate crime--sparked by her veil. In response, Concerned Women of Fremont have proposed Wear a Hijab for the Day as an act of solidarity with Muslim women.

]]> The murder of a Muslim woman, who was shot and killed recently while walking with her three-year-old child, has been labeled as a hate crime--sparked by her veil. In response, Concerned Women of Fremont have proposed Wear a Hijab for the Day as an act of solidarity with Muslim women.

I salute their concern, and I think a public outcry is essential to show solidarity with veiled women. But “Wear a Hijab for the Day” sounds to me as though supporting women’s freedom of wardrobe choice has been confused with support for veiling women. Whether the confusion is due to the organizers’ political naivete or their political inclinations, I have no idea. But in our complicated world, the veil is a politically charged symbol.

Gone those days when I used to sit in my parents home in Tehran, in my miniskirt, next to my mom with her modest dress, my aunt and her head scarf and my grandmother and her chador. Three generations of women, who were united in respecting, tolerating and defending one another’s choice of outfit without even thinking politically.

Today, the veil is far from a personal choice – the veil has turned to a symbol of political significance that has many layers. For some women, the veil is a sign of religious devotion and asserting one’s Islamic identity; for others the veil is keeping up with a fashion trend. For Arab youths who are angry over the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the veil is a silent protest against their governments’ collaboration with Washington.

The veil also is at the crux of cultural clashes and East-West tension. Wear the veil in the West and it can easily be read as a public statement of devotion to traditional reading of Islam, and provoke fear that Islamic fundamentalism may seep into the West. Remove the veil in the east and you are importing corrupted Western values!

It should come to us as no surprise then that the veil has become a permanent topic in the news. Yesterday, Australia's most senior Islamic cleric described immodestly dressed women without headscarves as “uncovered meat” inviting sexual attack -- while the Iran women's karate team boycotts the veil ban. Last Friday, Judge Paul Paruk, in Hamtramck District Court, told Jina Muhammad to take off her niqab -- a scarf and veil, which covers her face and head except for her eyes -- or he would dismiss her case. The judge said he needed to see her face so he could judge her truthfulness.

In Britain a debate over the veil was set off earlier this month when Jack Straw – the former foreign secretary, said Islamic women visiting his office should remove their veils, while an Islamic teaching assistant in Northern England was suspended from her job for refusing to remove a black veil that left only her eyes visible. Last year, when France banned the veil in schools, Muslims around the world poured into the streets in protest. But in Egypt, the nation's most powerful cleric scandalized his followers by preaching in favor of France's banning of the veil.

Meanwhile, cultural interpretation of sharia law in Islamic countries determines whether women wear the veil or not. In some Muslim countries such as Saudi and Iran, women including visitors must wear veil in public. Yet, in Turkey and Tunisia, hijab is banned from public schools and offices, and veiled women are ridiculed and abused.

What are missing from this political debate are the voices of women and the very personal nature of each woman's decision to cover--or bare--her hair and the emotional and complex consequences that she has to face once she has made a choice. Women choose the veil in different stages of their life and for very different reasons. Some chose to convert to Islam and wear the veil; others are born Muslim and have never experienced the public life without veil.

For some women it is a choice, for others it is enforced. Some find comfort in the veil, for others it is a means to have greater choices. For some the veil liberates; for others it limits.

No matter what a woman’s reasons or the outcome, I think democratic societies have only one way to go: To support, respect and tolerate a woman’s choice. As for the public outcry on Nov 13th, and “Wear a Hajib for the Day,” I too am outraged with the murder of an innocent woman. Regardless of whether it was a hate crime or not, a public out cry in support of veiled women is a right thing to do.

But I also wish to see an eclectic mix of men and women wearing what truly reflects their own choice of outfit supporting women’s basic human right to decide and choose what they wear for themselves. By doing so, these people would demonstrate that -- no matter what their faith, gender or political belief -- they support a woman’s freedom to choose how, whether and when she veils.

Contributing editor Pari Esfandiari is the editor of http://irandokht.com

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