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dr ismail mustapha | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Iran, May-June 2001 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Iran, May-June 2001

Lunch stop in the mountains en-route to Caspian Sea
Lunch stop in the mountains en-route to Caspian Sea		 Bazaar in Teheran
Bazaar in Teheran		 Alleyways in Teheran
Alleyways in Teheran		 Member of our contingent--not the local street sweeper
Member of our contingent--not the local street sweeper
A typical Iranian restaurant
A typical Iranian restaurant		 Roads in Iran are excellent and well-maintained. The cars, however....
Roads in Iran are excellent and well-maintained. The cars, however....		 Ancient site of Naghsh-e-Rostam near Shiraz
Ancient site of Naghsh-e-Rostam near Shiraz		 Rock sculptures in Naghsh-e-Rostam
Rock sculptures in Naghsh-e-Rostam
Intense solar radiation in Persepolis, 3000 BC ancient site, and everyone wants the shade
Intense solar radiation in Persepolis, 3000 BC ancient site, and everyone wants the shade		 Hiding from the sun behind a ancient pillar of Persepolis
Hiding from the sun behind a ancient pillar of Persepolis		 Now you'll believe that it's really hot and dry
Now you'll believe that it's really hot and dry		 These are used as logo of the Iranian Airlines
These are used as logo of the Iranian Airlines
Wall and rock carvings in Persepolis. The lustre because of metallic content in the rocks.
Wall and rock carvings in Persepolis. The lustre because of metallic content in the rocks.		 Only the pillars and doorways are still standing because walls were made of mud and hay and eroded with time
Only the pillars and doorways are still standing because walls were made of mud and hay and eroded with time		 A required attire to visit mosques and holy places. Elsewhere you need at least a short scarf to cover your hair
A required attire to visit mosques and holy places. Elsewhere you need at least a short scarf to cover your hair		 Early morning walk. Iran is an extremely peaceful country
Early morning walk. Iran is an extremely peaceful country
Another street near hotel, isolate in the morning
Another street near hotel, isolate in the morning		 Roofs appropriate for a dry climate
Roofs appropriate for a dry climate		 Persian carpets
Persian carpets		 Carpet weaving
Carpet weaving
Tired and bored?
Tired and bored?		 P5312105.jpg
P5312105.jpg		 Px5312107.jpg
Px5312107.jpg		 The inside of the famed Blue Mosque
The inside of the famed Blue Mosque
At the entrance
At the entrance		 P5312115.jpg
P5312115.jpg		 P113-1349.jpg
P113-1349.jpg		 Window shopping at the Imam Square, Isfahan
Window shopping at the Imam Square, Isfahan
P5312131.jpg
P5312131.jpg		 Imam palace
Imam palace		 Imam Square, Isfahan, at dusk
Imam Square, Isfahan, at dusk		 Curious pedestrians looking into our bus
Curious pedestrians looking into our bus
Low-ceiling, basement-level, and windowless wing of the Blue Mosque. Very cool in summer
Low-ceiling, basement-level, and windowless wing of the Blue Mosque. Very cool in summer		 Under bridge arches in Esfahan
Under bridge arches in Esfahan		 Bottles of olga (water smoke)
Bottles of olga (water smoke)		 In the courtyard of the Blue Mosque
In the courtyard of the Blue Mosque

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Guest 28-Nov-2004 05:20
Tehran — When Friday Prayer here finishes at about two o'clock in the afternoon, hundreds of worshipers parade toward waiting buses east of Tehran University, shouting canned rhetoric against America and Israel, defining themselves by their animosity toward others. Watching this ritual, one cannot help but ask a soul-searching question: "How can such a small minority of vocal people - totally orchestrated worshipers and their security guards - set the agenda for a nation of 70 million people?"

The short answer is lack of free speech - or, more accurately, the absence of freedom after speech. The state has a monopoly on public discourse, and intellectuals, whether they are religious, atheist or agnostic, are simply not heard. The mullahs in Qom, the holy city two hours drive southwest of Tehran, can dial the phone number of any revolutionary judge in Iran and order the persecution of anyone who dares to question the authorities and their divine agenda.
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