Chahar Bagh Seminary in Isfahan

TEHRAN, Oct. 1--A member of the Majlis Cultural Commission has said that the parliament will soon put forward a bill on the use of Islamic and religious architecture in the construction of buildings.
Gholamreza Mirzaei, a lawmaker from Boroujen and Lordegan told Fars news agency that Islamic architecture is currently not in vogue in constructions undertaken nationwide. For this reason, the Majlis intends to channel this branch of arts along Islamic and indigenous lines, he said. He further said that religious edifices in the country should be publicized to the world and used as tourist spots to attract visitors.
"Attracting tourists to religious sites can generate incomes for the country," he said, adding that the tourism industry should be viewed from a broad perspective so that the sector can attain its due status. Safeguarding historical and religious monuments should be taken into account in line with this policy, he said, noting that Majlis will also set aside a special budget for the purpose.

Ahmad Teimouri

TEHRAN, Oct. 1--Ahmad Teimouri, a carpenter living in the northern Tehran suburb of Tajrish introduces himself as the “father of libraries– for making wooden library shelves and chairs for the past 40 years.
In an interview with the Persian daily Jam-e Jam, he said that his handmade wooden chairs were strong enough to last several decades. —The wooden shelves and the chairs which I made for Tehran Central Library 40 years ago are all in good condition and even 10 of the several hundred chairs I made have not been broken or damaged yet,š he said.
He said that he received an order from Iraj Afshar, head of the Central Library of Tehran University and worked there for three years to build a library.
Born in 1921, he left school after the fourth grade and went into the carpentry business because of his love for woodworks.
He began his career as a worker in carpentry and his first product was wooden door. In 1946 he bought a workshop in Niavaran Street. In those years, during World War II, there were more (Nazi) Germans staying in Iran. He said that he acquired skills in carpentry from the Germans who were living in Iran at the time including how to build library shelves which has been his main job since 1970-1971.
He recalled building libraries for the universities of Ahvaz, Kerman and Mashhad as his first experience. Then he undertook the woodworks for Shenavar shopping center in Tajrish (Shemiran), Mehr Hospital and Jam Hospital.
—I remember going to Ahvaz to build library of the Faculty of Literature. It was well done and the then minister of higher education who had come to Ahvaz to inaugurate the library asked “Why did you import it from Italy?–
They liked my work and asked me to take on other projects in Ahvaz. So, I stayed in Khuzestan province for six and a half years to complete the woodworks of the Faculty of Medical Education and the Faculty of Science.š
Teimouri said that he has done woodworks in many Iranian cities ranging from Chabahar to Orumieh, Sarakhs, Kish, Lavan, Kerman, Isfahan and Mashhad and he entered into contract with Tehran University to carry out the woodwork project for the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Literature, Faculty of Medical Education, Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Economy.
He made the woodworks of Imamzadeh Saleh shrine in Tajrish, the parliament library and the late Imam Khomeini–s House. He said that he has also built the library of Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine in Mashhad.

Maragheh fossils are the best for research studies.

TEHRAN, Oct. 1--About 25 years have elapsed since Iran initiated legal actions seeking the return of fossils borrowed by US Museum of Natural History from Iran for conducting research studies.
The Persian daily Hamshahri reported that Iran put forward its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the US Museum of Natural History and the Los Angeles-based County Museum for the return of Maragheh fossils which they were borrowed from Iran for research studies. Iranian Museum of Natural History has also sought reparation for the delay in handing over the fossils to Iran.
The two American museums borrowed Maragheh fossils from Iranian Museum of Natural History for research studies and have delayed handing them back to Iran.
Iran has also sought reparations for the delay in returning 2,500 species of Maragheh fossils.
Director general of Iranian Museum of Natural History Asghar Mohammadi Fazel said that Maragheh fossils are the best for research studies and the delay in returning them has inflicted irreparable losses on Iran. The United States has also declined to share its research findings with Iran.
—The delay in handing over of the fossils has caused heavy damages to Iran, because in the past 26 years, we have lost all the raw materials needed for research studies,š he said.
He said that the ICJ has ruled that the US should return the fossils and that the US museums have handed over part of the fossils, but, Iran is also seeking the outcome of the research studies conducted on the fossils in the past 25 years.
Mohammadi Fazel said that it is surprising that the US museum has sought compensation for keeping the fossils for the so long without obtaining permission from Iran.

Chista Yasrebi

Chista Yasrebi, a renowned author, playwright and theater director has observed that in recent years, special attention has been paid to women authors. —Writing is an easy job in Iran. The important thing is that women authors should do their best to become popular. Of course, this is a hard work.š
In an interview with Iran Daily, Yasrebi said that a good writing not only attracts the public but also the literary critics appreciate such works because of its literary value.
In their works, women authors try to focus on equal opportunities for both men and women in social affairs, she said noting, —Up to now, Iranian women have suffered inequality, social injustice and they do not enjoy equal rights in terms of salaries, inheritance and fair share in doing social works.š
The author said that she started her career in 1989-1990 by writing critiques in newspapers as well as composing short stories. In 1989, he embarked on directing plays.
Explaining her step-by-step progress to become a successful theater director, she said that Al-Zahra University instructor Mrs. Azam Borujerdi advised her to attend a playwriting class at the university. —I did so and wrote a play “Tomorrow, It May Be Spring– and put it to on stage.š
She directed the drama of “Magic Court– at the Students– Park in the form of street theater in 1993-1994.
In 1995, she brought to stage the drama play “Glowing Red– which won the first prize for director, playwright and stage designing at the Fajr International Theater Festival.
In 1996, she won the first prize for writing the drama “Jugglery and Magic– and once again in 2002 she was the winner of the first prize for playwright.
Yasrebi won the playwright awards for three times and an award for the drama director in 1995. She was also the winner of the press literary critic award for several years.
Elaborating on her current activities, she said that she was writing dramas and teaching scriptwriting for films and dramas at the Arts Faculty and the Faculty of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
She also teaches psychology at Al-Zahra University and the Islamic Azad University.
Her latest play “Rabe– is directed by Hossein Saharkhiz.
Her book, “Hello Mrs. Jennifer Lopez–, contains 52 stories. The second edition of the book has been published and the third edition will be reprinted soon.
Her storybook, “The Japanese Bridegroom–, is in the printing process.

TEHRAN, Oct. 1--World Tourism Organization (WTO) Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli on Wednesday voiced the UN body's readiness to help promote Iran's tourism industry.
According to Fars news agency, in a press conference he described the Iranian objectives to improve the sector as ambitious but not unattainable. "If the plans for the tourism industry materialize, the country can compete with the countries such as Spain, France, Britain," he said, adding that Iran enjoys suitable potentials for attracting tourists.
Frangialli further said that expansion of ties with regional states is one of the effective factors in promoting tourism in Iran. "It is very interesting that despite the political problems in the region and critical conditions in Iraq and Palestine, the tourism sector has gained momentum in Middle East," WTO official observed.
"We have proficient experts on tourism who can help Iran in the choice of tourist spots in the country," Frangialli said, adding that the organization can extend cooperation in transforming rural areas into tourist sites as well as in marketing.
Describing Iran as the first in the world in terms of producing handicrafts, he said, "Iran can introduce itself better by promoting this branch of art.
"I believe, Iran has adopted suitable measures to promote the sector and despite the problems in the region and the developments unfolding near it, it has managed to attain a good status in the industry in a short period," he concluded.