TEHRAN, Feb. 16--Iranian cinema and theater enjoy a distinct status in Italy but the Italians need to pay more attention to them.
Expressing this view, Iranian Ambassador to Italy Bahram Qasemi told ILNA that in the past two years, cultural cooperation between the two countries has progressed considerably and the Italians participated in a number of cultural exhibitions and ceremonies organized by Iran.
He pointed out that Iranian cinema has its own special devotees in that country.
In addition, Iranian music and artistic works also enjoy a special status among the Italians.
"Two books on ancient Persia, Iranian traditions, customs and culture will be published in Italy," Qasemi said.
The ambassador further noted that some books on introducing Islam and Iran, ImamÕs poems, Persian-Italian dictionary, Iranian cinema as well as translated versions of poems by renowned Iranian poets Nezami and Sohrab Sepehri have been published in Italy.
Unfortunately, the shortage of cultural facilities in Iran should receive further attention, he said.

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--History has shown that the farther one goes in time from the events of Ashura, human beings well understand the magnificence of the uprising of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the infallible household of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), reported ISNA.
Analyzing the comments of celebrities about the personality of Imam Hussein (AS), it pointed out that the late Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi told his followers that he took lessons from the Lord of the freedom fighters--Imam Hussein (AS)--in the struggle for the independence of his homeland, India.
ÒLetÕs mock death and not fear from it in the fight for the liberation of our homeland,Ó he said.
ÒI brought nothing new for the Indian people. I only presented the outcome of my understanding from the personality of the hero of Karbala. We have no way but to follow the lead of Imam Hussein (AS),Ó Gandhi said.
The Mahatma said that the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his brave companions in the seventh century AD was a great tragedy in the history of mankind. ÒMuslims hold memorial service to pay tribute to their Imam every year on the occasion of Moharram,Ó he said.
American historian Washington Irving said, ÒThe death of Imam Hussein (AS) is something about which that I donÕt like to talk about too much, because of the magnitude of this tragedy. In the history of Islam, nothing more nefarious than this has ever happened. Though the assassination of Imam Ali (AS) was a heavy grief for mankind, but, the fate of Imam Hussein (AS) was so horrible that it sends shivers down oneÕs spine. It was a terrible tragedy.Ó
Irving said that the spirit of the uprising will last forever.
ÒImam Hussein could have saved his life by surrendering to YazidÕs will, but, his responsibility as the leader of the Islamic movement, did not permit him to recognize Yazid as the ruler. He made himself well-prepared for any other tribulation to free Islam from the clutches of Bani Omayyeh. I know, Imam HusseinÕs soul will remain forever under the scorching sun and on the hot sands of Karbala. I honor you, O, my Lord, the shining lesson of bravery and sacrifice!Ó
A specialist in Oriental Studies, Edward Brown said, ÒIs it possible to find a heart that is not filled with sorrow when it hears about the events of Karbala. No one, even a non-Muslim, can deny the truth of the spirit of the war and what happened to Imam Hussein (AS).Ó
Georgy Zeidan, another historian said, ÒIt was a shock to see the beheaded body of Imam Hussein (AS). Even Yazid shivered in horror when he saw the beheaded Hussein. He realized what a terrible crime he has committed against Imam Hussein (AS).Ó

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--Culture and Heritage Center in Dubai Jomea Al-Majid intends to digitize more than 100,000 manuscripts in Indian language, 15 million manuscripts in Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages and five million manuscripts in English.
According to CHN, head of the Research and Publications Section of the center, Ezzeddin Bin Zaqibeh said that the documents and manuscripts, which have been collected from southern India, belong to different eras.
The center has dispatched a seven-member team to southern India to compile and restore the historical documents.
The group has so far managed to visit 45 cities and villages for the purpose.
Zaqibeh further said that the group has been able to discover samples of rare manuscripts in Sanskrit written on the bark of palm trees or coconut leaves.
Digitally registration of manuscripts is in fact a joint project sponsored by the Indian central government and state governments.
Jomea Al-Majid Center, which was established in 1988, plans to electronically register all the documents and manuscripts under similar projects, which will form the basis of subsequent phases of the ongoing project.

LONDON, Feb. 16--Yusuf Islam, the pop singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, said on Tuesday he had won substantial damages from two British newspapers which alleged he supported terrorism, reported Reuters.
"I am delighted by the settlement which helps vindicate my character and good name," he said after the settlement with The Sun and the Sunday Times.
The singer, who changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1970s, was traveling on a flight from London to Washington when it was diverted to Bangor, Maine last September.
He was then deported from the United States.
The US Homeland Security Department said he was deported after his name turned up on US Ôno flyÕ lists because of activities they said could be potentially linked to terrorism.
The two newspapers suggested the US authorities had been right to refuse Islam entry to the country.
After winning the libel damages, Islam said: "It seems to me the easiest thing in the world these days to make scurrilous accusations against Muslims, and in my case it directly impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist.
"The harm done is often difficult to repair," he added in a statement.
The 57-year-old singer intends to contribute the undisclosed damages he receives to projects for orphans hit by the tsunami in Southeast Asia.
He visited Indonesia in January and is set to release a charity singleÑÔIndian OceanÕ--later this month.
"At least the money gained through taking legal recourse to clear my name is going to good causes--but I could do without the headache quite frankly," he said.
Islam said he had not been given a satisfactory explanation by US authorities of the reasons for his deportation. "Six months after the fiasco of my deportation from the USA, my formal requests for clarification from the authorities there are seemingly being ignored," the singer said.

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--Over 30,000 volumes of Persian books and periodicals and 12,000 manuscripts from Iran as well as 9,000 Iranian publications are being kept at British National Library.
Head of the group of developers of Iran National Library Farzaneh Shadanpour said that the collection of Iranian books is maintained in the Asian section of the library.
She said that the Persian books were collected by the former India Office at British National Library until 1982 and the office of Asian manuscripts and printed books until 1973.
Shadanpour said that the British National Museum also has an impressive collection of maps, music notes either printed or handwritten, microfilms, newspapers, official publications, illustrations, photos, paintings and videotapes from Iran too.
She said that the manuscripts date back to the twelfth century and mainly deal with human sciences and religion.
Some of the manuscripts at British National Library are rare and invaluable particularly the Iranian artistic works and miniatures from the Mogul era.
She said that Iran National Library has provided some pictures to the British National Library archive and they are available to researchers on Iranology.

TEHRAN, Feb. 16--A plan for documenting urban development in the Persian Empire will be implemented in the next Iranian year (starting March 21).
Announcing this, Director of the Research Institute for Architecture and Historical Monuments affiliated to IranÕs Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) Mohammad Hassan Mohebali said that given the extensive cultural and architectural impacts of the Persian Empire from the Achaemenid dynasty to the Teimurid and Mogul era, the ICHTO has drawn up a comprehensive plan of action to document the architecture of ancient cities and historical monuments to determine the basis of architecture in the Persian Empire through different periods of history.
ÒSince the Persian Empire included several other countries which are outside the national borders, the job of codifying Persian architecture will also be conducted in the territories formerly under the Persian Empire, Mohebali said.
He said that the plan will be implemented phase by phase and the architecture in five major cities--Shiraz, Isfahan, Qazvin, Tabriz and Yazd--will be documented along with 50 other historical monuments listed by the ICHTO.
ÒIn the meantime, three other sites noted for their historical architecture will be registered. At the same time, their structure will be examined to determine the period of the architecture. The record of the architecture will be studied to see how the historical buildings survived throughout history when they were struck by several earthquakes,Ó he said.
The official said that the ICHTO has undertaken to finance the plan for documentary registration.
On documentary registration of Persian architecture in the former states of the Persian Empire, he said that several letters of agreement have been signed with other countries to the effect.
He said that the plan will be undertaken in Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan.