Comments on: Azadeh Moaveni on Modern Iran

By: james schulz

james schulz — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:40:59 +0000

I lived in Tehran during the Final years of the Shah’s rein
I just finished Honeymoon In Tehran and Just loved it
The Book provided me great insight and info on a place I have fine Memories of .

Great Book

By: Atom Fourmi

Atom Fourmi — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:35:46 +0000

I would have liked to know if Azadeh Moaveni reads and writes Persian.

In any case, her concern for the people of Gaza is touching.

I must have been naïve to think that she (or Tom) would mention Zahra Kazemi; I suppose she is more interested in lipstick.

By: David

David — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:57:12 +0000

Moaveni’s depiction of Iran is from the vantage point of the wealthiest enclaves of north Tehran. She noted that when she returned to Iran she expected people to “be up all night, not have to work….” Her family and that of her husband are of the wealthiest and most powerful elites that had to flee Iran after the revolution. She never references the poor, rural and religious majorities. Her expectation that Khatemi would win with “at least 70% of the vote” only underlines her warped perspective.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:33:11 +0000

I’m wondering if Azedah has seen the project, “Pictures of You: Images from Iran” by Tom Laughlin and if so, what she thinks of this work. It seems like another step along a similar path.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:52:32 +0000

How do critics like Azadeh keep from being used by people in the US and other parts of the world who would have no problem killing thousands of Iranians to acheive regime change and are always looking for excuses to do so?

By: Laleh

Laleh — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:30:09 +0000

It seems that there needs to be a consciousness of the particular class-based analysis that Moaveni presents. One of the biggest problems with her story is that while it is a portrayal of “real Iran,” it is not the “real Iran” that forms the base of Ahmadinejad’s support. To what degree is there an element of wishful thinking here, the fact that Ms. Moaveni’s observations are limited to the limited circle of Tehrani upper classes and from there, a projection to the rest of society, the majority of which is NOT contrary to her assertion a “secular” people? If that is the case, how would a widening of this circle change her analysis of “Iranian discontent” with the current presidency?

By: Madhulika

Madhulika — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:27:00 +0000

I finished her book ‘Lipstick Jihad’ last week, and loved it. I have always enjoyed reading about Iran/Persia, and her piece in the NYTimes Sunday magazine led me to her book.
I love her feminist sense of self and freedom, and I understand her sense of belonging and pride with Iran. It was a very useful book for me as I an Indian of similar circumstance (and yes in free India, they still lead double lives) raise a 10 year old daughter in this country. I had borrowed it from the library, but ordered it online and told my daughter that I had found her a role model!! She looked at the cover and said “Lipstick??” “I hate lipstick!” Lovely book.

By: Bart

Bart — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:26:30 +0000

I understand that reform candidates did hold power under the current regime, only to see their candidates defeated by the current regime. Is their fall solely attributable to religious authorities? Or is there room for self criticism, perhaps losing touch with the less prosperous, less Western under classes?