Iran
EXPLAINER: What’s behind the storming of Iraq’s parliament?
By Qassim Abdul-zahra and Samya Kullab — July 29, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) - Wednesday's storming of parliament came after al-Sadr's Tehran-backed political rival, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, nominated a pro-Iran politician to be Iraq's new leader.
Report: Iran suspends talks with Saudi after mass execution
By Amir Vahdat — March 14, 2022
(AP) — Some activists believe the killings included more than three dozen Shiites, the majority sect of Islam in Iran.
My wife’s grandfather was executed for his Baha’i faith. Iran hasn’t changed enough.
By James Samimi Farr — January 21, 2022
(RNS) — As I watch the grim carousel that is the nuclear talks go round and round again, I think about all that may hinge on them, including, perhaps, the future of Iran’s religious and ethnic minorities.
AI technology resurrects the voice of Laleh Bakhtiar
By Joseph Hammond — November 9, 2021
(RNS) — A project aimed at cementing the legacy of an Islam scholar could help the IT world’s sometime hostility to Muslim voices.
Tehran holds first public Friday Prayers in almost 2 years
By Associated Press — October 22, 2021
Organizers said beforehand that all health protocols would be followed to protect the expected hundreds of worshippers during the ceremony at Tehran University.
Jordan debating whether to open up to Shiite pilgrims
By Daoud Kuttab — July 8, 2021
AMMAN, Jordan (RNS) — Jordanians are discussing the possibility of opening the Sunni Islam-majority country to Shiite pilgrims long discouraged from visiting the tombs of the relatives of the Prophet Muhammad.
Ebrahim Raisi poised to sweep into Iranian presidency despite weak religious credentials
By Joseph Hammond — June 16, 2021
(RNS) — The rise of Raisi has many analysts suggesting that Iran’s religious revolutionary fervor may be dampening, or changing form.
Iranian politician, Hezbollah founder, dies of COVID-19
By Joseph Hammond — June 7, 2021
(RNS) — Mohtashamipour, 74, was one of the last living members of a generation of Iranians who played essential roles in the founding of Iran’s largely theocratic state.
A hard-line stance on Iran endangers Christians. There’s a better way.
By David Curry — June 1, 2021
(Open Doors) — Western countries can insist that Iran drop charges against Christian converts facing prosecution.
The story of the Iranian new year, Nowruz, and why its themes of renewal and healing matter
By Pardis Mahdavi — March 17, 2021
(The Conversation) — Nowruz, the Iranian new year, celebrated at the exact moment of the spring equinox, goes back 3,000 years.
Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to Iraq improves relations with Muslims
By Thomas Reese — March 10, 2021
(RNS) — Christians and Muslims will look back at this papacy as a turning point in their relationship.
No tears for that Iranian scientist
By Jeffrey Salkin — December 1, 2020
(RNS) — That Iranian scientist was planning mass murder. That is all you need to know. Almost all.
Muslim Democratic delegates reject party platform over aid for Israel, Iran sanctions
By Aysha Khan — August 4, 2020
(RNS) — Members of the Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition are urging all delegates to vote against approving the platform during this week’s vote.
Keeping Baha’i prisoners, Iran threatens the entire country’s health
By Winston Nagan — April 16, 2020
(RNS) — Imprisoning people for their religious convictions is bad enough, but persisting with this policy in the face of a public health crisis crosses into new territory of immorality.
Mideastern burial traditions clash with fears of contagion
By Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Samya Kallub — April 7, 2020
BAGHDAD (AP) — Mohammed al-Dulfi’s 67-year-old father died on March 21 after a brief struggle against the new coronavirus, but it would take nine days for his body to find a final resting place in the Shiite holy city of Najaf in southern Iraq. On two occasions, the family rejected remote burial plots proposed by […]
