ISAA Statement of Iranium (the movie)

Link to the statement

A Talk by Dr.Abdolkarim Soroush: "Shi'ism in Need of Reform"

Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA
proudly presents:

Abdolkarim Soroush is an Iranian thinker, reformer and Rumi scholar. He is a well-known figure in religious intellectual movement in Iran. Professor Soroush is currently a visiting scholar at George Washington University in Washington D.C. He was also affiliated with other prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, the Leiden based International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) and the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin.
Soroush is primarily interested in the philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, the philosophical system of Molana Jalaleddin Balkhi (Rumi) and comparative philosophy. He is a world expert on Rumi and Persian Sufi poetry.
The philosophy of Abdolkarim Soroush can be summarized as follows:

• Distinction between "religion" and our "understanding of religion".
• Distinction between "essential" and "accidental" aspects of religion.
• Distinction between "minimalist" and "maximalist" interpretation of Islam.
• Distinction between values and morals that are considered internal in respect to Islam and those that are external.
• Distinction between Religious "belief" and Religious "faith".
• Distinction between religion as an ideology/identity and religion of truth.

Some of Soroush's honors include:

• 2004 Erasmus Prize
• 2005 Time 100 most influential people
• 2008 Prospect magazine's 7 of 100 most influential intellectuals in the world
• 2009 Foreign Policy magazine's 45 of 100 world's elite intellectuals
• 2010 Foreign Policy magazine's 40 of 100 top global thinkers

Co-Sponsors:

• Center of Middle Eastern Studies, UC Berkeley
• The Graduate Theological Union

Time: Thursday, January 20, 2010 at 6:30pm

Location: Tilden Room, MLK Student Union, UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA 94720

Dr. Soroush Page on Wikipedia | Foreign Policy's 2010 Top 100 Golbal Thinkers | Campus Map

Resolution in Commemoration of Iranian Students Day on 16 Azar

Students for Civil Rights in Iran- UC San Diego

endorsed by Iranian Student Alliance in America - ISAA

دانشجویان طرفدار حقوق شهروندی در ایران قطعنامه ای جهت بزرگداشت روز دانشجو در ایران ارایه کردند

جهت بزرگداشت “روز دانشجو” در ایران قطعنامه ای جهت محکوم کردن حکومت جمهوری اسلامی ایران برای ادامه نقض حقوق بشر به انجمن دانشجویی دانشگاه کالیفرنیا در سن دیگو ارایه گردیده است. در این قطعنامه با گرامی داشتن یاد و خاطره کلیه فعالان دانشجویی، سرکوب شدن آنها توسط حکومت محکوم می شود. در این قطعنامه دانشجویان طرفدار حقوق شهروندی در ایران در دانشگاه کالیفرنیا- سن دیگو از دولت جمهوری اسلامی می خواهد از سنت همیشگی خشونت ورزی خود علیه فعالان دانشجویی دوری کند. با توجه به حوادث اخیر از جمله درز اطلاعات در سایت Wikileaks و خطر بالقوه جنگ علیه ایران، این قطعنامه هرگونه تهدید نظامی و تحریم اقتصادی علیه مردم ایران را محکوم می کند. علاوه بر این، قطعنامه دانشجویان طرفدار حقوق شهروندی در ایران حمایت خود را از تصویب نقض حقوق بشر توسط حکومت جمهوری اسلامی در مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل در ماه دسامبر اعلام می دارد. این قطعنامه توسط همبستگی دانشجویان ایرانی در آمریکا در دانشگاه برکلی کالیفرنیا و دانشجویان کلیمی حامی صلح و دانشجویان طرفدار توسعه پایدار در دانشگاه کالیفرنیا – سن دیگو حمایت شده است

1. WHEREAS, the Associated Students of the University of California, San Diego (ASUCSD) is an institution dedicated to promoting peace in all aspects of student experiences; and

2. WHEREAS, on 2 June 2010 the ASUCSD passed a “Resolution in Solidarity with the Iranian Non-Violent Student Movement for Democratic Reform in Iran” declaring its solidarity with the Green Movement in Iran and condemns the oppression of students, activists, and protesters by the government and security forces of Iran; and

3. WHEREAS, on 13 January 2010 the ASUCSD passed a “Resolution in Support of the Victims of the 12 January 2010 Earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti” stating that the ASUCSD “as global citizens are obliged to play a role in concurrent world events”; and

4. WHEREAS, on 8 June 1989 the ASUCSD unanimously passed "Protesting Chinese Students Solidarity Resolution", which expressed solidarity with the protesting students and the victims of the Tianamen Square massacre, and expresses support for the democratic reform movement in China; and

5. WHEREAS, there have been numerous violations of Iranian citizen’s right to free expression as guaranteed by the Iranian constitution, including:

a. Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations,

b. The continuing high incidence and dramatic increase in the carrying out of the death penalty,

c. The continuing imposition and carrying out of the death penalty against persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18,

d. The imposition of the death penalty for crimes that lack a precise and explicit definition, e. Stoning and suspension strangulation as a means of execution,

f. women’s human rights defenders, arrests, violent repression,

g. Continued discrimination against persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic, recognized pervasive gender inequality and violence against women, and a continued crackdown on religious or other minorities,

h. Increased incidents of persecution against unrecognized religious minorities,

i. Ongoing, systemic and serious restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression,

j. Continued harassment, intimidation and persecution, including arbitrary arrest, detention or disappearance,

k. The continued use of State security forces and Government-directed militias to forcibly disperse Iranian citizens engaged in the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and of association,

l. Severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including arbitrary arrest, indefinite detention and lengthy jail sentences, for those exercising this right, and the arbitrary demolition of places of worship, m. Persistent failure to uphold due process of law, and violations of the rights of detainees, n. Continuing arbitrary or unlawful interference by State authorities with the privacy of individuals in violation of international law;1 and

6. WHEREAS, Since 12 June 2009, the date of the presidential election in Iran, thousands of citizens have been arrested for participating in or supporting the non-violent protests, known as the Green Movement, against voter fraud and speaking out for their civil rights, as well as hundreds have been killed, raped, tortured, and beaten by government police forces; and

7. WHEREAS, student activists in Iran have been on the forefront for advocating for reforms in Iran and respect for their civil rights, many have been arrested, imprisoned, or even killed for voicing their opinions:

a. Majid Tavakoli, a student at Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, was arrested 7 December 2009 during a protest for democratic reforms, is currently being held in the notorious Evin prison without charges, or a proper trial according to the Iranian constitution, he participated in a hunger strike to protest his solitary confinement, continues to be a leader in the movement,

b. Sohrab Arabi disappeared 15 June 2009 during democratic reform protest, was shot during the protest and his body was kept by the government for a month to cover up the incident3, c. two more students, Bahareh Hedayat and Milad Asadi, have been sentenced to 9 and a half and five years respectively in prison for speaking out against the government, which is a violation of their rights under the Iranian constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 18, 19, and 20)4; and

8. WHEREAS, December 7th (16 Azar) symbolizes the plight of students who were killed by the Shah of Iran's forces in 1953. It is a day in which various generations of the student movement come together to defend the autonomy of the universities and foster democracy, freedom, human rights and justice; and

9. WHEREAS, there are Iranian Americans and Iranian national students at UCSD with family and friends in Iran, and are concerned with the civil and human rights violations occurring there; and

10. WHEREAS, the United States Congress, European Union parliament, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the President of the United States, Barrack Obama, all express their solidarity with the Iranian Green Movement;

1. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the ASUCSD again expresses its solidarity with the Green Movement in Iran, noting their struggles for human and civil rights; be it further 2. RESOLVED, the ASUCSD calls for:

a. The unconditional and immediate freedom with dignity of more than seventy imprisoned students,

b. Abolishing disciplinary committees responsible for the temporary and permanent expulsion of students from their right to education,

c. Academic freedom and an end to human and civil rights violations within universities,

d. An end to ideological, governmental intervention in the research and teachings as related to the field of Humanities,

e. Defense of the autonomy of universities,

f. An end to governmental interference in the management of universities,

g. and their replacement with less qualified henchmen,

h. Nullification of the dissolution of Iran's University of Medical Sciences,

i. An end to government intervention in the structure and fabric of universities,

j. An end to political, ideological, sexist and religious discrimination in the student admission process,

k. Reflection of the views and philosophy of Iran's student movement in matters pertinent to the country,

l. Mobilization of Iranian student associations abroad, m. Supporting international sanctions against state officials who have engaged in the systematic human rights abuses and violations against the Iranian people; be it further

3. RESOLVED, the ASUCSD condemns all war, military actions, sanctions, and all other international or unilateral actions that target the people of Iran; be it further

4. RESOLVED, the ASUCSD calls for the passage of United Nations General Assembly Draft Resolution A/C.3/ 65/L.49 and will write a letter to the body expressing its support; be it further

5. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the ASUCSD recognizes the importance of civil and human rights for all peoples.

Sources:

1. UN Draft Resolution A/C.3/65/L.49

2. Amnesty International, "Iran Free Imprisoned Student Leader", http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/044/2010/en/4fc7792e-08e2-40af-9462-3d3f59b951f7/mde130442010en.pdf. An end to the widespread dismissal and early retirement of independent university professors

3. Los Angeles Times, "Slain Iranian teenager becomes symbol of protests", http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/14/world/fg-iran-sohrab14.

4. International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, "Draconian Prison Sentences Doled Out for Activists" http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/05/hedayat-asadi-sentenced/

Endorsed by:

Iranian Student Alliance in America" at UC Berkeley

Student Sustainability Collective at UCSD

Jewish Students Taking Action for Peace at UCSD

ISAA Poetry Night

شب شعر دانشجویی

Join us for an evening of inspiring and magnificent poetry, live music performances, and socializing. Bring your favorite piece of poetry(English or Persian) to share during the open mic segment of the event.

If you play an instrument of would like to perform on that night, please contact us at:
isaa.berkeley@gmail.com

Refreshment will be served.

Time: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 7:00pm

Location: Persian Center - 2029 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA

ISAA's Weekly Discourse on Iran

Are you conscious about issues revolving around Iran? Are you passionate about discussing and exchanging new ideas, thoughts, and reflections on Iran's realities? Then you are welcome to join ISAA's new weekly discourse! It's a brand new student-run weekly gatherings intended to mobilize book reading, stimulate lively discussions, invite speakers and much more. Starting Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30pm!

Time: Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30pm

Location: Persian Center - 2029 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA

ISAA Movie Night- Marmoolak (The Lizard)

Time	Thursday, November 11 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location	Persian Center 2029 Durant Ave Berkeley, CA
Created By	Iranian Student Alliance in America
More Info	ISAA presents: Movie Night- Marmoolak (The Lizard) Director:Kamal Tabrizi Stars: Parviz Parastui, Bahram Ibrahimi and Shahrokh Foroutanian ...Release Date:April 2004 (Iran) *With English Subtitles Time: Thursday, November 11, 2010, 7:00pm Location: Persian Center - 2029 Durant Ave. Berkeley, CA The Lizard (Persian: مارمولک , Marmoulak) is a 2004 Iranian comedy directed by Kamal Tabrizi. This film was released in 2004. The director had problems getting the movie released as many clerics found the movie offensive. The movie was released during Norooz holidays in Iran, and had a very short, but successful one month run. Plot: Reza (Parviz Parastui) is a thief known to his underworld cronies as "The Lizard" thanks to his gift for scaling walls and climbing buildings. However, Reza's talent doesn't prevent him from being periodically caught by police; he's sent to a prison where the warden, who regards Reza as morally corrupt, takes it upon himself to torture him into a more spiritually pure state. Reza soon strikes up a friendship with a mullah (an Islamic priest) who offers a more benevolent and humanistic spiritual viewpoint. But, while Reza admires the mullah, that doesn't stop him from taking the holy man's clothes as a disguise for an escape attempt. The Film is in Persian with English subtitles.

A Talk by Mohsen Namjoo - "Paradox of Freedom - Immigration and Musical Inspiration"

"Berkeley Lecture Series" in partnership with

"Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA"
presents

About Mohsen Namjoo: Hailed as "the Bob Dylan of Iran " by the New York Times, Mohsen Namjoo is a visionary artist who speaks for and touches the souls of today's youth. Seamlessly blending the Classical with the Modern, the Eastern with the Western, the ancient with the current. A Non-conformist who not only takes on the centuries old traditions of Persian music, but also his own approach to composition, style and sound. Namjoo in "A Minor" showcases his mastery as a vocalist, composer and Setar player with a full ensemble band of talented artists to create a truly unparalleled musical experience for those who think "World Music Is Not Enough"!

*Lecture will be in Persian.

Time: Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 4:00pm

Location: 110 Genetics and Plant Biology Building (GPB),

UC Berkeley Campus

Campus Map | Facebook Event

ISAA Movie Night- Na Yek Tavahhom (Not An Illusion)

Film Screening: Not an Illusion (Na Yek Tavahhom) [Iran]

Followed by a Q&A session with director, writer, producer Torang Abedian.

In Persian with English Subtitles.

Date: Thur, Oct 28, 2010, 7:30pm
Location: 159 Mulford Hall, UC Berkeley Campus (map)

*Not An illusion is a documentary about underground musicians of Iran. The film follows Sara and her musician friends in Tehran over six years, looking at the development of the underground music scene in Iran. The film offers unique insights into contemporary Iranian society.

Running Time 85 minutes.

*The event is free and open to public, but suggested donation is $5-$10 to support the film.

Facebook Event | Video Trailer | Movie's Webpage | Director's Webpage

Open Letter to President Obama on Visit to USC, October 22, 2010

Press Release:

In a pledge he made on March 21, 2010, President Obama promised to “stand up for those rights that should be universal to all human beings”. In an open letter to President Obama, Students for Civil Rights in Iran at University of California, San Diego (SCI) petition the United States to use its power in the United Nations Security Council to send special envoys to Iran on a fact-finding mission to inspect the human rights conditions in Iran. Furthermore, SCI calls upon Obama to focus on these human rights conditions, as opposed to issue threats of war and impose sanctions that harm the people of Iran. SCI asks for the help of your agency to publicize this letter and our efforts to the public.

Open Letter to President Obama:
Dear Mr. President,
In your 2010 Nowruz address, you pledged that America’s “commitment—our responsibility—is to stand up for those rights that should be universal to all human beings”. The commitment you made is rooted in the founding principles of your country, echoed in the Declaration of Independence, which states that all men and women around the world are endowed with the right to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These founding principles are undeniable truths that have guided the United States, since its inception, on a path toward justice and universal rights for all people. We call upon you, Mr. President—as the leader of this country and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate—to wholeheartedly pursue these ends in your dealings with the regime of Islamic Republic in Iran. We ask that the U.S. government not engage in threats of war and sanctions against the people of Iran, but rather encourage them in building a democracy of their own.

Iranians around the world are deeply concerned and ashamed of the Islamic Republic’s consistent violation of international human rights conventions as well as the civil rights of its own citizens guaranteed in the current constitution. Accordingly, we kindly ask that you leverage American power in the United Nations Security Council to demand from Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay to send special envoys to Iran on a fact-finding mission to investigate the regime’s human rights abuses. Specifically, we call for the UN to inspect the condition of prisoners, investigate the claims of torture or other cruel and unusual treatment, and meet with members of the Iranian Bar Association concerning restrictions on their ability to defend their clients. During the past year the regime has systematically increased its violations of numerous articles within its own constitution that guarantee the right of freedom of speech and assembly.

Mr. President, we believe that the only way for the United States to help the Iranian people, and in turn best serve U.S. security interests, is to focus on human rights violations—not the nuclear issue. Thus, we commend your administration’s recent sanctioning of Iranian human rights abusers and encourage you to extend the punitive measures to more regime members responsible for violating human rights.

Other key steps toward building relations between the American and Iranian people include removing internet and media technology restrictions imposed from the outside, promoting anticensorship programs, facilitating travel for Iranian citizens to the United States, and changing the single-entry visa policy against Iranian students. The Iranian students who have come to the United States face unbearable hardship due to the single-entry visa policy, especially because there is no US embassy back home. If they were granted more opportunity to travel to their home country, Iranian students would play an extremely effective role in promoting understanding and dialogue between both nations.

In the end, we would like to emphasize the importance for America of being seen as an advocate for human rights for all peoples in all parts of the world. Throughout the years, the vast majority of Iranians have expressed their utmost respect for Americans. We encourage you to stand on the side of the people in their time of difficulty by focusing on human rights violations in our motherland.

With Utmost Respect,

Students for Civil Rights in Iran

University of California, San Diego

Endorsements

Iranian Student Alliance in America at University of California, Berkeley

Iranian Democratic Student Association in George Washington University (Endorsement from the student organization)

Farsi Translation:

جناب آقای رئیس جمهور،

در پیام نوروزی سال 2010 خود فرمودید که “ما (آمریکا) متعهدیم تا برای حقوق جهانشمول تمامی افراد بشر ایستادگی کنیم”. تعهد شما ریشه در اصول بنیادینی دارد که این کشور بر آن بنا شده و آوای آن در اعلامیه استقلال آمده است که تمام مردان و زنان در سراسر جهان دارای حق “زندگی، آزادی وتلاش برای خوشبختی” میباشند.

این اصول بنیادین حقایق غیر قابل انکاری هستند که ایالات متحده را از بدو تأسیس در مسیر عدالت و حقوق جهانی برای همه مردم، راهنمایی کرده است. آقای رئیس جمهور، ما از شما به عنوان رهبر این کشور و برنده جایزه صلح نوبل میخواهیم تا با یکدلی با توجه به این اهداف در مواجه با رژیم جمهوری اسلامی در ایران اقدام کنید. ما از دولت آمریکا درخواست داریم که از تهدید به جنگ و تحریم علیه مردم ایران فاصله گرفته و مشوق آنها در ساختن دموکراسی درونی باشد.

ایرانیان در سراسر جهان عمیقا نگران و خجالت زده از نقض مداوم کنوانسیونهای بینالمللی حقوق بشر، همچنین حقوق شهروندی تضمین شده در قانون اساسی فعلی، توسط رژیم جمهوری اسلامی هستند. بر این اساس، ما از شما میخواهیم تا از قدرت آمریکا در شورای امنیت سازمان ملل بهره جسته و از دبیرکل آن آقای بان کیمون و کمیسر عالی حقوق بشر خانم ناوانتم پیلای خواسته شود تا برای فرستادن نمایندگان ویژه به ایران جهت یک ماموریت حقیقتیاب در مورد نقض حقوق بشر توسط رژیم اقدام نمایند. به ویژه، از سازمان ملل متحد میخواهیم تا وضعیت زندانیان و ادعاهای شکنجه و یا سایر مجازاتهای بیرحمانه و غیر معمول را بررسی کرده و با ملاقات با اعضای کانون وکلای ایران، در مورد محدودیتهای آنها در دفاع از موکلینشان گزارشی تهیه شود. در طول سال گذشته رژیم فعلی به طور سیستماتیک مواد متعدد از قانون اساسی خود، که تضمین کننده حق آزادی بیان و اجتماعات است، را نقض کرده است.

آقای رئیس جمهور، ما معتقدیم تنها راهی که ایالات متحده میتواند به مردم ایران کمک کند و همزمان منافع امنیتی خود را به بهترین وجه تأمین نماید، توجه به نقض حقوق بشر است و نه مسئله هستهای. بنابراین، ما ضمن ستایش از تحریمهای اخیر دولت شما علیه متجاوزین به حقوق بشر در ایران از شما میخواهیم نسبت به گسترش اقدامات تنبیهی علیه افراد بیشتری که در نقض حقوق بشر دخالت دارند، اقدام کنید.

گامهای مهم دیگر برای ساختن ارتباط بهتر میان مردم آمریکا و ایران عبارتند از حذف محدودیتهای اینترنتی و تکنولوژی رسانهای تحمیلی از خارج، حمایت از نرمافزارهای ضد فیلترینگ، تسهیل سفر برای شهروندان ایرانی به ایالات متحده و تغییر سیاست روادید تک ورودی برای دانشجویان ایرانی. دانشجویان ایرانی که به ایالات متحده آمدهاند، به علت این که آمریکا هیچ سفارتخانهای در کشورشان ندارد فشارهای فراوانی را به دلیل سیاست روادید تک ورودی تحمل میکنند. اگر به دانشجویان ایرانی فرصت بیشتری برای سفر به کشور خود اعطا شود، آنها میتوانند نقش بسیار موثری در پیشبرد تفاهم و گفتگو میان دو ملت بازی کنند.

در پایان، بر اهمیت شناخته شدن آمریکا در سرتاسر جهان به عنوان مدافع واقعی حقوق بشر برای همه مردم تأکید داریم. در طول سالیان، اکثریت قریب به اتفاق مردم ایران نهایت احترام خود را به آمریکاییها ابراز داشتهاند. ما از شما میخواهیم تا در این زمان سخت، با تمرکز بر نقض حقوق بشر در سرزمین مادریمان، در کنار مردم قرار گیرید.

با احترام فراوان،

دانشجویان طرفدار حقوق شهروندی در ایران

دانشگاه کالیفرنیا- سن دیگو

تشکلهای امضا کننده:

همبستگی دانشجویان ایرانی در آمریکا، دانشگاه برکلی کالیفرنیا

انجمن دانشجویان ایرانی دموکرات در دانشگاه جورج واشنگتن

Student Movement and the need of Today's Green Movement of Iran

"Student Movement and the need of Today's Green Movement of Iran"- A talk by Aliakbar Mousavi

جنبش دانشجويي و نياز امروز جنبش سبز
Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA
Presents

Aliakbar Mousavi (Khoeini) is a notable Iranian human rights activist and politician. He was an active member of Tahkim vahdat before he was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 6th Parliament of Iran. In the parliament, he made a significant attempt to defend the rights of political prisoners during the 1990s. Mousavi Khoeini started his political career as an activist in the Islamic Students Association of Khajeh Nasir University. Students in "Islamic Associations" are the biggest pro-democracy student groups in the universities in Iran. He was later elected to be a member of Adver Tahkim Vahdat, a representative body of Islamic Students Associations in Iran. In 1999, he was elected to the Majlis of Iran (Iranian Parliament) from the district of Tehran. He along with Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, Ali Tajernia and others started the student faction in the parliament. They followed up the demands of student activists within the parliament.
In this talk he is going to talk with us about the Iranian Students in prison and their contribution to democratic movement of Iran and also the future of the movement.

Time: Thurday, October 14, 2010 - 6:00pm

Location: UC Berkeley Campus,

MLK Student Union (Bancroft Way and Telegraph Ave.)

4th floor - Chinquapin Room

Facebook Event - Campus Map

Passing the Torch of Success

Brought to you by
Iranian Student Alliance in America - ISAA
&
Pulic Affairs Alliance in America - PAAIA

Come hear about the diverse accomplishments of Iranian Americans across the country, as they share their career experiences and pass on life lessons!
"Passing the Torch of Success" is both educational and inspirational, show-casing distinguished Iranian-Americans in various fields, as they pass life and career advice to the next generation of leaders. As an organization focused on improving the profile of the Iranian-American community, PAAIA has collaborated with ISAA in leveraging our group of accomplished professionals to help forge the path of a better future for the next generation. In this way, we bridge the NOW generation, with the NEXT generation!

Time: Sunday October 10, 2010 2:00-5:30pm
Location: Wheeler Auditorium, Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley

Tickets | Facebook Event

NEW IRANIAN STUDENT GUIDE AT UC BERKELEY

Please visit

here

In Solidarity with Jafar Panahi, ISAA presents: The Crimson Gold

Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA

presents:

IN SOLIDARITY WITH

JAFAR PANAHI

"THE CRIMSON GOLD"

Featuring a commentary by

Ahmad Kiarostami

Time: Tuesday April 27, 2010
7:30-9:30pm

Place:
159 Mulford Hall,
UC Berkeley Campus
Berkeley, CA, 94720

Jafar Panahi, one of the most influential and prominent Iranian filmmakers was arrested along with his wife, daughter and 15 guests at his house in Tehran on March 1st, 2010. He has been accused of making a movie on post-election events and detained by the security forces since then.

Panahi, 49, is known as one of the important figures of Iranian cinema. Although most of his movies are banned in Iran, he won the Camera d'Or award at the Cannes film festival in 1995 for his debut feature "The White Balloon" and took the Golden Lion prize at Venice for his 2000 drama "The Circle". He has depicted Iran's society in his acclaimed movies such as "The Crimson Gold" and "The Circle".

Panahi has criticized the outcome of June 2009 presidential election, which returned Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad to power. He was also arrested briefly because of attending a memorial for Neda Agha Soltan, who was murdered in post-election events. Before his arrest, Panahi was banned from traveling to Germany to take part in a panel discussion in Berlin because of wearing green, the opposition color, in the Montreal film festival.

In this event, Panahi's movie, "The Crimson Gold" will be shown in solidarity with him and his family.

Co-sponsors:

• United4Iran

Campus map: http://berkeley.edu/map/maps/BC23.html

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117366291623883

ISAA presents: A Glimpse into the Future of Iran

Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA

presents

A GLIMPSE INTO THE

FUTURE OF IRAN

Wednesday April 21, 2010, 2:00-4:00pm

Iran and the Future of the Green Movement

Dr. Reza Aslan

Chevron Auditorium,

UC Berkeley International House,

2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA

Facebook page: here

Blog page: here

Friday April 23, 2010, 6:00-8:00pm

What Kind of Secularism Is in the Cards for a Post-Islamist Iran?

Prof. Ahmad Sadri

Home Room,

UC Berkeley International House,

2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA

Facebook page: here

Blog page: here

Co-Sponsors:

* UC Berkeley International House
* UC Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies
* The Religion, Politics and Globalization Program at UC Berkeley
* United4Iran
* NorCal4Iran

For more info please refer to: http://isaa.berkeley.edu

Event's Poster: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4500991136_b0932f0e17_o.jpg

Any further questions may be referred to isaa.berkeley@gmail.com

ISAA's Special Cal Day Program

Please contact:

isaa.berkeley [at] gmail [dot] com

ISAA Proudly presents: Mohammad Reza Shajarian & Shahnaz Ensemble Concert

Iranian Student Alliance in America

in partnership with

Nima Entertainment

Presents:

Mohammad Reza Shajarian &

Shahnaz Ensemble Concert

Saturday May 29, 2010

Zellerbach Auditorium

UC Berkeley Campus

Tickets will on available for purchase at http://www.persiantix.com/

What kind of secularism is in the cards for a post-Islamist Iran?

Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA

is pleased to present:

What kind of secularism is in the cards for a post-Islamist Iran?

A Talk by Prof. Ahmad Sadri

Time: Friday April 23, 2010
6:00-8:00pm

Place:

Home Room, UC Berkeley International House
2299 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA, 94720

Prof. Ahmad Sadri is Professor Sociology and James P. Gorter Chair of Islamic World Studies at Lake Forest College. He received his BA and MA degrees at the University of Tehran and his PhD from the New School for Social Research. Sadri is the author of Max Weber’s Sociology of Intellectuals (Oxford University Press 1992, 94) and editor and translator (from Persian) of Reason Freedom and Democracy in Islam (Oxford University Press, 2000) and (from Arabic) Saddam City (Saqi Press, 2002.) Sadri has authored three books in Persian published by Kavir, and Hermes Press, Tehran. He has also functioned as a columnist for Daily Star of Lebanon and a commentator at National Public Radio in Chicago.

Talk will be in English and will be followed by Q&A.

Co-Sponsors:

UC Berkeley International House
UC Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies
United4Iran
NorCal4Iran

Iran and the Future of the Green Movement- A Talk by Dr. Reza Aslan

Iranian Student Alliance in America-ISAA

presents

Iran and the Future of the Green Movement

A Talk by Dr. Reza Aslan

Time: Wednesday April 21, 2010, 2:00 pm

Place:

Chevron Auditorium, UC Berkeley International House
2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA


Talk will be in English followed by a Q&A section and book signing.

Dr. Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions, is an Iranian-American Shia Muslim, a member of the faculty at the University of California, Riverside, and a contributing editor for the Daily Beast. His books include No god but God: the Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam (2005), and How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (2009).


Co-Sponsors:

* UC Berkeley International House
* UC Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies
* United4Iran
* NorCal4Iran


This event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110065785684491

For more info please refer to: http://isaa.berkeley.edu

Any further questions may be referred to isaa.berkeley@gmail.com

"Iran’s Underground Music"; a talk by Arash Sobhani

“Iranian Student Alliance in America – ISAA” in partnership with “Berkeley Lecture Series” Present:

A Talk by Arash Sobhani, Kiosk Lead Singer and Songwriter

Topic: "Iran’s Underground Music"

Arash Sobhani is the founder, lead singer and songwriter of Kiosk, the Iranian Blues/Rock/Jazz band that was formed in Tehran in 2003. Prevented from performing in public or publishing in studios in Tehran, Sobhani moved to the U.S. in 2005 where he led Kiosk to release the album, “Ordinary Man” probably the first Iranian underground album ever officially released in the west.

Kiosk’s distinct characteristic is their unique and innovative way of expressing cultural and social problems in a blend of blues, country and Persian music, a combination that creates something original and outstanding. http://www.kiosktheband.com

In 2008, Kiosk was awarded the Best Blues Band by the world Academy of Arts, Literature, and Media.

Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Place: University of California, Berkeley

145 Dwinelle Hall

http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/large_map.html

Lecture in Persian

For more information please refer to:

This event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=298337419752

Further questions may be directed to: isaa.berkeley@gmail.com

THE ROOTS OF THE CLASH

“Iranian Student Alliance in America – ISAA” Presents:

The 31st Anniversary of Iran's 1979 Revolution

"THE ROOTS OF THE CLASH"

Uncovering 31 Years of Power Struggles in
the Islamic Republic of Iran

"The Fall of a Shah" - BBC documentary by Maziar Bahari
"The Roots of the Clash" - A talk by Dr. Maziar Behrooz (History Department, SFSU)

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Time: 6:30 P.M.
Place: Chevron Auditorium, UC Berkeley International House (2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley)


co-sponsors:

The Religion, Politics and Globalization Program at UC Berkeley
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley International House
NorCal4Iran
United4Iran


To see the poster please click here

This event on Facebook: here

"Classical Persian Music and Despotism;" A talk by Mohsen Namjoo

“Iranian Student Alliance in America – ISAA” in partnership with “Berkeley Lecture Series” Present:

A Talk by Mohsen Namjoo, The Sensational Iranian Singer, Songwriter

Topic: "Classical Persian Music and Despotism"

“Mohsen Namjoo plays the setar, a traditional Persian lute, and is a master of classical Persian literature and poetry. But the sounds he draws from the instrument, along with his deep voice and his playful but subtly cutting lyrics about growing up in an Islamic state, have made Mohsen Namjoo the most controversial, and certainly the most daring, figure in Persian music today.” New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/01/world/middleeast/01namjoo.html

Date: Sunday, January 31, 2010
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Place: 2040 Valley Life SciencesBuilding

University of California, Berkeley

http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/large_map.html

Lecture in Persian

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=439397975436

For more information, please refer to Berkeley Lecture Series site: www.berkeleylectures.org

Mystic Iran the Unseen World!

ISAA WITH THE CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THE CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES ARE PROUD TO HOST:

“MYSTIC IRAN THE UNSEEN WORLD” with a follow-up discussion by director ARYANA FARSHAD

When: Thursday Feb. 12th, 7:00PM
Where: 101 Moffitt

Come watch this award winning documentary and enjoy FREE pizza!

Come join us on a mesmerizing journey deep into the heart of Iran. Shot entirely on location, this unprecedented cinematic tour reveals spiritual rites and rituals hidden for centuries. From the women's chamber of the Great Mosque, to the temple-caves in the land of Zarathustra, to the sacred dance of the Dervishes in Kurdistan, discover religious ceremonies and locations never before seen by the outside world.
Filmmaker Aryana Farshad explains, "My documentary breaks through the stereotypes of the Islamic culture -- more than 2500 years later, in a global climate where many equate the cultures of the Middle East with fear and terrorism, Mystic Iran reveals a diverse people seeking spiritual transformation." Mystic Iran is narrated by Shohreh Aghdashloo, Iranian Academy Award Nominee for "House of Sand & Fog."
"Mystic Iran the Unseen World" won the Audience Award at the 2008 Noor Film Festival on Sunday, April 13th, in Beverly Hills, California.


This event is hosted by ISAA and co-sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.


This is event is open to the public and ASUC Sponsored.