The Iranian Chronicles
Unveiling the Dark Truths of the Islamic Republic
by
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Nearly crushing the contents of his pocket with the cast, Omid grabbed the package of cigarettes with the tips of his fingers sticking out of the cast and lit one of the cigarettes before shaking off the effects of discomfort. The latest strains of pain and irritation of his broken hand took Omid back to the dark memories of only a few nights ago, when he was getting ready to perform in an underground concert. But just before he could start one of his more popular hip-hop songs, members of Tehran’s disciplinary forces crashed the concert and began to arrest the attendees, smashing any paraphernalia they deemed immoral and illegal. This included Omid’s new vinyl record, which led to him lashing out and hitting one of the officers. Other members of the disciplinary forces proceeded to hold Omid down and broke his right hand with a club, repeatedly striking his hand. After the beating, Omid was placed under arrest. He nearly bit through the filter of his cigarette as the memories of the rest of that night crept back into his head. He felt the murderous rage return to his temple as he reminisced about spending that excruciating night in a crowded jail cell while his smashed knuckles and fingers lay in a makeshift cast, hastily administered by an officer at the precinct. Ironically, what hurt him the most that night was not his hand but the painful sight of watching his record get smashed into pieces.
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About the Book
The repression in Iran during the past thirty-three years has spilled into nearly every aspect of common citizens’ lives. Human rights, integrity, ethics, cultural values, and legal morality in Iran have all been dismantled piece by piece since the revolution. In The Iranian Chronicles, author Ali Delforoush, who was born in Iran, presents a collection of eight true narratives about Iranian citizens and the challenges they face with respect to their nation’s repressive regime.
Based on more than four hundred interviews, The Iranian Chronicles portrays the relationships among the Iranian government, its people, and its social issues, including censorship, association in public, women’s rights, homosexuality, prostitution, and drugs. It tells the stories of Omid, a young hip-hop artist struggling with censorship; Nahid, a student activist who was unjustly imprisoned and tortured in the aftermath of the 2009 uprisings; Rasul, a wealthy merchant lost between the lines of love and lust; and Parisa, a prostitute who was forced into a temporary marriage with a cleric.
Through poignant, firsthand accounts, The Iranian Chronicles describes the realities of everyday life in Iran and puts a real human face on the challenges the noble and compassionate citizens must deal with under the Islamic Republic rule.
About the Author
Ali Delforoush was born in Tehran, Iran, and now resides in Thornhill, Canada. He graduated with an honors double major in political science and law and society. Delforoush recently earned a bachelor’s degree in law and is in the process of achieving his master’s degree in law.