New Release by Iranian Poet Sheema Kalbasi


For more on Echoes in Exile please go to its website (here)... You can order the book Amazon.com, Barns&Nobles, and partial donations will go to the listed charities on the website (here)

Kalbasi's poetry is generous and abundantly human, passionate and compassionate.

-- Jimmy Santiago Baca, award winning poet and author

Sheema Kalbasi’s poems speak of love, loss, and life in exile. They are the poems of a human rights activist passionate with the hope of peace. Kalbasi’s poetry exposes the deep heart of a woman who is compassionate with suffering and full of the joy of life, of the innocence of a child, the knowledge of a woman, the aspirations of a peacemaker. These are stirring poems with a worldly view, both accessible and imaginative. They make an excellent cross-cultural exchange that demonstrates our universal
humanity.

-- Daniela Gioseffi, American book award winning author

پژواک در تبعید نام کتاب اشعار انگلیسی شیما کلباسی است. کلباسی در این کتاب با سادگی، جذابیت و توانایی همیشگی حاضر در نوشتارش به ابعاد انسان می پردازد.



اشعار کلباسی بسیار سخاوتنمند، سرشار از احساس و بشر دوستانه هستند.

جیمی سانتیاگو باکا

شعرهای شیما کلباسی شاهدی بر موقعیت تراژیک انسان معاصرند، موقعیتی که در آن تبعید به جایگاهی برجسته برای نشان دادن بی‌عدالتی نهفته در جابجائی انسان‌ها بدل می‌شود. شعرهای ژرف، تاثیرگذار و بازتافتی کلباسی به ما این توانائی را می‌دهند تا اندیشهٔ بازگشت به خانه را از چنگ دنیائی که بازگشت را از ما دریغ می‌کند، بیرون آورد.

پیمان وهاب‌زاده، دپارتمان جامعه‌شناسی، دانشگاه ویکتوریا

In his latest article Eli Lake writes: The State Department has been reviewing ways to "get Iran to be helpful on Iraq" as part of a government-wide review of Iraq policy.

I say: Yes! Please do so... and I'll see you in two years!

Since when Iranian regime is helpful?!

It was April 2003 when I first blogged about Azam Ali... I like her music and her voice... In Pakistan and India there is Qawwali singing and her music sounds like a combination of new age and Qawwali to my ears...

حسن زارع زاده اردشير: روند سرکوب تدريجي و گام به گام جنبش دانشجويي به جايي رسيده که دانشجويان بسيجي تحت پوشش سپاه پاسداران وارد عرصه برخورد با دانشجويان شده اند. در تازه ترين اقدام بسيج دانشجويي، توحيد غفارزاده دانشجوي دانشگاه آزاد واحد سبزوار عصر دوشنبه در برابر چشمان نامزدش به قتل رسيد تا دانشگاه پادگاني به به دانشجويان منتقد و مخالف دولت پادگاني نمايش داده شود.

An Iranian university student, Tohid Ghaffarzadeh was killed by a Basiji (paramilitary force) in Sabzevar, a city in the northeastern province of Khorasan.

I feel much better after talking to my dad in Ukraine. Apparently the lines work on and off. What a relief to hear his voice saying Happy Birthday Sheema. Hearing his voice fills my heart with warmth and joy.

Happy Birthday Sheema.

Save Zahra kamalfar from violation in Iran and in Russia

Lisa Goldman: "My friend Allison Kaplan Sommer, who is a contributor to Pajamas Media, asked me to circulate this article and video of Zahra Kamalfar. Ms. Kamalfar, a political dissident who escaped Iran with her children during a furlough from prison, has been stranded in Moscow Airport for 73 days under horrendous conditions. The Russian government is now threatening to send her back to Iran tomorrow (Monday), where she will likely face severe punishment." Watch and read here.

Sign the Petition here.

اخبار روز: امروز صبح منصور اسانلو در خیابان توسط مامورین لباس شخصی بازداشت و به نقطه نامعلومی برده شد.

Mansour Osanlou is arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.

The Wall Street Journal: "A leading Iranian student activist is calling for the Bush administration to directly fund opposition groups seeking to topple the theocratic regime in Tehran. Manucher Mohammadi escaped from Iran last month after his brother and fellow democratic activist, Akbar Mohammadi, died in Tehran’s Evin prison. Manucher Mohammadi says his brother was severely tortured during seven years in prison and ultimately died from his injuries."

Laura Rozen


Journalist Laura Rozen, who sees herself as an Iran analyst and her imaginary friends feed her information that weights zero to nothing, may have a new target for character assassination: Manouchehr Mohammadi. Now with Mohammadi in the United States, Rozen is sitting uptight to get back to her typing and drinking latte! No human in the right mind would write the way Rozen writes based on dislike or hate for the Bush administration! Ms. Rozen, next time you cash your checks go to Toys “R” US and get yourself one of these globs. It is an interactive Explorer Globe and hopefully will teach you facts about Iran!

My poem Hezbollah first published in 2004 won the Harvest International poetry award today.

شعرم "حزب الله" که اولین بار در سال دوهزار و چهار به چاپ رسیده بود... امروز برنده جایزه بین المللی هاروست شد.

The infamous Laura Rozen is at it again. She wakes up with her latte and laptop and goes at her keyboard! It is good to be paid the money she is and write bunch of whatevers, and have your readers clap for you! She is one of those liberals that make you want to change your party for the next one! How come when it comes to Iran these aunt and uncle scam journalists get their latte first thing in the morning!! Read her latest titled Iran Hawks Reorganize.

Make sure to read it on an empty stomach or have a bucket handy!

Judith Apter Klinghoffer: "Nor have Iranians forgotten the Palestinian (including Hamas) support of Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war and they resent the money being spent on it. After all, the Iranian economy is terrible and the unemployment level of educated youth is over 50%. What do you think about the Iranian army? I asked. It is no different from that of Saddam and its missiles are so inaccurate that Iranians joke that an attempt to blow up Tel Aviv will end up flattening Mecca."

عاشقانه های بابا و دختر

پ: خیلی دوست دارم

دختر کوچولو: منم

پ: زندگی منی

دختر کوچولو: شما هم

Kianoosh Sanjari is being held incommunicado at an unknown location and Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment.
سنجری به شدت شکنجه شده و همچنان تحت فشار فراوان قرار دارد. این رفتار نشان دهنده وضعیت نگران کننده کیانوش می باشد. وزارت اطلاعات قصد دارد کیانوش سنجری را زیر شکنجه از بین ببرد

Michael Ledeen: "And while I thought he [Rumsfeld] should be replaced, I found the manner and the moment of his purge utterly disgusting. What was the rush?"

I agree with Ledeen on this but the defeat in election was too big and Bush had to bring something to the table. It is unfortunate that one of the best doctrines proposed for the Middle East was abounded by President Bush himself -- the moment he turned the wheel and took the wrong exit! And... it is too late. Separated states are all that can save Iraq... but that doesn't mean ethnic cleansing will not continue for the next several years. A balkanized future is Iraq's path to peace now! Will that be the future for Iran?

Somehow the Iranians never find that NorthStar!

Iran

I don't know how it is with others but this James Baker brings me chills! Now with Robert Gates in the picture and the Iranian Brady Bunch (Vali Nasr, Hooshang Amirahmadi, Trita Parsi, and more) on the U.S. end and (the soon to see his bloody head) Rafsanjani with Ahmadinejad --mullah verses revolutionary guard-- on the other end... ah! Well! Better they do some more flip—flop and get it over and done! I guess these U.S. study groups are just collectively in need of a better group or study subjects. So far whatever has been the outcome is been devastating! You see what is a study group for the latte drinkers and spa goers over here turns out to be just a bit more than a sip of bloody marry down there!

Once Upon a Time... I started telling a tale to the little girl just like my dad used to tell me and my siblings before bedtime. So last night after the little girl fell asleep while listening to a story, I got back to working on some literary work. I turned on the Television to have some noise in the background and surprise surprise they had a program on Islam. The images of three year olds in Pakistan shouting death and destruction were disturbing.

My views and writings apparently upset some people in the blogosphere (read Iranian blogger monopolists). Why do these people feel such a strong bond and allegiance to Khatami? Why do they campaign for Rafsanjani? Only regime apologists with ties and interests to Iran's repressive regime can ignore the on going human rights abuses!

Democrats: Arrogant and Ignorant?... Or is it just John Kerry!

The Conservatives like to use Kerry -the Democrat- card and for some reason Democrats play right into their hands. Kerry represents everything a regular American cannot relate to... and well... all for the right reasons. Kerry doesn't stimulate the mirror cells in any ones brain but his own like: speak French at home! rich! windsurfer! snob! ehh! An elite too?! I don't know why Democrats wanted him to go against President Bush in the last election. US Senator John Edwards (North Carolina) was a much better choice. Anyway... all these voting talks... and today of all days... I realized... I have never voted! I had not come of age to vote in Iran... (even if I lived and had come of age in Iran who would I vote for? Rafsanjani --like the Iranian blogger monopolists suggested! Or for Khatami --the Mullah with an aba of chocolate-- his fans love fruitcake! What can I say!) I didn't have any right in Pakistan... and in Denmark... where I lived for many years... I could vote when I received my Danish citizenship... but... by the time I did become a proud Danish citizen... I had... moved to USA... and now... it will be three years before I can apply for a Pentagon job (ha! ha! you think I won't! think again!)

I am moving to Washington D.C.

It is incredibly important to bring attention to the horrendous and inhuman act of Sangsar (stoning) in Iran. This is a direct violation of human rights.