The news about the destruction of the Saeh Library—which also served as a cultural center—in the Lebanese city of Tripoli came as a real shock, and made me wonder how such a crime against culture should be understood. Who was behind the attack, and what was their justification? Bookshops are an impo
The failure of former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami to attend the funeral of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg earlier this month raised a big question for me, because Khatami had previously announced that he planned to take part in the ceremony. Ali Akbar Velayati, ex-foreign minister and senior
The UN has named 2014 as the ‘Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.’ The majority of member states adopted the resolution with 110 voting in favor, seven opposed and 54 abstaining. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the UN’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, noting the importance o
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is one of the very few Iranian political figures who have had good relations with Saudi Arabia’s leaders. In an interview with the Financial Times on November 26, he said that he was ready to travel to Riyadh and that he had been invited by King Abdullah to perform last mont
