Camelia Entekhabifard
Encyclopedia
Camelia Entekhabifard is an Iran
ian journalist and author who now lives in New York City
.
Initially interested in poetry and painting, she became a journalist for the daily Zan
. In 1999 she conducted research on women earning money in the Iranian city of Qom
, a center for Shi'a scholarship and pilgrimage, by engaging in temporary marriage
with pilgrims and religious scholars, in what she called a thinly veiled form of prostitution
. This work resulted in her being imprisoned for 11 weeks in Towhid Prison
. She moved to the United States and in 2001 wrote a piece in the Village Voice about these issues.
After she published an article with James Ridgeway in the Village Voice in December 2001 criticizing the People's Mujahedin of Iran
, the organization replied with a letter to the editor
, alleging "shameful ties [...] between Camelia Fard and Iran's ruling mullah
s" and claiming that she is a "well-known friend of Mullah Abtahi".
She has since reported on Iran
and Afghanistan
for AP
, Reuters
, the Village Voice and Mother Jones
. Her book Camelia: Save Yourself by Telling the Truth—a Memoir of Iran (ISBN 1583227199) was published in March 2007. In the book she relates that her mother had sympathized with Shah Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi
, and that Camelia had initiated a romance with her abusive interrogator which led to her early release from prison.
Written by Camelia Entekhabifard:
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian journalist and author who now lives in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Initially interested in poetry and painting, she became a journalist for the daily Zan
Zan
Zan may refer to:*Zan Perrion, dating and relationship consultant*Zan language, a proposed collective term for the Megrelian and Laz languages*Zan, the original Chinese name of Kanzashi...
. In 1999 she conducted research on women earning money in the Iranian city of Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
, a center for Shi'a scholarship and pilgrimage, by engaging in temporary marriage
Nikah mut‘ah
' , is a fixed-term marriage in Shi'a Islam. The duration of this type of marriage is fixed at its inception and is then automatically dissolved upon completion of its term. The marriage is contractual and is subject to renewal...
with pilgrims and religious scholars, in what she called a thinly veiled form of prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. This work resulted in her being imprisoned for 11 weeks in Towhid Prison
Towhid Prison
Towhid Prison is an unofficial detention centre in Tehran, Iran. The word towhid refers to one of the five pillars of Islam, monotheism...
. She moved to the United States and in 2001 wrote a piece in the Village Voice about these issues.
After she published an article with James Ridgeway in the Village Voice in December 2001 criticizing the People's Mujahedin of Iran
People's Mujahedin of Iran
The People's Mujahedin of Iran is a terrorist militant organization that advocates the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran....
, the organization replied with a letter to the editor
Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication...
, alleging "shameful ties [...] between Camelia Fard and Iran's ruling mullah
Mullah
Mullah is generally used to refer to a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law. The title, given to some Islamic clergy, is derived from the Arabic word مَوْلَى mawlā , meaning "vicar", "master" and "guardian"...
s" and claiming that she is a "well-known friend of Mullah Abtahi".
She has since reported on Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
for AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, the Village Voice and Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
. Her book Camelia: Save Yourself by Telling the Truth—a Memoir of Iran (ISBN 1583227199) was published in March 2007. In the book she relates that her mother had sympathized with Shah Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
, and that Camelia had initiated a romance with her abusive interrogator which led to her early release from prison.
External links
- Author biography, from PENInternational PENPEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
American Center
Written by Camelia Entekhabifard:
- Unveiled Threats. Village Voice, 28 March 2001
- Behind the Veil. Mother Jones, Mai/June 2001
- Afghan Plan Unravels. Village Voice, 15 October 2001
- U.S. Looks for Someone to Trust. Village Voice, 26 October 2001
- Afghanistan's Sentimental King. Village Voice, 15 November 2001
- Gotta go. Village Voice, 16 November 2001
- With Friends Like These (with James Ridgeway). Village Voice, 5 December 2001