Manuscripts digitised by the Library of the Iranian Parliament

The Library of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Parliament in Tehran has digitized more than 26000 manuscripts (including Persian, Arabic and Turkish items) in this very important collection. Manuscripts can be searched by name (Persian/Arabic) or catalogue number. For each picture you can increase the resolution and size by clicking on the link( save (ذخیره= and all the images are downloadable. Clcik on the image above to access the collection.

Online archive of Paletinian posters

A free online archive of the fascinating art of Palestinian posters, representing artists and groups from all over the world.

New CNN World View programme remembers Çingiz Mustafayev

(Image courtesy of mia.az)

The CNN World View programme recently focused on the Azerbaijani journalist Chingiz Mustafayev, who was killed in the conflict zone during the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1992. Mustafayev, who was posthumously awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan, was renowned for the 18 films he shot about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists. His most famous piece of footage is of the aftermath of the Khojaly Massacre which depicted hundreds of bodies strewn across snow-covered fields, and which arguably changed the history of his country after it was shown in a parliamentary session. Click on the photo above to view the film.

The true history of the Koran in America - Article in the Boston Globe

"For most Americans, the Koran remains a deeply foreign book, full of strange invocations. Few non-Muslims read it, and most of us carry assumptions about a work of scripture that we assume to be hostile, though it affirms many of the earlier traditions of Christianity and Judaism. Like all works of scripture, it is complex and sometimes contradictory, full of soothing as well as frightening passages. But for those willing to make a genuine effort, there are important areas of overlap, waiting to be found."

Click on the picture above to go straight to the article in The Boston Globe