News & Articles

Journalist leads 'Tour of Love' through battered Tohoku

17/04/2011 09:58
 BY LOUIS TEMPLADO STAFF WRITER     On a mission to bring aid to battered areas from the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, singalongs, snowball fights, Persian rugs and a hilltop picnic may not seem part of the bargain. Yet they were on the itinerary of a weekend trip to the...

‘Magic carpet ride’ helps tsunami survivors

08/04/2011 15:49
  This photo shows Afshin Valinejad handing out carpets at a school-turned-temporary shelter in Rikuzentakata, Japan. MIGUEL QUINTANA PHOTO   C. James DaleSPECIAL TO THE STAR     TOKYO—Afshin Valinejad’s dining room is crammed with carpets, food, and toys. “I’m really...

CONVICTED DANCER PLANS LIFE IN IRAN

04/08/2002 13:12
 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - An Iranian-American dancer who is barred from leaving Iran for 10 years or giving dance classes ever again wants to live there for the rest of his life, his lawyer said Sunday. Mohammad Khordadian could leave if he wanted to because his appeal has yet to be heard, lawyer...

Khamanei's Gang of Killers Flexes More Muscles

21/07/2001 00:00
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Twenty-five men were publicly flogged in Iran after a court convicted them of consuming and selling alcohol, a judicial official said Saturday. Sixteen men were found guilty of consuming alcohol, which is forbidden under Islam, and given 80 lashes each, the Tehran judicial...

Iran's top journalist sentenced to prison and internal exile

13/01/2001 12:48
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's leading investigative journalist has been sentenced to 10 years in jail and five years in internal exile for attending a conference in Germany that authorities said harmed Iran's image, his lawyer said Saturday. Journalist Akbar Ganji was among 16 people tried on charges...

Arrests hang over Iran's small Jewish community

02/01/2000 12:45
 By Afshin Valinejad SHIRAZ, Iran, January 2, 2000(AP) -- At a synagogue in the heart of this ancient city's Jewish quarter, worshippers end their Sabbath service with a solemn prayer for 13 loved ones jailed by Iranian authorities on accusations of espionage. "We pray that those we love will...

Tehran mayor challenges judge to produce evidence of graft

06/11/1998 12:22
AFSHIN VALINEJAD Associated Press Writer AP Online 06-11-1998 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ Tehran's reformist mayor, on trial for alleged corruption, boldly challenged a judge in court Thursday to produce evidence that he embezzled municipal funds.  Gholamhossein Karbaschi, who pleaded innocent when...

Tehran mayor gets five years, verdict victory for hard-liners

23/07/1998 12:31
 AFSHIN VALINEJAD Associated Press Writer AP Online 07-23-1998 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ A court convicted Tehran's reformist mayor Thursday and sentenced him to five years in prison for corruption, another twist in the struggle between Iran's moderate president and his hard-line political...

Revelers Pack Tehran Streets After Victory

22/06/1998 13:00
  TEHRAN, Iran — Fans draped in green, red and white flags danced in the streets and yelled "Iran!'' early today, celebrating the country's World Cup win over the nation it calls the "Great Satan.'' Sunday's 2-1 victory over the United States in France kept Iran in the running to advance to...

Tehran mayor accuses court of improper questioning

16/06/1998 12:26
 AFSHIN VALINEJAD Associated Press Writer AP Online 06-16-1998 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ Tehran's mayor accused a judge of improper questioning and accepting extracted confessions Tuesday, during his highly politicized corruption trial that has riveted the nation's attention.  The case...

Tehran mayor freed on bail

15/04/1998 13:08
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ The mayor of Tehran was freed on bail today, defusing an escalating showdown between hard-line and moderate factions in Iran's government.  Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni, intervened to release jailed Mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi, official sources told The...

7.1 QUAKE LEVELS IRANIAN VILLAGES; THOUSANDS KILLED; PLEA FOR AID ISSUED.

15/04/1998 12:41
 Byline: Afshin Valinejad Associated Press  see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. ..... Click the link for more information.  A powerful earthquake devastated...

Tehran mayor freed on bail

15/04/1998 12:20
 AFSHIN VALINEJAD Associated Press Writer AP Online 04-15-1998 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ The mayor of Tehran was freed on bail today, defusing an escalating showdown between hard-line and moderate factions in Iran's government.  Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni, intervened to...

Log Cabin Democrat: Iran earthquake leaves 12 dead, 1,500 homeless 4/12/98

12/04/1998 17:25
 Published Sunday, April 12, 1998 Front Page Local News   Sunday, April 12, 1998Iran earthquake leaves 12 dead, 1,500 homeless Last modified at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 1998 By AFSHIN VALINEJAD Associated Press Writer HASSAN-KOLANGI, Iran -- Families and rescue workers abandoned...

Log Cabin Democrat: Strong earthquake rocks Iran, at least 5 dead

15/03/1998 12:11
  Published Sunday, March 15, 1998 Front Page Local News   Sunday, March 15, 1998Strong earthquake rocks Iran, at least 5 dead Last modified at 11:35 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 1998 By AFSHIN VALINEJAD Associated Press Writer TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A powerful earthquake shattered walls and...

Log Cabin Democrat: Iran accuses U.S. aircraft, battleship of spy action

14/10/1997 13:04
   TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran accused a U.S. destroyer and a reconnaissance plane today of spying on Iranian military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf, and warned them to leave the area. The Navy denied the charge, saying the ship hadn't even left port.   The USS Kincaid and an S-3...

7.1 QUAKE LEVELS IRANIAN VILLAGES; THOUSANDS KILLED; PLEA FOR AID ISSUED.

11/05/1997 09:42
 Byline: Afshin Valinejad Associated Press  see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. ..... Click the link for more information.  A powerful earthquake devastated...