There is a new war going on in Iran, between the administration and students of Shiraz University (Balatarin). More than two thousand students in University of Shiraz gathered on the campus and refused to attend their classes (link). When the dean of the university tried to talk to them they interrupted him by chanting “liar! liar! resign! resign!” Other sentences they shouted were “this is not a barrack” and “shame on you”.
The protest started after a newly announced law tried to regulate the conduct of the students in the dormitory. The new law forbids the students from wearing shorts and pajamas in the halls. It also forbids students from bringing guests to the dormitory and gives the security the right to enter dormitory rooms without permission. According to the students, there has been one incident in which a security personnel entered a room and woke everybody up to ask them for their IDs. He has reportedly shouted “we have a terrorist here” (link). According to the new law, doors of the dormitory will be closed from 23pm to 5am (link).
The university insists that the law has been in effect since a a long time ago. “It is only announced again”, said Dr Sadeghi, the dean (link). The administration has also expressed preparedness to revise the law according to the demands of the students.
The story had a happy ending, when yesterday afternoon, at 4pm, dean told to the students “if you find this law offensive, I apologize”. Then, the students told him that they have not had launch and asked the dean to have dinner with them. He accepted (link). He also stated “we respect privacy of people”.
Can you imagine an old dad who has been so cruel to his children when he was young? That’s the Islamic Republic. The administration has so many problems to deal with and everyone remembers a reason to avenge for. At least that is my understanding of this Pajamas War.
Demands of the students: 24-hour Khwarizmi [probably the name of a library on campus], non-filtered Internet, free student press, improvement on the food services, service 4 [probably a campus shuttle] to be changed, freedom for extra curriculum activities. [Thanks to JE for correcting my mistake]
“Pajama War?”
Sounds great!
You’re up tomorrow.
And thanks.
Comment by Jack — April 23, 2007 @ 11:27 pm
Jack,
Same here.
Comment by Kamangir — April 24, 2007 @ 12:12 am
Are you sure you’re not reporting my family? This sudden outburst—and just as sudden diffusion of tempers—is a daily occurrence in Miami.
Comment by Lesly — April 24, 2007 @ 2:34 am
kaman: did you know pajama is rooted in the Persian words, “Bi Jameh”, meaning without your get up?
Comment by serendip — April 24, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
“Kharazmi” I think should be “Khwarizmi,” for the famous inventor of algebra, Ù…Øمد بن موسى الخوارزمي
Comment by JE — April 24, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
Dear Serendip,
AS you may know, many words are pronounced in a more simple way rather than their original and correct spelling and pronunciation in Persian. “Bi jameh” is originally “Pa Jameh”, meaning leg’s clothes. In this way, English and Persian words are more similar!
Comment by shimbalkhaan — April 24, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
JE,
Indeed, Kharazmi is the famous inventor of algebra. “Khwarizmi” is just another english spelling of the original Persian name. In Iran, we pronounce it as “Kharazmi”. The english world “algorithm” is also the latinized form of the same name. According to Wikipedia, his name is also the origin of the Spanish word “guarismo” and of the Portuguese word “algarismo”, both meaning digit.
Comment by kia — April 24, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
aleykomo ssalam va rahmatolahe va barakato!
Translation: Hi!
Comment by yekvahid — April 24, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
Kira,
Thanks – I would have guessed that Ùˆ would have been pronounced like an English ‘v’ in Farsi, from what little Farsi I’ve heard. The great American computer scientist, Donald Knuth, mentions al-Khawarizmi on the first page of the first chapter of the first volume of Knuth’s magnum opus, “The Art of Computer Programming.” Would that Iran were known for Khawarizmi instead of اØمدي نژاد – or اØمدي نجاد as I’m more used to seeing in Arabic.
Comment by JE — April 25, 2007 @ 12:32 am
Thanks Shimbalkhan; duly noted. What does Shimbalkhan mean?
Comment by serendip — April 25, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
Dear Serendip,
It is a long story so let me say It is some kind of meaningless! ;)
Comment by shimbalkhaan — April 26, 2007 @ 12:51 am
this may be silly, but why do you translate from “salam :: hi” to “as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu” as both “hi” ? let me break it down for you…
salam سلام :: arabic, “peace”
alaykum علیکم :: arabic, “upon you”
wa Ùˆ :: arabic, persian: “and”
rahmat رØمت :: arabic, persian: mercy
allah Ø§Ù„Ù„Û :: arabic: God
barakah برکۃ :: arabic: blessings
so “Salam” would be more accurately translated as “Peace”, which the word اسلام “Islam” is also derived from. and “As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu” should be translated as “may the peace and blessings of God be upon you.”
thanks.. :) salaam..
Comment by غلام خدا — April 28, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
sorry, I missed a few words. the full salaam should be translated as: “may peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God too”. sounds funny in english.
Comment by غلام خدا — April 28, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
@ Gholaam e Khoda,
Sorry m8. Salaam doesn’t mean “Peace” it literally means “I submit to you”. It comes from the arabic verb “Salm” which means “To Submit” the same verb which the word “Tasleem” comes from and it has been entered in Persian language as well meaning “Submission”.
Comment by Motori — April 29, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
غلام خدا ,
May peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God too. :)
Comment by Kamangir — April 29, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Motori,
Sorry mate. (lol) But please check your references, because they are incorrect. “Salaam” means peace. I believe you are thinking of the word “aslam”.
== Wikipedia: ==
As-SalÄmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم) is an Arabic language greeting used in both Muslim and Christian cultures. It means “Peace be upon you.”
Comment by غلام خدا — April 30, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
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