Persicus Maximus

The Qajar dynasty, was apart from some exceptions perhaps a phase in the Iranian history that not many wish to pass in review. It was a period in Iranian history, in which apart from the founder of the dynasty (Agha Mohammad, photo of his Wax figure)all kings were weak and manipulable. Looking back we could unequivocally claim that the 19th century certainly did not belong to any Iranians favorite period in Iranian history. In 1906, the fifth Qajar king called "Mozafar-e-Din" Shah accepted a suggestion for the creation of a Parliament and drafting of a constitution. This Shah (King), ruled Iran from 1896 till 1907 and was known prior to becoming Shah, to have been a party boy, mainly to fight off the boredom he had to endure waiting 35 years as the crown prince, since his father the fourth king "Nasser-e-Din" Shah ruled Iran for almost 50 years. Nevertheless, "Mozafar-e-Din" Shah, introduced Cinematography into Iran, and at some stage a sound technician fr...

France has been the oldest and most traditional host to Iranians compared to other nations. The number of Iranians living in France is surprisingly low, it does not exceed 25,000 of which perhaps 50% have French citizenships. The first Iranian flux to France started in the early stages of the 20 century, where scientific and social developments in Iran resulted in state sponsored scholarships, dispatching the first waves of students to France. The second wave of Iranian emigrants to France, was a direct result of the revolution of 1979, which like all revolutions brings displacements and emigrations with itself. This second wave consists almost entirely of political or cultural emigrants and they form up almost 90% of the Iranian immigrants in France of today. Iranians in France are generally very happy people, since almost all are above average educated, they also have little difficulty in assimilating in the French society. The French Judicial system is almost equal in its bureaucrac...

Behjat Sadr, was perhaps one of the most gifted Iranian contemporary artists, her modern paintings were last exhibited in Tehran 2007. She passed away,Tuesday August 11 in southern France at the age of 85. Behjat Sadr, was born in Arak/Iran in 1924 and studied at Tehran University, then Rom at the Napels Academy of Fine arts. Her first significant exhibition took place in 1956, just before her return to Iran and joining the Tehran University cadre. Behjat Sadr survived Breast cancer in the 90's, and is known to have continued work. She was married and had a daughter. Underneath I leave a link to some of her work. Behjat Sadr Gallery .

Iranians in Germany, are perhaps the best educated Iranians throughout Europe, They number around 120,000 of which about 30% are second generation. Iranians in Germany are renowned for their flexibility and adaptability. There are certainly a few "No Go" zones in Germany for foreigners generally (former East-German states) and Iranians are no exception, apart from that Iranians in Germany are some of the most successful immigrants in a country struggling to overcome their catastrophic demographic statistics. The adaptability of Iranians, should not be misunderstood as a mean to differentiate between the groups of Iranians scattered across Europe,but as a certain cultural compatibility between the Iranians and Germans. They simply like each other. The geographical centricity of Germany, facilitates constant travel opportunities and cultural exchanges and (unlike the British isolation)gives the German society an elasticity that absorbs new ideas and cultures which in return ra...

The number of Iranians in the Scandinavian Peninsula, which consists of Norway, Denmark and Sweden is actually an enigma. Sweden is the one country amongst them that houses the most Iranians but by far not even close to the number of Iranians in other countries. The main reason for this uncertainty is the mainly Kurdish proportion of the foreign residents in Sweden. As we know the ethnic Kurdish population, spreads throughout 4-5 countries, and depending on current political,social and military developments in their regions, many of them moved to the Scandinavian countries , especially Sweden. The reason for the statistical uncertainty lies in the fact for instance that once Iraq was in havoc, many Kurds moved there regardless of their country of origin and claimed to be from Iraq. Another occasion, the war in Turkey that caused the immigration of thousands to Sweden claiming to be from there, regardless of the fact that many of them were from Iran or even Syria,or even Iraq by that ma...

Iranians in the UK amount perhaps to no more than 80,000 (half of them second generation)of which a large number of them consider themselves as Armenians,Arabs or Baha'i depending on the current international affairs and how the Tabloid newspapers of Britain educate the public opinion on how negative it is to be thought of Iran. The Iranian mentality however is an ever thriving element in their everyday life. Most Iranians who moved to the UK before the revolution for educational reasons that did not return, have long moved on to the USA or other destinations, furthermore those who came to the UK after 1980, having experienced the classic bureaucratic resistance of the British establishment towards their natural aspirations, moved on to settle elsewhere where they would be considered as majority rather than some ethnic minority group living on an island. Those Iranians who were an ethnic or religous minority in Iran, like the above mentioned groups are the ones who felt and feel ho...