Pedestrian

On Friday, November 14th, Tehran’s famed Jomhoori Movie Theater was burnt to the ground.

This is the same movie theater that was once famously owned by Fardin and Ali Hatami. This is the same movie theater my friends and I would go down to after school for movie premiers. It was old and uncared for, and yet, we didn’t mind. Tehran’s old buildings have seen and experienced so much in the span of these past decades. They are abundant with life and stories, and somehow, through the archaic walls and squeaky seats all of it comes out.

In recent years, Ali Hatami’s daughter, Iranian actress Leila Hatami, and her husband Ali Mosaffa, established a successful café (Café Antract) in the upper floor of the theater.

Coincidentally, days before this fire, Leila Hatami gave an emotional speech inviting Mohammad Khatami to run for president. While the details have not yet been released, there are reasons to assume that the fire may not have been completely accidental.

For those familiar with the Iranian election process this is not surprising. Come it months before every election, all progressive outlets are banned, closed and silenced.

Along these lines, Shahrvand-e Emrooz was shut down last week.

This was a spectacular publication which covered everything from politics to art to finance with grace and magnificence. You turned every page, enthusiastically waiting to read the next. This was a paper which had the potential to sit there with the world’s most renowned publications.

As did Jame-eh, Toos and Khordad … As did Payam-e Emrooz … And Zanan …

The war has begun and we will await the next few months with anxiety, fear … and yes, hope!