ZAGNY wishes to announce the 1st Arbab Rustom Guiv Carrom Tournament commencing on Sunday Dec. 3rd 2006 which also happens to be the death anniversary of our benefactor Arbab Rustom Guiv.  The tournament shall continue on subsequent first Sundays of every month; these being the Sundays when Religion Classes are held. The tournament is open to all ZAGNY and IZA members, and there is no fee for participating in the tournament. There shall be awards for winners and runners-up.

Since at the current time, the number of participants for the tournament is not known, the end date cannot be exactly determined. However it is estimated that it will take a minimum of four Sundays to complete the tournament. Please also note that since lunch is provided at the Religion Classes, all participants and their families who are not part of the Religion Classes group are welcome to share in the lunch for a nominal fee of $5 per person–Please email Jasely Dukandar and let her know how many will be having lunch.

The tournaments shall be as follows:

• Adult Singles (Best of 3 games knock-out)
• Adult Doubles (Best of 3 games knock-out)
• Children Singles (Single game knock-out)-for children under 14.

Our volunteers Gev Nentin and Viraf Commissariat have offered to coordinate the competition and serve as judges.  Your participation is absolutely essential in making this tournament a success. Please send in your registration to Viraf Commissariat or Gev Nentin.  Every consideration shall be given in cases where participants cannot attend the tournament on any given Sunday, so do not let that factor into your decision to participate!

In observance of International Human Rights Day (December 10) and the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration for the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance or Discrimination based upon Religion or Belief (November 25)

“Greatness was and can be again!”
Religious (in)fluences on human rights and religious freedom; what can we learn, for advocacy sake?

• The Edict of Cyrus (548 BCE, Persian Empire)
• presented by Iranian born filmmaker, Mr. Cyrus Kar
• Cordoba, Spain (711-1492)
• presented by Ibrahim Ramey, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
• The Zafarnamah (1699, Mulgul Empire)
• presented by Sikh professor, Dr. Muninder Kaur Ahluwalia, Montclair State Universit 
• And the Alliance of Civilizations (invited)

Concluding with musical performance

• Deborah Gordon, composer and pianist
• Diana Solomon-Glover, soprano
• Drums of Passion

Thursday, DECEMBER 7th
Brown Bag Lunch  on 2nd floor 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Panel begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel Church Center for the United Nations
777 U.N. Plaza,
SW Corner of 44th and 1st Avenues (map)
This event is co-sponsored by the NGO Committee on Religious Freedom or Belief , the NGO Committee on Human Rights, the Committee of Religious NGOs, and the United Methodist Office for the United Nations through the Office of the Chaplain

For more info:   212-682-3633, ext. 3127   - The Edict of Cyrus - Event Flyer

Originally published on November 8, 2006 by NY Daily News

BY CARLOS RODRIGUEZ MARTORELL

From Harlem to the streets of Baghdad, all the world’s a stage for actress, playwright and “artivist” Kayhan Irani — literally.

The dreamy-eyed 28-year-old New Yorker of Indian descent has been involved in dozens of plays and artistic actions advocating social justice. Her celebrated one-woman show, “We’ve Come Undone,” has toured colleges and community centers nationwide.

The series of monologues first staged in 2003 portrays the struggles faced by Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities following 9/11 in a suddenly hostile America. For instance, a young girl experiences bewilderment at her father’s disappearance after being interrogated by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. …Read the rest of this entry »»»

View the video here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5468494210860637483 

Cyrus (580-529 BC) was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia by uniting the two original Iranian Tribes- the Medes and the Persians. Although he was known to be a great conqueror, who at one point controlled one of the greatest Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated.

Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern frontiers. Hyrcania and Parthia were already part of the Median Kingdom. Further east, he conquered Drangiana, Arachosia, Margiana and Bactria. After crossing the Oxus, he reached the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic tribes of Central Asia.

The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish Community, who welcomed him as a liberator- he allowed the Jews to return to the promised Land. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled.