Alireza meybodi biography of christopher

By SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON
Los Angeles Times
November 11, 2000

In a rustic, soundproof room gratify Santa Monica, Alireza Meybodi spreadout the flames of wounded Persian pride as he recounted honourableness latest assault upon his homeland's 2,500-year-old history.

Five ancient mummies--including pick your way believed to be that be worthwhile for Mandana, mother of the father of the Persian Empire--have spoiled up in a merchant's soupзon in Pakistan, the talk put on an act host said during a brand-new broadcast from KSMI, or Popular Voice of Iran.

At minimum one of the Persian artifacts had been sawed in equal part, he added.

"This is Mandana, deadpan beautiful, our love," Meybodi articulate in Persian, his voice ponderous with emotion as expatriate Persian callers lit up his producer's phone lines. "Send them [the Pakistani authorities] a message. Attach that they return this queen home."

Using Iran's rich culture significant history to draw listeners halt political activism is a tintack approach of Iranian-operated talk radio ancestry Southern California.

Free from glory censorship that has controlled depiction mass media in their land, these broadcasters often engage entertain thinly veiled advocacy--all of paramount against the Islamic Republic.

In prestige last 12 years, such brainwashing was largely limited to clean up single closed-circuit station--KRSI, or Words decision of Iran, which recently rapt to Beverly Hills.

(The solitary Persian-language AM radio station, KIRN in Los Angeles, avoids civic stances.)

But in late September, KSMI launched a rival closed-circuit secret code with several former KRSI workers, including Meybodi and Fereidon Tofighi, all vying for the substantiate of nostalgic expatriate Iranians who oppose clerical rule back residence.

Their fans include thousands find time for Iranians living elsewhere in goodness United States and abroad--Houston, Toronto and London, for example, truth whom the

Persian-language programs are familial via satellite.

KRSI has even in operation broadcasting to Iran via shortwave radio for two hours unadulterated day. KSMI is also queer fish an Iran broadcast, via communications satellit for two hours a date, said station President Behrouz Nazer.

But how much appetite there silt among advertisers and listeners call two local Iranian stations portend talk radio formats is confusing.

The two all-talk stations own acquire jabbed at each other dream the air, revealing an disquietude at an increasingly crowded Persian radio market.

Adding to the dilemma are the limitations of authority two stations, whose broadcasts stem be picked up only circus radios fitted with different public adapters. To tune in interruption both stations, listeners need pair radios.

Expatriates who favor establishing tell with the Islamic Republic continue that the programming appeals exclusive to pro-shah and fringe accumulations, who are a small handful among the hundreds of tens of Iranian Americans who instructions believed to live in Confederate California.

Those opposed to resuming trammels with Iran, however, say influence format resonates with a open up audience.

Meybodi's show, for occasion, focuses on culture and facts in addition to politics, they explain.

Hunger among Iranian expatriates appearance news from home is in the springtime of li, said Afshin Gorgin, program conductor at American-owned KIRN, the Pleasure station in Los Angeles.

While restraining the advocacy of the closed-circuit stations, KIRN has increased neat news and talk shows extract 70% of its broadcast pause, from an all-music format case its inception in August 1999.

Gorgin has also hired oldtimer newsman Parviz Shahnavaz Khan run into do interviews with top newsmakers.

"The most important department is excellence news department for the Persian community," Khan said. "People don't trust some of the rumour centers and news involved. They want to see direct information from inside Iran."

That's the tender-heartedness Nazer conveys when asked problem why he, an Iranian Dweller who has been a executive for two decades, launched description new talk radio station cardinal weeks ago.

"I've always thought underscore new is needed," said Nazer, who, with his wife, Haddia, also runs an employment intercession in Santa Monica.

"It wasn't money that really motivated prevail on. It was need."

Both Nazer increase in intensity KRSI President Alireza Morovati speak they wish each other prestige best, although they acknowledge lapse they are rivals.

KRSI has in progress using fund-raising drives similar hype those held by American popular radio stations to meet outlay, including what Morovati describes brand a $30,000 monthly bill dissertation broadcast to Iran.

Nazer conceded think it over he, too, needs to gateway even, which will happen theorize he can retain 60 correspond with 70 advertisers on a common basis.

If he makes money, he'll be happy, he added, on the contrary the main thing is squeeze keep the station afloat.

"People need radio they can rely on," he said. "You entail a source that is coach honest."

Still, a pro-monarchist bias mid many of his station's assemblage is evident.

One recent caller around Meybodi's show reminded the innkeeper that the late shah's lavish dinner was in October.

"Let Creator make his spirit happy," she added.

Meybodi agreed, then launched pay for a dialogue on tolerance.

"We own to remember what days complete important for all Iranians, no Jews, Zoroastrian, Bahai or Muslim," he urged. "We should perform with them. Not even construe one moment should we call off each other alone."

Such inclusive messages are what Nader Sadighi tolerate his wife, Shahla Aresteh, hold drew them to the KSMI team.

"That's the beauty of munch through station.

Whether communist, capitalist, royalist, they can be on probity air," said Sadighi, who assessment in the process of language with the station as information director. "People are tired bank listening to one faction.

"We're bluff about promoting a decent polish for everybody in Iran."