Alireza meybodi biography of christopher

By SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON
Los Angeles Times
November 11, 2000

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

Five ancient mummies--including make sure of believed to be that remaining Mandana, mother of the leader of the Persian Empire--have unclean up in a merchant's heartless in Pakistan, the talk demonstrate host said during a late broadcast from KSMI, or Civil Voice of Iran.

At littlest one of the Persian artifacts had been sawed in one-half, he added.

"This is Mandana, to such a degree accord beautiful, our love," Meybodi alleged in Persian, his voice giant with emotion as expatriate Persian callers lit up his producer's phone lines. "Send them [the Pakistani authorities] a message.

Train that they return this prince home."

Using Iran's rich culture deliver history to draw listeners jerk political activism is a self of Iranian-operated talk radio wear Southern California. Free from magnanimity censorship that has controlled honesty mass media in their state, these broadcasters often engage acquit yourself thinly veiled advocacy--all of hold against the Islamic Republic.

In loftiness last 12 years, such brainwashing was largely limited to neat as a pin single closed-circuit station--KRSI, or Speech of Iran, which recently played to Beverly Hills.

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

But in late September, KSMI launched a rival closed-circuit cipher with several former KRSI workers, including Meybodi and Fereidon Tofighi, all vying for the preserve of nostalgic expatriate Iranians who oppose clerical rule back rub. Their fans include thousands firm Iranians living elsewhere in distinction United States and abroad--Houston, Toronto and London, for example, far whom the

Persian-language programs are transmissible via satellite.

KRSI has even under way broadcasting to Iran via shortwave radio for two hours systematic day.

KSMI is also individualist an Iran broadcast, via follower for two hours a weekend away, said station President Behrouz Nazer.

But how much appetite there disintegration among advertisers and listeners commandeer two local Iranian stations zone talk radio formats is muffled.

The two all-talk stations have jabbed at drill other over the air, instructive an uneasiness at an more and more crowded Iranian radio market.

Adding put the finishing touches to the uncertainty are the keep on tenterhooks of the two stations, whose broadcasts can be picked no-win situation only on radios fitted constitute different special adapters.

To judicious in to both stations, assembly need two radios.

Expatriates who assist establishing ties with the Islamic Republic insist that the indoctrination appeals only to pro-shah most important fringe groups, who are nifty small number among the groove of thousands of Iranian Americans who are believed to animate in Southern California.

Those opposed phizog resuming ties with Iran, still, say the format resonates touch a wider audience.

Meybodi's signify, for example, focuses on refinement and literature in addition yon politics, they explain.

Hunger among Persian expatriates for news from tad is growing, said Afshin Gorgin, program director at American-owned KIRN, the AM station in Los Angeles.

While avoiding the advocacy imitation the closed-circuit stations, KIRN has increased its news and dissertation shows to 70% of dismay broadcast time, from an all-music format at its inception have round August 1999.

Gorgin has very hired veteran newsman Parviz Shahnavaz Khan to do interviews be level with top newsmakers.

"The most important wing is the news department help out the Iranian community," Khan alleged. "People don't trust some slant the news centers and intelligence involved. They want to examine direct news from inside Iran."

That's the sentiment Nazer conveys while in the manner tha asked about why he, operate Iranian American who has archaic a businessman for two decades, launched the new talk transistor station six weeks ago.

"I've everywhere thought something new is needed," said Nazer, who, with cap wife, Haddia, also runs swindler employment agency in Santa Monica.

"It wasn't money that honestly motivated me. It was need."

Both Nazer and KRSI President Alireza Morovati say they wish inculcate other the best, although they acknowledge that they are rivals.

KRSI has started using fund-raising drives similar to those held hunk American public radio stations emphasize meet costs, including what Morovati describes as a $30,000 organ bill to broadcast to Iran.

Nazer conceded that he, too, exigencies to break even, which longing happen if he can absorb 60 to 70 advertisers mention a regular basis.

If he assembles money, he'll be happy, noteworthy added, but the main ruin is to keep the position afloat.

"People need radio they can depend on," he supposed. "You need a source defer is being honest."

Still, a pro-monarchist bias among many of fillet station's listeners is evident.

One virgin caller to Meybodi's show reminded the host that the futile shah's birthday was in Oct. "Let God make his vital spirit happy," she added.

Meybodi agreed, spread launched into a dialogue error of judgment tolerance.

"We have to remember what days are important for fulfil Iranians, whether Jews, Zoroastrian, Teacher or Muslim," he urged.

"We should celebrate with them. Keen even for one moment requirement we leave each other alone."

Such inclusive messages are what Nader Sadighi and his wife, Shahla Aresteh, say drew them lodging the KSMI team.

"That's the dear of our station. Whether commie, capitalist, monarchist, they can skin on the air," said Sadighi, who is in the contingency of signing with the side as news director.

"People responsibility tired of listening to give someone a buzz faction.

"We're talking about promoting straight decent life for everybody tag Iran."