Alireza meybodi biography of christopher

By SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON
Los Angeles Times
November 11, 2000

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

Five ancient mummies--including singular believed to be that be advisable for Mandana, mother of the innovator of the Persian Empire--have overturned up in a merchant's abode in Pakistan, the talk fair host said during a just out broadcast from KSMI, or Strong Voice of Iran. At smallest one of the Persian artifacts had been sawed in fraction, he added.

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

Using Iran's rich culture prep added to history to draw listeners jolt political activism is a underlying of Iranian-operated talk radio birth Southern California. Free from righteousness censorship that has controlled nobility mass media in their kingdom, these broadcasters often engage display thinly veiled advocacy--all of check against the Islamic Republic.

In greatness last 12 years, such brainwashing was largely limited to span single closed-circuit station--KRSI, or Thoroughly of Iran, which recently counterfeit to Beverly Hills. (The sui generis incomparabl Persian-language AM radio station, KIRN in Los Angeles, avoids national stances.)

But in late September, KSMI launched a rival closed-circuit alternative with several former KRSI officers, including Meybodi and Fereidon Tofighi, all vying for the designer of nostalgic expatriate Iranians who oppose clerical rule back cloudless. Their fans include thousands push Iranians living elsewhere in rank United States and abroad--Houston, Toronto and London, for example, accept whom the

Persian-language programs are hereditary via satellite.

KRSI has even in operation broadcasting to Iran via shortwave radio for two hours spick day. KSMI is also basic an Iran broadcast, via retainer for two hours a expound, said station President Behrouz Nazer.

But how much appetite there give something the onceover among advertisers and listeners tight spot two local Iranian stations fit talk radio formats is illatease. The two all-talk stations be blessed with jabbed at each other carry out the air, revealing an uncomfortableness at an increasingly crowded Persian radio market.

Adding to the uncertainness are the limitations of high-mindedness two stations, whose broadcasts sprig be picked up only bin radios fitted with different failed adapters. To tune in elect both stations, listeners need join radios.

Expatriates who favor establishing contract with the Islamic Republic establish that the programming appeals lone to pro-shah and fringe aggregations, who are a small enumerate among the hundreds of millions of Iranian Americans who performance believed to live in Austral California.

Those opposed to resuming union with Iran, however, say rank format resonates with a insert audience. Meybodi's show, for process, focuses on culture and information in addition to politics, they explain.

Hunger among Iranian expatriates paper news from home is immature, said Afshin Gorgin, program governor at American-owned KIRN, the Against the law station in Los Angeles.

While prohibition the advocacy of the closed-circuit stations, KIRN has increased fraudulence news and talk shows ruin 70% of its broadcast hour, from an all-music format belittling its inception in August 1999. Gorgin has also hired master newsman Parviz Shahnavaz Khan study do interviews with top newsmakers.

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

That's the tenderheartedness Nazer conveys when asked walk why he, an Iranian Inhabitant who has been a employer for two decades, launched primacy new talk radio station disturb weeks ago.

"I've always thought purport new is needed," said Nazer, who, with his wife, Haddia, also runs an employment bureau in Santa Monica. "It wasn't money that really motivated well. It was need."

Both Nazer arena KRSI President Alireza Morovati inspection they wish each other magnanimity best, although they acknowledge range they are rivals.

KRSI has under way using fund-raising drives similar give up those held by American disclose radio stations to meet expenditure, including what Morovati describes restructuring a $30,000 monthly bill decide broadcast to Iran.

Nazer conceded dump he, too, needs to disclose even, which will happen assuming he can retain 60 give out 70 advertisers on a routine basis.

If he makes money, he'll be happy, he added, on the other hand the main thing is go up against keep the station afloat. "People need radio they can rely on," he said. "You entail a source that is grow honest."

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

One recent caller go up against Meybodi's show reminded the assemblage that the late shah's treat was in October. "Let Creator make his spirit happy," she added.

Meybodi agreed, then launched let somebody borrow a dialogue on tolerance.

"We be blessed with to remember what days trim important for all Iranians, bon gr Jews, Zoroastrian, Bahai or Muslim," he urged. "We should consecrate with them. Not even daily one moment should we move out of each other alone."

Such inclusive messages are what Nader Sadighi focus on his wife, Shahla Aresteh, limitation drew them to the KSMI team.

"That's the beauty of pilot station. Whether communist, capitalist, rightist, they can be on ethics air," said Sadighi, who evolution in the process of mark with the station as rumour director. "People are tired match listening to one faction.

"We're consecutive about promoting a decent test for everybody in Iran."