Iranian Civilization

General

• Iran: Wikipedia. This is perhaps the best single internet source of information about Iran and its culture.
• Iran: Virtual Library. A library of links to Iran's social, political, economic and cultural affairs.
• Farsinet. This is a wide-ranging worldwide Iranian site with many links. However, the flavor of most of it is definitely related to Christianity and the Christian church.
• Questia: online library. Offers access to thousands of articles at every level concerning Iran.
• High Beam Encyclopedia. Another gateway to articles on Iran.
• Tirdad Home Page. Quirky Persian site with many references: Iran, newspapers, search engine, children, best and free, free chat, free email, weather news, politics, Baby names, Art Gallery, music, film.
• Farhangsara. Provides a good introduction to all things Iranian.

Political

• PDKI - Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. Site includes historical background, party documents and press releases.
• Foundation for Democracy in Iran. Emphasis on news.
• Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The NCRI is a coalition of Iranian exiled opposition groups formed to overthrow the current regime and to establish a democratic political system in Iran. Site includes a constitution and biographies of past political leaders. Very left-wing and feminist.
• Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran. Organization of students, scholars and human rights activists who support the establishment of a popularly elected secular and democratic government in Iran. Provides what may be excellent daily emailed news.
• Iran National Front. The Iran National Front is dedicated to Freedom, Democracy in Iran, and for the government of Iran to treat its citizens with the respect due to Human Rights. (Mossadegh group.)
• National Front-Northern California. Organization promoting changes in the current Iranian government and abolishment of the Guardianship of the Cleric.
• Iranian Political Parties.
• Iranian Kurdistan Parties.
• Reza Pahlavi. Reza Pahlavi is heir to the throne of Iran. His views, interviews, speeches and biography and messages are included.
• Amir Abbas Hoveyda, Prime Minister of Iran.
• Iran National Front: USA. An organization dedicated to freedom and democracy in Iran. Its particular focus is on the need for the government of Iran to treat its citizens in accordance with International Human Rights standards. Site is very dense, very Mossadegh oriented, mostly in Persian, but does have a wide variety of links.
• Anayurdu: The South Azerbaijan National Movement. "Established to reclaim our Turkish Identity and Human Dignity in Iran, the organization stands for liberty and equality for all ethnicities, including 34 Million Azeri Turks.
• Elections in Iran. A database on national elections in , bringing results of the last elections and links to parliaments and parties.
• Iranian People's Fedayee Guerrillas. Marxist organization dedicated to the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Member group of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
• Internationalist Workers Organization. This is claimed to be the only Farsi speaking workers organization in Iran that follows the internationalist left communist tradition.
• Iranian People's Fedayee Guerrillas.
• Organ of the Iranian People's Fedaii Guerrillas (KAR). Party against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Working for democracy in Iran.
• Holy Crime. This is a bitter site dedicated to opposing a religious government.
• Iran Bulletin: Middle East Forum. Links to many good articles from a distinctly left-wing viewpoint.

Cultural

• Encyclopaedia Iranica. This is an extensive compendium on the past and present culture of peoples who speak an Iranian language and their contributions to the broader history of human civilization.
• Iranian Cultural Information Center. Fabulous pictures of Tehran: click on "This is Our Homeland".
• Official Website of Iran Culture House, New Delhi. Promotes cultural exchanges between India and Iran through conferences and educational materials about Iran and Islam.
• Iransaga. The site offers a good introduction to Persian history and culture, emphasizing the arts.
• Iran Heritage Foundation Preserving the history, languages and cultures of Iran. Site lists and describes exhibitions, seminars, publications, film and theater organized by the foundation.
• Iran Heritage. Website of by group of Iranians who want to document the historical artifacts which are being transferred to locations outside Iran.
• Iranian Languages. This is actually a survey of all the languages in the world, with a good section on Iranian languages.
• AIIrS - THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF IRANIAN STUDIES (AIIrS). Non-profit, non-governmental research organization including universities and museums in North America with interests in the study of Iranian culture and civilization.
• Association des Chercheurs Iraniens (ACI). International group of Iranian experts and scholars having different points of view and expertise. Newsletter, conference schedules, membership information.
• Pictures of Karkabood. Very slow loading pictures of a town in the Alborz Mountains.
• Center for Iranian Research and Analysis.
• Mihan Foundation. An Iranian educational research organization founded by Reza Pahlavi. Mihan intends to restore Iran's noble image and to inform the international community about Iran.

Religious

• Iranian Pilgrimage Sites.
• Pilgri-mage Sites in Shi'ite Iran. This is similar to the foregoing link, but it gives more information about religious practices and meaning.
• The Moral Economy of Islam. This is a good bibliography from the Institute for International Studies of the University of California in Berkeley relating to issues of the relation of Islam to politics in modern Iran.
• Shi'ism: Bibliography.
• Introduction to Islam. This is an Islamic site with a Shi'a slant that is intended to inform the non-islamic world on many matters, particularly the difference between shi'as and sunnis.
• Zoroastrian Association of Shiraz. Zoroastrian religion, history, and culture. Information on Zoroastrians in Shiraz, Persepolis, Iran.
• Avesta and Zoroastrian Archives.
• Momen Bahai Pages. Information about Bahaiism and two Bahais.
• International Bahai Movement.
• Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History (Cijoh).
• Persian World Outreach Christian.

Historical

• Iransaga. The site offers a good introduction to Persian history and culture, emphasizing the arts.
• Iranian Christian Site. History of Persia and Persian Kings according to the Bible, references to Persia in the Bible, Nazarene Christians, the Magi and history of the Christians in Iran.
• Parthian Empire - History and Coins of Ancient Parthia.
• Bakhtiari.com. History and photos of the Bakhtiary tribe in Iran.
• The Assassins of Alamut. Fascinating on-line book on this medieval religious-political movement. here.

Official

• The Mission of The Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN. Statements, press releases and selected UN official documents. Good statement on the Iranian nuclear program.
• Iran: Government Departments.

Human Rights

• Mission For Establishment of Human Rights in Iran (MEHR Iran). Promotes awareness of the human rights situation in Iran through articles, urgent actions and petitions.
• Green Party of Iran. Iranian political group formed to protect the environment, democracy and human rights. Site includes Farsi and English news releases regarding current affairs and environmental issues in Iran.
• A brief history of women's movements in Iran.
• Darabi Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization concerned with all violations of human rights. Its focus is on defending the rights of women against religious, cultural and social abuse.
• Bad Jens - Iranian Feminist Journal.
• Iran Dokht: Women of Iran. This organ of the Persian Woman's community provides information on women's health, women in Iran, Iranian women, Moslem woman, as well as Persian and Iranian Culture.
• Children Of Persia. Mission to provide health care and education for needy children in Iran. Descriptions of projects.
• Iranian Refugees Alliance. Promotes the human rights of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers internationally. Contains many documents issued by various international and national bodies on human rights in Iran.
• Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV). Headquartered in Tehran.
• Iranian Gay and Lesbian Healthcare Providers Association.
• Entezam Organization. This Site is dedicated to Mr. Abbas Amir Entezam, the longest held political prisoner in Iran.

Media

• Persian Journal. This is a substantial online publication with news and opinion about Iran and things Iranian gathered from throughout the world. It is evidently published outside the country.
• Iran: media.
• Dialogue Center. This is an organization established to promote global interaction. It has some good links, particularly to Middle East and Iranian TV.
• Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies. London-based research institution that gathers and analyses information on the Middle East, with a special emphasis on Iran.
• Iran Online Chat. Iran Online Chat house has multiple chat rooms.
• iPersians.com. Chat rooms and a message board.
Abadan.net. Some chat rooms; ways for people to meet; other info (not very important).

Other

• Persian Gulf Online. The site's primary purpose is to defend the usage "Persian Gulf". It includes maps and pictures, related articles, and the area's history.
• Genealogy Forum. This is a worldwide genealogy site. One can use it for Iranian family names etc.
• Omeed's Home Page. Not-for-profit organization that builds schools for poor and disabled children in Iran.
• Sprex Teachionary. This system allows you to listen to Farsi words by clicking on them.
• Pardismehr. Offers courses in Persian language, including teaching Persian.