Persian Online Periodicals

Akhtar (Aḫtar)

The Persian periodical Akhtar (“Star“) was founded in 1876, following the suggestion of the Persian ambassador in Istanbul at that time, and was published until its discontinuation in 1896. Editor and director was Agha Mohammed Taher Tabrizi, the editor in chief Mirza Mehdi Tabrizi (1839-1907) was the founder of the Khorshid Publishing House in Istanbul and later the editor of Hekmat (1892-1912) in Cairo. Mirza Mohammad Ali Khan Kashani, who founded the periodical Sorayya (1898-1904) later published in Cairo, also briefly worked for the journal.
At the beginning, Akhtar - the first non-official press medium - was published almost daily, later twice - and eventually once a week. The distribution of this journal extended from many cities of Iran and the Ottoman Empire to the Caucasus and South East Asia. It served as a mouthpiece for Iranians in Diaspora and was used by the Persian embassy and the consulate in Istanbul as a newsletter. Alongside political daily reports it contained domestic and international news, articles on scientific and literary topics as well as reports from correspondents and letters from Iran. Even though Akhtar as a journal published in exile could report more freely, the Ottoman censors suspended it several times. After the assassination of ad-Din Shah in 1896, the Ottoman government permanently banned the journal.

cf. Pistor-Hatam, Anja (1992): Iran und die Reformbewegung im Osmanischen Reich. Persische Staatsmänner, Reisende und Oppositionelle unter dem Einfluss der Tanẓīmāt, Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag.

Baba Shamal (Bābā Šamal)

The persian journal Baba Shamal was one of the most famous political satire magazines in Iran. It was published weekly between 1943 and 1945 by Reżā Ganjaʾī (1918-1995). After his return from Europe in 1947, 50 volumes more were distributed. Ganjaʾī was a cabinet member and a university professor for engineering. Before and after his publishership Ganjaʾī hold some important positions in ministeries and in the banking and insurance sector. He published his articles under the pseudonym “Donb-al-mohandesīn“. Many well-known iranian satirists, poets and authors belong to his supporters and co-workers, i.a. Rahī Moʿayyerī („Zāḡča“), Eqteṣād („Shaikh Pašm-al-Dīn“), Fozūnī („Mohandes-al-Šoʿarāʾ“) and Ṣahbā („Shaikh Somā“).
The journal was widely-spread in Iran and was characterized by its everyday language and colloquial style. The general satirical opinion of the authors found its expression in current daily politics which was supplemented by partly colored caricatures and drawings. In general, the journal's position was nationalistic, independent and moderate. However, its critique lead -under the pressure of censorship- to its suspension in 1947.

cf. Elwell-Sutton, Lawrence (1968): "Iranian Press 1941-47", Iran 6, p. 80.

Danesh (Dāneš), 1882

Danesh ("Knowledge") is the title of seven different Persian-language journals published since 1882. This biweekly science magazine was the first one published in Teheran by the University of Dār al-fonūn in 1882.
By order of the Minister of Science 'Alīqolī Khan Moḵber-al-Dawla, who worked under Nāṣer-al-Dīn Shah (1264-1313 / 1848-96), a total of 14 issues were edited.
Danesh was the first free-of-charge magazine in Iran which offered free advertising as well. The magazine probably aimed to close the gap caused by the closure of the well-known science magazine Rūz-nāma -ye'elmī . The leading editor was Moḥammad Kāẓem, a science teacher at Dār al-fonūn, who had studied in Europe. In addition to Kāẓem, other teachers also published articles on scientific and medical topics and their own opinions. Moreover, the magazine was considered to be a mouthpiece of the Ministry of Science.

Daneshkada (Dāneškada)

Dāneškada was a monthly literary journal published by the Tehran publishing house in Tehran from April 1918 to April 1919. It was the second literary periodical established in Persia, after the magazine Bahār. The journal was founded by the poet, literary critic, and scholar Moḥammad-Taqi Malek-al-Šoʿarāʾ Bahār and named after his organization and other leading Persian literary figures such as Ḡolām-Reżā Rašid Yāsemi, ʿAli-Asḡar Heḳmat, ʿAbbas Eqbāl and Saʿid Nafisi. Most of the articles, poems, and translations of Dāneškada were contributed by them. Due to their popularity, the magazine became famous and had a strong influence on literary development in early 20th century Persia. The aims of Dāneškada were defined by Bahār as follows: Dāneškada was to create and promote innovations in literature without completely breaking from traditional norms. The journal also adopted parts of Western literature and included translations of works by Johann Friedrich Schiller, Alexandre Dumas, Jean de La Fontaine, and other European writers.

cf. Parvin, Nassereddin (2002): DĀNEŠKADA. In: Encyclopædia Iranica. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/daneskada-1.

Jangal (Ǧangal)

The periodical Jangal (“Forrest“) was founded in 1917 by the Nehzat-e Jangal (“Jangali-movement“, 1914–1921) in Gilan. Mirza Kuchak Khan (1880/1882–Dezember 1921), a young revolutionary and the founder and leader of this movement was fighting together with the Ettehad-e Eslam committee (“Islamic Unity“) in the forests of Northern Iran. Their movement was directed against – among others – large landowners as well as the exertion of influence coming from the British and Tsarist Russia. In June 1920, the Jangalis joined forces with the Communist Party of Iran and proclaimed the Socialist Republic of Gilan, which was re-conquered by Reza Khan Pahlavi (later: Reza Shah Pahlavi) in November 1921. The journal was the mouthpiece of the Jangalis and partially published by Mirza Hoseyn Kasma'i (1862–1921). They spread their opinion and critique in 31 issues by means of literary texts and cultural symbolism. They had many ideas in common with the nationalism of state elites: aspiring the compatibility of Islam, Iranian nationalism and socialism.

cf. Kashani-Sabet, Firoozeh (2000): Frontier Fictions: Shaping the Iranian Nation, 1804-1946. I.B. Tauris.
cf. Shakeri, Khosro (2007): Milade Zakhm: Jonbesh-e Jangal va Jomhuri-ye-ye Shoravi Sozialistischen-e Iran (Die Geburt der Läsion: Der Jangali Bewegung und der Beratende Sozialistischen Republik Iran). Akhtaran Presse: Teheran.
cf. Wahdat-Hagh, Wahied (2003): Die Islamische Republik Iran. Die Herrschaft des politischen Islam als eine Spielart des Totalitarismus. LIT: Münster.

Majlis (Maǧlis)

The Persian-language journal Majlis ("Parliament", "Assembly") was published in Tehran between 1906 and 1908. A total of 325 issues was edited in one volume. Each issue consisted of eight pages and was distributed free of charge. Majlis was considered to be the journal of the Constitutional Revolution and the mouthpiece of the Parliament. It was dedicated to publishing Parliament's negotiations and their results directly and unfiltrated to the public.
Mirza Mohsen Mojtahed was the editor and its chief editor was Seyed Mohammad Hosseini Tabatabaei. The magazine provided as much information about the rural dimension of the revolution as about the socio- economic situation in the country at that time as well as the various strikes and protests. Letters to the editor also reflected the prevailing controversies between intellectuals, conservatives and the peasantry on various political issues. During the period of its publication, the magazine was not subject to any state censorship.

cf. Afary, Janet (1991): Peasant Rebellions of the Caspian Region during the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, 1906-1909. In: International Journal of Middle East Studies, Bd. 23, Nr. 2, p. 137-161.

Nama-i Farhangistan (Nāma-i Farhangistān)

The Persian-language journal Nama-i haftegi-i kuhistan (Nāma-i haftegi-i kūhistān; نامه هفتگی کوهستان;) was published in Teheran between 1945 and 1947. The licensee and managing director of the journal was Dr. Ismail Ardalan. According to its own statements, the journal is independent of any party or specific groups.Two volumes with a total of 84 issues were published. Each issue consists of 8 pages.

Nowruz (Naurūz)

The Persian-language magazine Nowruz („New day“ or „New Year“) was published in Teheran between 1903 and 1904. A total of 48 issues was edited weekly in a single volume. In terms of content, the journal focused particularly on scientific articles and on education and job training in Iran.

Ruznama-yi Millati (Rūznāma-i millatī)

The Persian-language magazine Ruznama-yi Millati („The National Journal“) was published between 1866 and 1870 in Tehran. It was published monthly in a total of 33 issues. Together with the magazines Ruznama-i Dawlati and the Ruznama-i ʿilmi, Ruznama-yi Millati used to be published under the superintendence of Iʿtizāduʾ s-Salṭana. The upper part of each page shows the figure of a mosque, which displays the national character of the magazine.
Its content focuses primary on the bibliographies of famous poets. A stated goal of the magazine was to move away from the written language of the elite to the spoken language of the masses by adopting a style directed toward communication with the people (mardum).

cf. Atabaki, Touraj (2009): Iran in the 20th Century: Historiography and Political Culture. London: I. B. Tauris & Company, Limited, 2009. p. 17.
cf. Browne, Edward Granville und Muḥammad ʿAlī Tarbīyat (1983): The Press and Poetry of Modern Persia: Partly Based On the Ms. Work of Mírzá Muḥammad ʿAlí Khán Tarbiyat" of Tabríz. Cambridge 1914. Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, p. 96f.

Sharafat (Šarāfat)

The monthly magazine Sharafat („Honour“) was published in Teheran between 1896 and 1903. Under the management of Mohammad Bagher Khan, a minister of the cabinet of Mozaffar-ed-Din Shah, a total of 66 issues in one volume was published. Like Sharaf, as its successor, this magazine was also known for its numerous and elaborate illustrations and photographs. The magazine continued the tradition of Sharaf by focusing on publishing portraits and biographies of well-known Iranian and foreign notables, politicians and artists of that time, supplemented by numerous and elaborate illustrations and photographs. Sharafat changed and revolutionized the art and painting of that time.

Shokufeh (Šukūfe)

After the publication of the first Persian women’s magazine Danesh in Tehran in 1910-1911, Shokufeh ("Blossom"), the next Persian magazine only for women, was established in 1913. The editor was Maryam Amid Mozayen ol-Saltaneh, the daughter of Aqa Mirza Sayyed Razi Ra’is al-Atebba, a high-ranking medical advisor at the Qajar court. Almost at the same time, Mozayen ol-Saltaneh founded the Iranian Women’s Society Anjoman Khavatin Irani, which objectives she published in the Shokufeh magazine. She supported particularly the promotion of Iranian products and industry as well as education, science and art among women.
At first the magazine dealt predominantly with topics that concerned mainly women, like equality of rights, education, upbringing, hygiene and ethics. In the course of the work of the Iranian Women’s Society the topics started to be more political, whereby the national independence and the woman's role were addressed. Shokufeh claimed not to interfere in the men's political sphere, but was unable always to keep to it, which brought the magazine under censorship. After Mozayen ol-Saltanehs death in 1919 the publication of Shokufeh was suspended.

cf. Amin, Camron Michael (2002): The Making of the Modern Iranian Woman: Gender, State Policy, and Popular Culture, 1865-1946, Gainesville: Florida University Press.
cf. Paidar, Parvin (1995): Women and the Political Process in Twentieth-Century Iran, Cambridge: University Press.
cf. Sedghi, Hamideh (2007): Women and Politics in Iran: Veiling, Unveiling, and Reveiling, Cambridge: University Press.

Sur-e Esrafil (Ṣūr-e Esrāfīl)

The Persian-language weekly journal Sur-e Esrafil (“Trumpet of Esrafil“) was published between May 1907 and March 1909. The first 32 issues were published by the founder of the journal Mirza Jahangir Khan (1870-1908) who was an Iranian author and journalist. With its liberal and revolutionary content orientation Sur-e Esrafil did contribute significantly to the support of the Constitutional Revolution. The editor published articles in which the power relations at that time and the social situation in the country were stridently criticized and in which also controversies between conservative and modern clergy were discussed. But the journal became well-known and famous because of its literary satirical element. Ali Akbar Dehkhoda (1879-1956) was responsible for the satirical article in the column „Charand-o Parand“ („Nonsense“) this stood out by a simple linguistic style from the rather literary style which was addressed to the intelligentsia. In this way he wanted to reach the majority of the population and to address the daily problems of the common man. In the course of the repressions and by the command of Mohammad Ali Shah the journal was finally banned in June 1908. Mirza Jahangir Khan was imprisoned and executed. In January 1909 Dekhoda led to a revival of Sur-e Esrafil. He published 3 other issues of the journal from Switzerland.

cf. Browne, Edward G. (1914): The Press and Poetry of Modern Persia, Cambridge: University Press.
cf. Catanzaro, Christl (1995): "Leserbriefe in Ṣûr-e Esrâfîl und Rûḥ ul-Qods als Forum des Informationsaustausches für die Intelligenzija der Mašrûṭîyat-Zeit“. In: Herzog, Christoph, Raoul Monika und Anja Pastor-Hatam (Eds.): Presse und Öffentlichkeit im Nahen Osten. Heidelberg: Heidelberger Orientverlag.

Urdū-i humāyūn

The Persian-language journal Urdu-i Humayun was published during the first journey of Naser al-Din Shah and his companions to Khorasan in 1880. Previously, it was published under the title "Meraat Al-Safar". The editor of the journal was Mohammad Hassan Khan Etemad-ol-Saltaneh. He was a member of the royal army and carried a small printing press. Whenever the content of an issue was completed, he printed it whilst travelling. By 1882, a total of 13 issues had been published. In 1984, Urdu-i Humayun was reprinted under the efforts of Iraj Afshar.