No further information on the status of kung fu in Iran is currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, an article published in The Washington Post in 1980 mentions that a person named Ebrahim Mirzaei, a physician and an expert in the kung fu discipline, was running as a candidate in the 25 January 1980 presidential elections (15 Jan. 1980). A 1980 report from Reuters further indicates that this person prescribed meditation, yoga and karate as a remedy to the nation's ills (11 Jan. 1980). According to another Reuters report, the Islamic Republic of Iran banned the projection of films showing kung fu and karate scenes in movie theaters in 1979 (3 July 1979).

As for the current status of martial arts in Iran, information available to the DIRB in Ottawa does not show any evidence that these disciplines are currently being curtailed by the Iranian authorities. According to recent reports, Iran sponsors judo and tae kwon do teams to perform in international competitions (BBC Summary 23 Apr. 1992; Xinhua 23 Apr. 1990; Xinhua 23 Mar. 1988; Xinhua 17 Sept. 1986).

For further information on the status of martial arts in Iran, please refer to the attached documents. No additional and/or corroborating information is currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa.

References

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 23 April 1992. "Khamene'i Approves Army Participation in Military Sports Event in Egypt." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 3 July 1979. PM Cycle. "Having Banned Sex Earlier this Year, Iran's Government has Now Banned Violence on Movie Screens." (NEXIS)

. 11 January 1980. AM Cycle. Paul Taylor. "Minor Candidates for Iran's Presidential Election May Be Barred from Radio and Television...." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 15 January 1980. Final Edition. Michael Weisskopf. "A Cast of Favorites and 'Troublemakers'." (NEXIS)

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 23 April 1990. "Iranians to Train Abroad for Beijing Asian Games." (NEXIS)

. 23 March 1988. "Asian Taekwondo Championships Begin in Kathmandu." (NEXIS)

. 17 September 1986. "Taekwondo Gets More Popular in Asian Countries." (NEXIS)

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 23 April 1992. "Khamene'i Approves Army Participation in Military Sports Event in Egypt." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 3 July 1979. PM Cycle. "Having Banned Sex Earlier this Year, Iran's Government has Now Banned Violence on Movie Screens." (NEXIS)

. 11 January 1980. AM Cycle. Paul Taylor. "Minor Candidates for Iran's Presidential Election May Be Barred from Radio and Television...." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 15 January 1980. Final Edition. Michael Weisskopf. "A Cast of Favorites and 'Troublemakers'." (NEXIS)

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 23 April 1990. "Iranians to Train Abroad for Beijing Asian Games." (NEXIS)

. 23 March 1988. "Asian Taekwondo Championships Begin in Kathmandu." (NEXIS)

. 17 September 1986. "Taekwondo Gets More Popular in Asian Countries." (NEXIS)