White House Hosts Nowruz Celebration

The White House last Wednesday hosted its annual Nowruz celebration.  Nowruz is the Persian New Year celebrated as a secular holiday by many in the Middle East and central Asia, and celebrated as a religious holiday by Zoroastrians. (Wikipedia). First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the East Room reception (full text of remarks), saying in part:

We think America is strongest when we recognize our many traditions, when we celebrate our diversity, and when we lift each other up.... We are a nation of immigrants.  And we should cherish the talent and energy and the beautiful traditions and cultures that come with that heritage, not just today but every day.

In India, Rapper, Singer and YouTube Sued For Insulting Zoroastrianism

According to yesterday's Los Angeles Times, in India a Parsi civic organization has filed a public interest lawsuit against rapper Snoop Dogg, Iranian pop singer Amitis Moghaddam, YouTube and other defendants for insulting their Zoroastrian religion.  The suit, filed in a court in the city of Kolkata, seeks to have a musical video featuring the celebrities banned because of its use of a giant gold Faravahar, the winged disc that is a respected symbol of Zoroastrianism.  The three-and-a-half minute video for the song King shows Snoop Dog on a throne under the Farvahar smoking weed, and shows Moghaddam dressed as a Persian queen lying under the Farvahar being fanned by  two scantily clothed men.

Zoroastrians In Kurdistan Threaten To Sue Company Over Use of Sacred Text Name For Diapers

In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, members of the Zoroastrian religious minority are threatening to bring a lawsuit against the Avesta Baby Diaper company.  Rudaw reported yesterday that "Avesta" is the name of Zoroastrian sacred scriptures and the word is holy to Zoroastrians.  The owner of the diaper company says he did not know of the religious connection; he chose the Kurdish name as a courtesy to Kurds. But now, he says, the brand name is popular with customers, and changing it would cause a major financial loss.  He adds that he would consider changing the name if he were compensated for the losses involved. The head of a Zoroastrian advocacy group says he believes the owner of the diaper company, a Muslim, chose the name deliberately.