{"title":"Majid Parsa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMajid Parsa\u003c\/strong\u003e offers profound insights into the complexities of faith, culture, and political history through his meticulously crafted narratives. His works blend personal experience with broader historical contexts, inviting readers to explore the nuanced intersections of belief and identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect evocative memoirs that illuminate individual and collective stories, told with a reflective and engaging voice. Parsa’s writing provides a compelling window into the challenges and transformations shaping contemporary life in his cultural milieu.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-ayatollahs-gaze-by-majid-parsa-9781915584465","title":"The Ayatollah's Gaze","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unflinching memoir about growing up in a country where homosexuality is punishable by death, and yet underground, hidden from Sharia law, is a vibrant gay scene threatening to burst open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe dawn prayer calls echo through the streets. As many make their way to mosques, for some it signals the end of another illegal gay party. Under the cover of darkness, smiles on lips and sweat on foreheads, the gays of Tehran blend back into daily life. Hidden in plain sight, they plan when and where they will meet again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn an unparalleled true story, Majid Parsa recounts how a childhood of war, prayer and obedience was upended by a teenage sexual awakening and ultimately, pride. He lifts the heavy veil of persecution to reveal the fabulous and flamboyant gay scene right at the heart of the Islamic Republic of Iran, flourishing under the ever-present shadow of the grand Ayatollah and morality police. Eye-opening and at times laugh-out-loud funny, \u003ci\u003eThe Ayatollah's Gaze\u003c\/i\u003e is a story of self-discovery in a country where Sharia is the law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePowerfully eye-opening\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAttitude Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47933295657196,"sku":"9781915584465","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781915584465-the-ayatollah-s-gaze.jpg?v=1783864495"},{"product_id":"the-ayatollahs-gaze-by-majid-parsa-9781806770489","title":"The Ayatollah's Gaze","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unflinching memoir about growing up in Iran where homosexuality is punishable by death, and yet underground, hidden from Sharia law, is a vibrant gay scene threatening to burst open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe dawn prayer calls echo through the streets. As many make their way to mosques, for some it signals the end of another illegal gay party. Under the cover of darkness, smiles on lips and sweat on foreheads, the gays of Tehran blend back into daily life. Hidden in plain sight, they plan when and where they will meet again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn an unparalleled true story, Majid Parsa recounts how a childhood of war, prayer and obedience was upended by a teenage sexual awakening and, ultimately, pride. He lifts the heavy veil of persecution to reveal the fabulous and flamboyant gay scene right at the heart of the Islamic Republic of Iran, flourishing under the ever-present shadow of the grand Ayatollah and morality police. Eye-opening and at times laugh-out-loud funny, \u003ci\u003eThe Ayatollah's Gaze\u003c\/i\u003e is a story of self-discovery in a country where Sharia \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e the law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Reveals a hidden life of music, parties and love – daring to exist where it's outlawed.' – Deborah Linton, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Defiant, fabulous and filled with the nuanced challenges so many young queer people struggle to make sense of: family, faith, tradition, affection and belonging. I loved this intimate, heartbreaking coming-of-age story.' – Henry Fry, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFirst Time for Everything\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The Protagonist, Majid, epitomises the duality of identity. He struggles with his Islamic faith and his burgeoning sexual awakening as a gay man. He finally emerges as a proud peacock but there is a cost to his freedom' – Khakan Qureshi, LGBTQ+ activist and founder of Finding a Voice\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'When I wasn't laughing with the cast of larger-than-life characters, I was crying and shaking my head in sadness and disbelief...an important story for our times, and a testament to how we can find joy in even the bleakest of circumstances' – Iqbal Hussain, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNorthern Boy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67712192315628,"sku":"9781806770489","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781806770489-the-ayatollah-s-gaze-1.jpg?v=1791851602"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/majid-parsa.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}