Hazhir Teimourian was born in Iranian Kurdistan, but has spent his adult life in Britain. He is a commentator on the Middle East and is currently working on a biography of the eleventh century Persian astronomer and freethinker Omar Khayyam.

Recent articles

President Bush has rallied his troops for what he calls “The first war of the 21st century”. What is your view of this crisis, where, briefly, do you stand? This is the question we are putting to people around the world, especially those with their own public reputation and following. Our aim, to help create a truly global debate all can identify with.

See also "Writers, artists and civic leaders on the War: Part II"

The long journey from the Kurdish mountains has taught this distinguished journalist painful lessons about the mismatch between Islam and democracy – and the pitfalls of multiculturalism.