The Middle East Festival was in full swing Thursday night at Riley Hall as students, visitors and community members mingled and spoke Farsi, Arabic, Hebrew and English throughout a night filled with traditional food, music, film and culture.
The Middle East Club, a group that was formed in fall 2004 and sponsored the festival, was founded primarily by undergraduate students Natalie Tajipour, Babak Ghafarzade and Laila Taraghi. The group initially began as an Iranian student group but grew to include the people and cultures throughout the region.
The festival was the group’s first event.
“We had no idea what to expect tonight,” Ghafarzade said. “It’s really nice to see so much support from the community for the Middle East Club and to see so many people interacting with each other.”
The Middle East Club has applied for recognition as an official incidental-fee funded student group for the upcoming school year, but Thursday night’s event was paid for entirely by club members’ personal funds and the Residence Hall Association.
The festival kicked off with the musical talents of seventh grader Seena Maleki playing the santur, a trapezoid-shaped stringed instrument played by striking the strings with light wooden hammers. Fifteen-year-old Farbod Sedeh played the tar, a stringed instrument resembling a guitar. Music education major Pouria Sayrafi played the tombak, a Persian hand drum.
“Whoa, that was sweet,” said an audience member after the opening musical performance.
Geography associate professor Shaul Cohen gave a brief speech stressing the importance of advocating positivity on behalf of the Middle East.
“Iran is truly a fantastic place, but sadly it’s a place many Americans don’t know,” Cohen told a crowd of approximately 50 people. “Sadly, many Americans think of the Middle East and they think of Arabs and Jews and trouble.”
Cohen said he takes his role as an educator seriously and advocates tolerance and understanding about the Middle East.
“For most Americans, I believe, it comes down to a binary of good and evil. Either you’re with us or against us. There’s far too much bloodshed and violence in the Middle East, and there’s far too much coverage of it in our media,” Cohen said. “This group and all the individuals here tonight have come together to connect and share positivity beyond the headlines and beyond the bloodshed.”
Attendees were given the opportunity to mingle over traditional teas, food and baklava, a traditional dessert.
General science senior Paymon Seyedhossini said he was impressed with the festival, especially the musical performances.
“Tonight is about general awareness and sharing of culture,” Seyedhossini said. “Tonight was a great opportunity to not think about all the negative aspects of what’s happening in the Middle East.
“The club couldn’t have come at a better time, when people are unsure of their feelings on the Middle East and terrorists. The club is all about promoting the culture and positivity.”
The Middle East Club will continue its pursuit to raise awareness about the Middle East in the community.
Cohen said that people everywhere can reach out to one another.
“We need to bring that world into this world in a non-conflictual context,” Cohen said. “We need to connect as human beings and put a face on the people of the region.”

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