Efforts by National Library, Ministry of Culture, and Academy for Kamran Fani Ignored; Attempts Made Not to Fall Short
Narges Kiani: Following the publication of the news ‘Kamran Fani Hospitalized Again at Sina Hospital, as Narrated by Frouzandeh Arbabi’ on KhabarOnline, reactions were naturally stirred. Frouzandeh Arbabi is the only Iranian member of the International Rumi Foundation, and her husband, Mohammad Bardbar, a commentator on Masnavi Ma’navi, a war veteran, and one of Kamran Fani’s old cultural friends. The main reaction to her account was a response from Mahshid Borjian, the Director General of the Presidency, Public Relations, and International Affairs Department of the National Archives and Library of Iran. While thanking Frouzandeh Arbabi for her efforts, Borjian criticized certain parts of her narrative, including the complete disregard for the efforts of the National Archives and Library Organization, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the Academy of Persian Language and Literature. However, Borjian emphasized that these efforts do not negate Frouzandeh Arbabi’s work. She noted that after learning of Kamran Fani’s hospitalization in an unsuitable nursing home in Karaj, Arbabi was always alongside representatives of the Organization, the Ministry, and the Academy, and the representatives paid attention to her suggestions.
Borjian recalled Kamran Fani’s retirement from the National Archives and Library Organization and spoke about the debt the organization consequently feels towards Fani. Subsequently, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, they were in contact with Dr. Hossein Kermanpour, the Director General of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health. Based on this, Sina Hospital was chosen for Kamran Fani’s initial hospitalization. It was at this time that Kamran Fani’s Alzheimer’s disease and related complications became apparent. During Kamran Fani’s hospitalization, Gholamreza Amirkhani, the head of the National Archives and Library Organization, visited Fani twice. Borjian points out that, medically speaking, it is naturally not possible for any hospital to provide care beyond what is necessary. Therefore, Kamran Fani could not remain in the hospital as Arbabi had requested. Consequently, with Arbabi’s consultation, a nursing home in Shahrak-e Gharb was selected for Kamran Fani’s residence.
Why Kamran Fani does not own a home of his own is a separate story that neither Frouzandeh Arbabi’s account nor this narrative particularly needs to address. What is certain in the current situation is that Kamran Fani does not own a home. Thus, the nursing home in Shahrak-e Gharb, emphasized by Arbabi, was chosen for his residence. However, Borjian was deeply affected by his condition when she visited Kamran Fani at that home herself. According to Borjian, the flaws in Frouzandeh Arbabi’s narrative begin from this point forward. For example, Kamran Fani’s transfer from the nursing home to Sina Hospital for the second time was aided by Niknam Hosseinipour, advisor to the minister and head of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Hosseinipour had contacted Kermanpour for this transfer.
In response to whether it’s not possible for the aforementioned organizations to purchase a home for Kamran Fani, with 24-hour nursing care and a fixed allowance (especially since his monthly salary card, issued by the National Archives and Library Organization, is not in his possession and, like his home, has been confiscated by his relatives), Borjian referred to the high cost of such an endeavor. She also noted that, in the opinion of these three organizations, Kamran Fani currently needs hospitalization in a facility with skilled doctors, not to live in his own home with 24-hour nursing care and a fixed allowance. Therefore, they naturally do not agree with keeping Kamran Fani in the conditions Frouzandeh Arbabi suggests.
Considering this, Frouzandeh Arbabi’s two requests: ‘Kamran Fani must achieve complete stability to be discharged from the hospital. Additionally, after discharge, a home with nursing care and a fixed allowance should be provided for him to live in, so he does not have to return to a nursing home again,’ are not valid according to the three organizations that have tried to help Kamran Fani. This is because, on one hand, prolonged hospitalization is not possible, and on the other hand, Kamran Fani currently requires hospitalization in a facility with doctors, not living in a home with a nurse.
