Discussion Panels, Webinars, Interviews

 In this episode of Universities & Crisis hosted by the University of Cambridge, the ICOIA's representatives (Dr. Erfani and Dr. Irannezhad) discuss the impact of the Women, Life, Freedom protests on Iranian higher education.  

For additional information about the Universities and Crisis project, visit www.universitiesandcrisis.org. 

The music you hear in the episode is "Impact Moderato" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

ICOIA proudly hosted a roundtable discussion with four Australian politicians, focusing on Australia's response to the Woman Life Freedom revolution in Iran. Almost a year since Mahsa (Jina) Amini's tragic death by Tehran's morality police, Iranians in the diaspora have been urging their governments to diplomatically pressure Iran by expelling its ambassadors, designating the Islamic Revolution Guardian Corps as a terrorist organization, and opposing Iran's selection by UN committees. In this roundtable, we will delve into the positive steps and shortcomings of Australia's response to the Iranian diaspora and the Woman Life Freedom revolution, critically analysing diplomatic initiatives taken and exploring opportunities for collaboration and collective action. 

In this powerful and heartbreaking Roundtable discussion about the #OurStoryIsOne campaign, we shed light on the harrowing reality faced by the Iranian Baha'is under the Islamic Republic's rule. We delve into the unimaginable suppression, torture, and execution endured by the Baha'i community, particularly the tragic case of ten Baha'i women in Shiraz who were unjustly executed. Through this poignant conversation, we aim to raise awareness, ignite empathy, and advocate for justice, gender equality and freedom of religion in the face of these egregious human rights violations. Join us as we in ICOIA strive to give voice to the silenced and work towards a more inclusive and compassionate world.

If you'd like to learn more about #OurStoryIsOne, check out the following links:

- Creative contributions to #OurStoryIsOne on Instagram, which includes poem and graphics from New Zealand: https://www.instagram.com/ourstoryisone/

- Creative contributions from New Zealand include those presented at the #OurStoryIsOne event in Christchurch on the anniversary of the execution of the ten women in Shiraz: https://youtu.be/Jh1gnG_2DXE

- Radio Farda documentary: https://youtu.be/0E6LS7hCydg

 Join us for an eye-opening event that sheds light on the enduring struggle for academic freedom in Iran since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. Delve into the tumultuous history of the cultural revolution in the early 1980s, which started with the closure of universities and the expulsion of countless faculty members and students and lasted for three years. Against all the pressure and oppressive measures that the state has imposed on universities, Iranian university students have persistently fought against tyranny and have been the vanguards of socio-political resistance for over four decades. We all have witnessed their courageous efforts, exemplified by their early protests following the tragic murder of Zhina-Mahsa Amini in September 2022. The totalitarian Islamic republic responded to these peaceful demonstrations and campus strikes with brutal suppression, arrest, persecution, and dismissal from universities.

This exclusive event brings together a distinguished panel of experts who will provide first-hand accounts, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms behind this enduring oppression and its profound impact on science and higher education in Iran. Through their personal experiences as scholars, our panellists will illuminate the dire state of academia under suppression and the grave consequences of the lack of academic freedom in Iran. Don't miss this rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Iranian scholars and the resilience they display in the face of adversity.

 Iran is reeling from a wave of terrifying chemical attacks targeting schools for girls. These horrifying incidents, which began in November 2022 and showed no signs of stopping for months, have left thousands of students in their wake. Instead of taking immediate action, the Iranian government shamelessly brushed off the attacks as mere stress and psychological disturbances. But the truth is far more sinister. Whispers in the shadows suggest that these attacks are nothing short of a twisted act of revenge by Khamenei himself, seeking vengeance for the audacious protests against compulsory hijab. The Iranian people are outraged, demanding justice and an unbiased investigation into these heinous crimes. Fortunately, a group of courageous medical experts, operating outside the regime's oppressive grip, have been tirelessly studying these attacks. The International Community of Iranian Academics (ICOIA) proudly presents a ground-breaking roundtable discussion featuring these fearless experts. Join us for an electrifying conversation as they unveil the latest progress, expose shocking new findings, and shed light on the future of this critical investigation. Brace yourself for an intense exploration of a dark and dangerous conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of Iranian society.

 The current uprisings in Iran have affected not just everyday people, but also academics and researchers. In this special online event, we bring together a reporter who has covered this story and two Iranian-born scientists to explore academic freedom in Iran before the uprising, the cases of jailed scientists, the role of scholars in the revolt, and how scientists are still being affected by the ongoing repression. We ask what role global communities of scientists and science journalists can play in highlighting these sensitive and important issues.  Speakers: Encieh Erfani, physicist at ICTP (Italy) Hadi Ghaemi, physicist and executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (USA) Michele Catanzaro, science journalist (Spain) Angela Saini, moderator and ABSW board member (US)