Celebrating Iranian Resistance

 

Tuesday 17 September 2024 | 1730-21:30 | Colours Hoxton

On 16 September 2022 the world was shocked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Her murder was a reminder of the brutal side of Iran, as was the crushing of dissent that followed. Despite the crackdown people did and still do resist, taking great personal risks in their quest to improve the rights landscape of Iran. Index on Censorship celebrates these dissidents and so, as we remember Amini, we want to spotlight them too.

With that in mind please join us for a night of Iranian culture and protest. The event will feature afilmscreening of Jafar Panahi’s 3 Faces, a panel discussion, and standing in solidarity with the rapper Toomaj Salehi, who is one of the most outspoken critics of the regime today.

Two years on we know the authorities would rather that we forgot about those who wish for a different Iran and that we would forget the name Amini. We will not. Instead we stand in solidarity with them and will continue our quest to raise awareness about how rights, especially around free expression, continue to be crushed.

Book your ticket to the event here.

Film Screening + Q&A
Iranian film director Jafar Panahi made his critically acclaimed and award-winning 3 Faces (2018) while being banned from filmmaking for 20 years and forbidden from leaving Iran. The film explores themes of womanhood and patriarchal rural Iran through the form of road trip adventure. The screening will be followed by a Q&A about cinema and censorship in Iran, plus a wider exploration of how cinema is used to control the global narrative.

#FreeToomaj
Join Index to stand in solidarity with Iranian musician Toomaj Salehi, as we listen to his powerful music campaigning for women’s rights and justice in Iran. Musician and creative practitioner, Roshi Nasehi, will read some of Toomaj’s lyrics as an expression of solidarity.

About Toomaj Salehi
Arrested, detained and imprisoned for his solidarity with Iranian women who courageously took to the streets in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi was tortured, released, rearrested and sentenced to death for his lyrics supporting anti-government protests and advocating for women’s rights. Although the death sentence has since been overturned, he remains in prison. Index continues to campaign for his release.

Free copies of the latest Index magazine will be available for all attendees.

With thanks to SAGE (magazine sponsor)

With thanks to Colours Hoxton (venue partner)