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June 4, 2014
June 4, 2014
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Iran is Not Done Surprising Us

2013 was a busy year for Arseh Sevom. It was a year of collaboration, partnerships, and exploration. In 2013, we brought eighteen people together to discuss civil society in Iran and create a strategy for moving forward as an organization more effectively. We did this by spending a significant amount of time mapping out Iran’s civil society, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, talking to civil society actors and organizations inside as well as outside Iran.
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April 17, 2014
April 17, 2014
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The Day I Became a Feminist

Arseh Sevom--Feminism is essentially the idea that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities. "The notion of freedom for men is not reality in Iran as long as women are not equal" Safoura Elyasi writes. She spoke to several Iranian male activists about their relationship to feminism. One told her: "A lot of people think that women are not currently in the right situation to be treated equally, so we should not extend equality to them. Equality needs to be in the act. It’s related to power. This idea that women are not ready for equality so they should not have it is flawed. In addition to civil actions, we need underlying cultural changes." In part one of a two part article, we hear from three different men.
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March 19, 2014
March 19, 2014
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Nasrin Sotoudeh: Equality Will Prevail

Arseh Sevom -- In this exclusive interview with Arseh Sevom editor Mohammad Reza Sardari, human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh discusses the very personal impact of her struggle for equality and justice. She tells of a young son who lost his childhood. “I grew up all of a sudden,” he tells her. In 2013, she was released from prison after serving three years of a six-year sentence for her activities defending the rights of her clients. In this interview, she reminds all of us that there is a price worth paying for the achievement of justice and equality.
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March 10, 2014
March 10, 2014
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#Iran: Abuse in Soccer Schools, Feminists Speak Out, Economy and Sanctions

Arseh Sevom--Women's day passes us by and we can look forward to another 364 days dominated by men. Award winning reporterNaeimeh Doustdar wrote for Arseh Sevom: "I know I should be a feminist and am a feminist, yet I wonder why others, men and women, are not. Discrimination is complex, and the struggle is complex. The ideals of feminism are not simply for the benefit of women..." [fa] This week's review paints a picture of a society struggling with difficult issues: rights, abuse, corruption, and poverty.
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February 10, 2014
February 10, 2014
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#Iran — I’m Sorry, So Sorry, #Rouhani Apologizes on State TV

Arseh Sevom – There are times when the sword is mightier than the pen and on January 29 it was so. Two Ahwazi Arabs were executed without warning, without the chance to say goodbye to loved ones. Their crime: “enmity against God.” This review looks at politics, sanctions, apologies, and executions.
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January 29, 2014
January 29, 2014
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US Sanctions Law Shuts Down Online Courses in #Iran

"Few things illustrate the bone-headedness, short-sightedness, and sheer chauvinism of the political structure of the United States better than the extent to which its ideologues are willing to go to score cheap domestic political points with narrow interests in the pursuit of a sanctions regime that has clearly run its course." Those were the words sent to the students of the online course "Constitutional Struggles in the Muslim World" this morning. A U.S. Treasury spokeswoman reminds us that Coursera needs to apply for a license to operate and that the office of the treasury has a history of approving educational licences.
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January 28, 2014
January 28, 2014
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#Iran — Can you See the Music?

Arseh Sevom --We cherish the small victories: the small acts of solidarity, defiance, kindness. Maybe seeing musical instruments on television seems trivial, but we see it as a win. A small win, yes. But one nonetheless. The rest of the news isn't quite as rosy: the economy remains disastrous for Iran's working class. Promised liberalization of society is stalled. Still, the current Iranian administration works to connect Iran with the rest of the world. “The last six years have taught us that no country can succeed alone,” Iran's president tell the World Economic Forum. Yes, and no country can thrive without space for dissent, celebration, and basic rights. We'll be looking for more small wins in the months and years to come.
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