A panel discussion in collaboration with Free Iran Switzerland and Amnesty International Switzerland
WITH: Shahrzad Antenna, Mariam Claren, Solmaz Khorsand
MODERATION: Zarina Tadjibaeva
SCHIFFBAU BOX
After decades of oppression, the violence against the people in Iran who are taking to the streets for freedom and democracy has reached new, staggering peaks. In the context of the most recent waves of protests since the end of last year alone, tens of thousands of people have been murdered and thousands arbitrarily detained.
While the attention of the global public is currently focused primarily on the military escalation at the Strait of Hormuz, an estimated 1,700 civilians have already been killed in the war involving the USA, Israel, and Iran. Under the shadow of this conflict, the Tehran regime has launched a new wave of executions, in which numerous protesters have been murdered. This continues the long-standing pattern of utilizing the death penalty to suppress critical voices within the country.
Together with German activist Mariam Claren, Austrian author and journalist Solmaz Khorsand, and Shahrzad Antenna from Free Iran Switzerland, we shed light on the latest developments in Iran and bring the fate of the civilian population into focus. What is the current situation for the people on the ground? And how can we support them from Switzerland?
MARIAM CLAREN is a human rights activist dedicated to supporting political prisoners in Iran. Following the arbitrary detention of her mother, the German-Iranian women's rights activist Nahid Taghavi, in 2020—who has since been released—she founded the #FreeNahid campaign and has since worked tirelessly for freedom, justice, and visibility. Today, she fights internationally for the rights of the Iranian civilian population, draws attention to the situation of political prisoners, and demands an end to repression and executions.
SOLMAZ KHORSAND writes for German-language media with a focus on Iran, where she analyzes and contextualizes political developments, protest movements, and social dynamics. In her work, she combines personal perspectives with political analysis, making the voices of Iran and the diaspora visible. Her focus lies particularly on human rights, feminist movements, and social upheavals within the country.
SHAHRZAD ANTENNA has been actively advocating for human rights in Iran since the beginning of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests. As part of Free Iran Switzerland, she organizes campaigns and events, bringing the perspectives of Iranian civil society to the public eye. Together with Free Iran Switzerland, she conducts educational outreach, engages in political and media work, and amplifies Iranian voices.
ZARINA TADJIBAEVA is an actress, director, singer, activist, interpreter, and moderator. In her artistic work, she deals intensively with topics such as migration, racism, and women's rights. As an activist, she is particularly committed to diversity, women's rights, and solidarity with women in Iran and Afghanistan, especially since the start of the Iranian protests.
