Yass Alizadeh, a clinical assistant professor of Persian language at NYU, discusses the ongoing protests in Iran, sparked by recent events. She explains how today’s youth are challenging a long-standing oppressive regime through bold actions unlike previous generations. The conversation explores the shift from a modernizing Iran to the current theocracy and examines the critical role of storytelling and metaphor in understanding Iranian culture. Alizadeh shares insights on the challenges of communication during protests, highlighting the resilience of those fighting for freedom.
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The Spark
Mahsa Amini, a young woman, was killed by Iran's Islamic police, allegedly for improperly wearing her hijab.
This tragic event sparked widespread protests across Iran, marking a significant turning point in the country's ongoing struggle for freedom.
insights INSIGHT
Guardians of Morality
The Islamic police, also known as the "Gasht-e Ershad," are a force distinct from regular police, tasked with enforcing Islamic laws, especially hijab.
They were initially a militia group formed after the 1979 revolution.
insights INSIGHT
Revolution's Nuance
The 1979 revolution wasn't solely led by Islamic fundamentalists; many participants desired political freedom from the Shah's autocratic rule.
While Iran was modernizing under the Shah, the lack of political freedoms fueled the revolution.
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Yass Alizadeh (@AlizadehYass) is a clinical assistant professor of Persian language and literature and the Persian program coordinator at New York University. Her research focuses on the layering of ethical themes in the ambiguously coded language of folktales in Modern Iran, the intricate link between politics and fiction, and the critical role of metaphors in the reframing of Iran’s classical oral tales.
Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them. Here, we talk with NYU clinical assistant professor of Persian language and literature Yass Alizadeh about the protests going on in Iran right now for people who may be a bit out of the loop. Listen, learn, and enjoy!
What spark set off the current round of protests in Iran, and how does this differ from previous periods of unrest in the country?
How did Iran go from a rapidly modernizing state to a tyrannical theocracy?
Why the younger generations in Iran are standing up to the current regime in ways prior generations didn't dare.
Iranian regime change vs. regime reform — who really supports each approach and why it matters.
Where Yass sees these protests going, and what she hopes they bode for the future of the Iranian people.
And much more!
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