A Special Edition of Roqe coinciding with the anniversary of Reza Shah’s birthday this week. This two-hour special focused on the “father of modern Iran” - updated from our Contemporary History of Iran episodes last year - tells the story of a man who came from modest means to become Iran’s powerful ruler whilst establishing the Pahlavi Dynasty. Indeed, Reza Shah’s evolution from military leader, to prime minister, to king of Iran from 1925-1941, would see him presiding over a fundamental transformation of Iran and the centralization of the Iranian state. He can be credited with everything from unifying warring tribes, to a national railroad, the ‘Persianization' of Iran, and the suppression of the dominance of the clergy,  as well as women’s rights, and educational and judicial reform. But Reza Shah was also widely seen as an autocrat who ruled with an iron will and, by many accounts, was deeply unpopular by the time he was effectively forced from the throne and into exile by the British in 1941. Jian is joined by acclaimed historian Dr. Shaul Bakhash, whose latest book is about Reza Shah, for a wide-ranging and riveting conversation that includes new revelations of how the British worked to oust Reza Shah by the early 1940s, and how the former king is experiencing a renaissance in recognition and popularity at present as a secular icon both inside and outside of Iran.

Roqe Ep#247 - SPECIAL EDITION: The Power of Reza Shah

A special Nowruz day edition of Roqe where some of the key team members, Pegah, Parissa, Anahita and Roham, join Jian in the Roqe Studio for a heartfelt and personal roundtable looking at the year that has been, the brightest and darkest moments, their personal reflections, and their wishes and aspirations for the year ahead. Plus, Jian kicks off the episode with a stirring audio essay in tribute to the inclusivity of the Nowruz tradition, and how we should all make the occasion about hope and solidarity with the millions fighting for freedom inside Iran.

Roqe Ep#248 - Nowruz 2023 Special: Roqe Team Roundtable

A new edition of Roqe focused on the uprising in Iran and particularly, the southeast region of Baluchistan, including a feature interview with the internationally recognized “Prince of Baluchi music,” Iranian-Swedish folk musician Rostam Mirlashari, in the Roqe Studio. Jian begins the episode with a heartfelt audio essay praising the resilience of the people of Zahedan in Sistan and Baluchistan who have kept the burning flame of revolution alive. And Pegah joins Jian for a Roqe Roundup to recap a few pivotal days of activity in Toronto for the Iranian community this past week, and a new-but-unsurprising announcement regarding compulsory hijab laws in Iran.

Roqe Ep#250 - Baluchistan Deserves Our Gratitude - Rostam Mirlashari

A new edition of Roqe including feature interviews with Iranian-German surgeon, musician and social media influencer, Dr. Pouria Sabetian, who joins Jian in the Roqe Studio, and poet, singer and activist, Mandana Khazraei in Washington DC. In a wide-ranging interview, Dr. Sabetian tells the story of how he was inspired to become a doctor after a promise made to his mother before she died in Iran when he was 14, and he performs a song dedicated to her live on the show. Then Mandana Khazraei tells the tale of being a girl from Kerman who always loved poetry to using her gift for words during the current uprising for freedom in Iran. Plus, Pegah joins Jian for a Roqe Roundup about new hijab laws and a controversy that involves Googoosh’s perfume line.

Roqe Ep#251 - Prescriptions and Poetry: Dr. Pouria Sabetian, Mandana Khazraei

A new edition of Roqe featuring a special long-form interview with Iranian-British journalist and human rights activist, Vahid Beheshti, live via zoom from London where he has been on a hunger strike for over 6 weeks. Mr. Beheshti joins Jian from the street outside the UK foreign office - where he has camped out for 43 consecutive days - to discuss how his hunger strike came about, his past encounters with the IRGC prior to fleeing Iran, his work as a human rights activist, and his simple goal to have the UK government list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Later, documentarian Mehrdad Ahmadpour joins Jian live in the Roqe Studio to discuss the very sad loss of popular and acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Kiumars Pourahmad. Plus, Pegah joins for a Roqe Roundup to discuss the latest protests in Iran and a new normalization with Saudi Arabia and the IRI.

Roqe Ep#253 - 43 Days on Hunger Strike - Vahid Beheshti, Mehrdad Ahmadpour

A feature interview with dynamic Iranian-Swedish politician, Azadeh Rojhan. Azadeh joins Jian from Stockholm for a wide-ranging conversation about growing up in Iran, adjusting to Scandinavian life, finding her ideological and political roots, and becoming a member of Swedish parliament since 2014. She also discusses the uprising in Iran and her ideas around how the Iranian diaspora should organize and be strategic in trying to pursue its goals of regime change in Iran.

Roqe Ep#254 - Azadeh Rojhan

A new big variety edition of Roqe featuring interviews with songwriter, producer and recording artist, Erwin Khachikian, and political scientist Behnam Taleblu. Jian starts the show with an audio essay suggesting declarations of the death of the uprising in Iran are premature, and those in the diaspora assuming it is “over" do a disservice to the Iranians that have been killed and those continuing to fight for freedom against the Islamic Republic. Then, Erwin joins Jian from Los Angeles for an energetic conversation including discussion of his latest project as Musical Director of “The Voice Persia” and his version of the Shervin anthem, “Baraye.” Following that, Behnam joins from Washington DC for a wide-ranging policy discussion that includes the Biden Admin’s inaction against the Islamic Republic, the obsession of the U.S. and EU with resuscitating the Nuclear Deal (the JCPOA), and how are to interpret the new bromance between the Iranian regime and…Saudi Arabia(!).

Roqe Ep#255 - Erwin Khachikian, Behnam Taleblu

A new edition of Roqe focusing on grief, resilience and recovery. Feature interviews in the Roqe Studio with Iranian-Canadian grief recovery specialist and popular life coach and speaker Mitra Mohamadzadeh, and then Iranian-Canadian athlete and rapper, Tymaz Bagbani, who shares his inspiring dramatic story of surviving three life-threatening bouts with cancer even though he’s still only in his early 20s. Plus, Jian starts the show addressing the most recent executions in Iran of two atheists with an opening essay entitled, “What is More Important than the Freedom to Think?” and Pegah joins for a Roqe Roundup that looks at the fallout from the latest actions of the government in Iran, and the Swedish Parliament taking important action to place the IRGC on the terrorist list.

Roqe Ep#263: Grief and Recovery - Mitra Mohamadzadeh, Tymaz Bagbani, Roqe Roundup

The 2022 Iranian Revolution has been heralded as the first women-led revolution of our time. The movement's slogan "Zan Zendegi Azadi" translating to "Women Life Freedom" continues to be chanted across the globe. This fight song is dedicated to the freedom-fighting women of Iran risking their lives on the frontlines as they advocate for their human rights and social change. Rooted in themes around activism, perseverance, social change, and the power of unity and hope for a better future.

Lyrics/Vocals/Guitar/Tambourine: Yalda Mohammadi
Drums: Ben Frazier
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered: Collin Purdue with Prolific Sound Solutions (Oakland, CA)

Injustice (Women, Life, Freedom)

برای توی کوچه رقصیدن
برای ترسیدن به وقت بوسیدن
برای خواهرم، خواهرت، خواهرامون
برای تغییر مغزها که پوسیدن
برای شرمندگی، برای بی پولی
برای حسرت یک زندگی معمولی
برای کودک زباله گرد و آرزوهاش
برای این اقتصاد دستوری
برای این هوای آلوده
برای ولیعصر و درختای فرسوده
برای پیروز و احتمال انقراضش
برای سگ های بی گناه ممنوعه
برای گریه های بی وقفه
برای تصویر تکرار این لحظه
برای چهره ای که می خنده
برای دانش آموزا، برای آینده
برای این بهشت اجباری
برای نخبه های زندانی
برای کودکان افغانی
برای این همه برای غیر تکراری
برای این همه شعارهای توخالی
برای آوار خونه های پوشالی
برای احساس آرامش
برای خورشید پس از شبای طولانی
برای قرص های اعصاب و بی خوابی
برای مرد، میهن، آبادی
برای دختری که آرزو داشت پسر بود
برای زن، زندگی، آزادی
برای آزادی
برای آزادی
برای آزادی

Baraye - Shervin Hajipour Remake  | برای - شروین حاجی‌پور

Conversations from, to, and about the Iranian diaspora.

Roqe is hosted by Jian Ghomeshi.

New tracks tagged #iranrevolution2022