The other Iran

12 May 2009

Mosaic winner Peyman Jafari publishes book

What is the true Iran? Is that the Iran of Ahmadinejad, or veiled women or imminent atomic violence? Or is that the Iran of Peyman Jafari? He describes a completely different Iran than that known to us through our TV screens; a highly diverse and bustling Iran that is working hard on its future. Jafari received the Mosaic grant in 2008. His book 'The other Iran' will be presented on 15 May.

According to Jafari the image of Iran portrayed by the Dutch media is not so much incorrect as incomplete. Over the past few decades various events have given the impression that Iran is an extremely conservative society: the kidnapping of the American embassy personnel in 1979, the power of the ayatollahs and the fatwa that Khomeini pronounced over Salman Rushdie. In more recent years the performance of the extremely conservative president Ahmadinejad has dominated the media.

Jafari reveals how since the revolution of 1979, Iran has in fact become a highly diverse and dynamic country. Women, young people and students have organised themselves in active movements. Serious debate is taking place between religious and non-religious intellectuals and even democratisation is not inconceivable. The internal diversity of Iran is often overlooked and consequently Iran is often underestimated says Jafari.

Future

Jafari shows that Iran is anything but helpless. Whereas the West is increasingly concerned about the nuclear threat, Iran continues to develop further. Presidential elections will take place this June. Ahmadinejad can be re-elected but one of the reformers might also win. Iran has a long history of social movements that articulate the democratic aspirations of the people. Although the current regime is not a direct representative of the people, changes are, nevertheless, taking place within it. In his book Jafari sketches a picture of an Iran that we have yet to meet, but will want to become acquainted with.

Thanks to the Mosaic grant, Jafari will also be able to investigate the political situation in Iran over the next four years. At the International Institute of Social History (IISH) he is currently carrying out research into political liberalisation and deliberalisation in Iran. He not only examines the political changes from a political context but always draws Iran in its entirety into his narrative. So we can possibly look forward to another book from him in four years time.

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Het andere Iran [The other Iran] is published by Ambo, ISBN 978 90 263 21917, paperback, selling price € 17.95

last modified on 13 May 2009