Iranian Police Arrest Activist Fatemeh Sepehri, Devout Woman with Secular Views
By Ahmad Rafat
Fatemeh Sepehri -- the civil rights activist who was detained in Mashhad on Sunday, Aug. 1, during a peaceful demonstration in support of the people of Khuzestan and against the security situation...
Islamic Republic Executed 834 People In 2023, Up 43% From 2022, Report Says
By Ahmad Rafat
The Iranian authorities intensified their use of the death penalty in the aftermath of nationwide protests, executing a staggering 834 people in 2023, a 43 percent increase from the year before, according...
Banned Iranian Directors Are In Competition For Top Berlin Film Festival Prize
By Ahmad Rafat
A movie by two Iranian directors currently facing a travel ban is in competition for the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival, or Berlinale, which is due to be held from Feb....
ANALYSIS: Islamic Republic Is Militarily Exposed As Its Proxies Suffer Defeat
By Ahmad Rafat
The assault by Hamas on Israeli territory on Oct. 7, 2023, represented a significant event in the Middle East. Following this attack, Israel initiated military operations aimed at the Gaza Strip and...
ANALYSIS: Was the Death of Raisi An Accident or An Act of Sabotage?
By Ahmad Rafat
The helicopter crash that on May 19 claimed the life of Ebrahim Raisi, the eighth president of the Islamic Republic of Iran has sparked intense speculation regarding the true nature of the...
ANALYSIS: Russia’s Influence In Islamic Republic of Iran Is Spreading
By Ahmad Rafat
In recent weeks, the debate over Iran’s relationship with Russia has become one of the most contentious issues in the country’s domestic politics. From the Majlis (Iranian Parliament) to social media and...
PROFILE: Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Speaks Of Her Struggle
By Ahmad Rafat
Narges Mohammadi, winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, is an Iranian journalist and human rights activist serving a 16-year sentence in prison. She has been detained a total of 13 times...
ANALYSIS: Islamic Republic’s Isolation Deepens After Gaza Peace Accord
By Ahmad Rafat
Recent developments in the Middle East -- including the Gaza peace agreement, the rekindling of relations between Arab states and Israel, and the waning influence of proxy forces -- suggest that a...
Iran at the Venice Biennale: A Visit to the Iranian Pavilion
By Ahmad Rafat
Iran is among the 85 countries taking part this year in the Venice Biennale, the world's largest and oldest art fair. The 57th Biennale opened on May 13 and runs through November...
Frankfurt Deputy Mayor Eskandari-Grünberg Says Islamic Republic Is ‘Hostile to Humanity’
By Ahmad Rafat and Kayhan Life Staff
The Iranian-born, German politician Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg is the Deputy Mayor of Frankfurt -- and a vocal, lifelong campaigner for democracy and women’s rights in Iran.
She served for six...
