Roqe

A special new edition of Roqe as part of the Uprising series, focusing on the ongoing revolution in Iran and the movement for change. Feature guests - all live in the Roqe Studio - include:

Prominent Iranian actor, TV and radio personality, Ehsan Karami

Social media star and general surgeon, Dr. Iman Taheri

Persian Drag Show producer and LGBTQ activist, Javid Jabari

Plus, Jian delivers his opening audio essay about World Cup fever and the importance of keeping the dire situation in Iran in the headlines. And, the Roqe Roundtable convenes with regulars Shaya and Pegah as well as journalist Mahsa Mortazavi, to discuss Team Melli meeting with Raisi, the plight of Iranian dissident blogger Hossein Ronaghi, the meeting of French President Macron with prominent Iranian activists, and the long awaited action being taken by the UN to hold a special session on Iran and more…

A diverse and wide-ranging new edition of Roqe as part of the Uprising series, focusing on the ongoing revolution in Iran and the movement for change. Feature guests include:

Psychotherapist and counsellor, Yasamin Karimi

Documentarian and football expert, Mehrdad Ahmadpour

Academic and photojournalist, Nafise Motlaq (in Istanbul)

Plus Jian delivers an opening audio essay about young people killed in Iran not simply being numbers, but rather, exemplars of a reborn Iranian identity. And, the Roqe Roundtable with Shaya and Darya addresses the case of rapper, Saman Yassin, who has been sentenced to death, the courage of actress Taraneh Alidoosti for standing up to the regime, and more...

A new edition of Roqe as part of the Uprising series, featuring more powerful Iranian voices from across the diaspora on the ongoing revolution in Iran. Feature guests include:

Singer and songwriter Negin Parsa in Istanbul

Human rights advisor and refugee counsellor Parastoo Fatemi in Dusseldorf, Germany

NUFDI policy director Cameron Khansarinia in Washington DC

Plus, Jian opens the show with an essay entitled, “Is an Iranian life worth the same as a Western one?,” focused on the decision of Iranian lawmakers to urge the judiciary to begin executing protesters. And the Roqe Roundtable convenes back in Toronto with Pegah and Shaya joining JIan to discuss the outrageous Majlis decision, the imminent World Cup, an update on the detained rapper, Toomaj, and the prospects and implications of a proposed “Council” that would consist of prominent opposition leaders who are in the Diaspora.

Another special edition of the Uprising series from Istanbul as Jian hosts from a studio in the Asian side of this historic city - located in close proximity to Iran - to speak to Iranian supporters of the new revolution and get their perspectives in Turkey. Interviewees on location in Istanbul include:

Athlete and social media star Shabnam Shahrokhi

Music producer and editor, Bayrek Mortezaoglu,

Business person and yoga instructor, Niloofar Bahmanpoor

Photographer and filmmaker, Ashkan Masti

Real estate agent and engineer, Alper Daglaroglu.

Plus the Roqe On Air Team convene with Darya Emami and Shaya in Toronto, and writer and researcher, Nafise Laleh joining Jian in Istanbul to discuss the events of recent days including the 40-day memorials of slain children, the limited scope of protesting in Turkey, the Toomaj “confession” and the responsibility of prominent Iranian football players. Plus Jian does an opening essay entitled, “The IRGC Chief: Go to Your Homes, The Iranian People: Go to Hell.”

A special edition of the Uprising series, this time from Istanbul as Jian hosts from a studio in the Asian side of this historic city - located in close proximity to Iran - to speak to Iranian supporters of the new revolution and get their perspectives in Turkey. Interviewees on location in Istanbul include:

Actor and activist Shailin Assadolahi

Fashion designer and painter, Dara Salmanian

Acclaimed portrait photographer Amir Asghari

Plus the Roqe On Air Team convene with Pegah and Shaya in Toronto to discuss the events of recent days including the arrest of rapper Toomaj Salehi, the global human chain event, Coldplay and Golshifteh, and the continued crackdown by the regime. Plus Jian does an opening essay entitled, “A Message to the United Nations: Words Are Not Enough.”

Another special edition of Roqe under the banner of The Uprising, with a continued focus on the movement for change in Iran - this time featuring four powerful female voices from across the diaspora and inside Iran. In the opening essay, Jian addresses recent remarks made by U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, and suggests that it’s time for him to step aside. In a roundtable session, the Roqe On Air Team discuss the inspiring and colossal turnout of people inside Iran to commemorate the 40th day of mourning since the killing of Mahsa Amini, the conspicuous nature of “shadow banning” on Instagram, and the upcoming global initiative to create a human chain for further awareness on the revolution in Iran. Then Jian is joined by feature guests: singer and producer Azam Ali in Los Angeles, and activist, Rokhsareh Mohammadkhani in London, as well as two frontline protesters inside Iran, Azadeh, a young translator from Masshad, and “Lilac” a twenty-something musical artist in Tehran.

Another special edition of Roqe focused on the growing revolution in Iran. Feature guests include Swedish-Iranian psychotherapist author, Shirin Amani Azari, back in London after attending the historic Berlin rally for Iran, and Dr. Fereydoon Rahmani, Associate Professor at York University in the Roqe studio, about the view of the uprising from the Kurdish community. Jian opens the show with an essay entitled, “The Rebirth of Iranian Pride” and convenes a Roqe Roundtable discussion with Pegah, Shaya and longtime Roqe on-air voice Kyan Nademi back in studio about the massive rally in Berlin on the weekend, unity and disunity in the diaspora, the spectre of social media hacks from the IRI, and the spreading of fear inside Iran.

Another Roqe Special Edition featuring interviews with anti-regime individuals inside Iran as the 2022 revolution builds momentum. Once again, Jian is joined by brave protesters who give a rare first-hand account of the ongoing developments inside Iran despite heavy internet blockages and continued crackdowns. Behgol, a young graphic artist joins Jian from the south of Iran. Bardia, a tourism industry worker who travels the country and protests at various stops is on the line from Tehran. And Sami, a documentarian and comedian also in Tehran, shares his experiences out on the streets. Plus, the Roqe on-air Team discuss the latest news from the uprising and Jian does an opening essay entitled, “Hey Ayatollahs, you won’t win this war.”

Another special edition of Roqe as part of the ongoing Uprising series. Featured guests include:

Cyrus Forum founder and director, Mariam Memarsadeghi;

British-Iranian artist, Afshin Naghouni; and,

YouTuber and former champion gymnast: Shahrzad Pezhman.

Plus Jian does an opening essay entitled, “Never Forget the Massacre of Zahedan,” and convenes a Roqe Roundtable with Pegah, Shaya, and special guests, Roqe graphic artist and dancer, Anahita Nayebi and media performer and business consultant, Darya Emami.

Another Roqe Special Edition featuring interviews with those active inside Iran as the 2022 revolution builds momentum. Once again, Jian is joined by courageous young women and men who give a rare first-hand account of developments inside Iran despite a crackdown by the regime and internet blockages: Sami, a documentarian and comedian in Tehran, Sara, a professional employed in the field of logistics who is injured from an incident with the Basij yesterday, Sam, a young filmmaker and musician, and Marjan a painter in a city in the Gilan region. Plus Jian does an opening essay imploring UNICEF to address the murder of children in Iran, and the Roqe on-air Team discuss the latest from the Diaspora and whether and when people should be shamed for their silence on what is happening in Iran.