Roqe

“Khomeinism” - Part 26 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. Of all the figures of modern Iranian history, few draw more of a reflexive reaction than the leader who was centre of the revolution of 1979: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Who was the man that led the creation of the Islamic Republic which remains the regime in power in Iran today? And was he, in fact, a fundamentalist clergyman, or…a shrewd populist? And how, despite a decade of turbulence in Iran, did he stay in power until his death in 1989? In short, what was Khomeinism? Esteemed scholar and author, Dr Ervand Abrahamian, considered one of the preeminent Iranian historians of his generation and a leading historian on modern Iran, joins Jian Ghomeshi from New York for the second of two consecutive conversations, this time focusing on the political mind and legacy of Khomeini.

Feature interviews with dance photographer and social media sensation Ashkan Roayaee, and singer, songwriter and storyteller, Ziba Shirazi. Plus the Roqe Team evaluate Jian’s weekend trip to a Persian birthday party, Kyan’s latest bout with Covid, and the Letters of the Week.

“The Impact of Mossadegh” - Part 25 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. In the view of some, the coup of 1953 not only undermined Iran’s first democratically elected government but set a course for events and autocratic rule that would lead to a popular revolution that would end the monarchy and result in the formation of a theocracy - only 25 years later. But what led to the overthrow of a popular Prime Minister in the 1950s? Was it, indeed, a coup? And how long was this coup in the planning? Renowned Iranian-American scholar and author, Dr. Ervand Abrahamian, author of the new book, “Oil Crisis in Iran: From Nationalism to Coup D'état,” joins Jian Ghomeshi from New York to discuss new evidence that shows that in the early 1950s, the United States set out to systematically meddle in Iranian domestic affairs to overthrow Mohammad Mossadegh. And that this was not something sudden or reflexive, but long-orchestrated involving bribes, psychological warfare, an economic embargo, and fear-mongering. It is clear that the impact of the actions of the nationalist Prime Minister created too much concern for the West and those in power in the United States - and the contention was that he had to be stopped.

Roqe 173 - With the World Cup 2022 final draw established, comedian and lifelong football fan Maz Jobrani joins Jian to talk about the upcoming tournament in Qatar, and how to navigate support for more than one country we identify as “home.” Plus acclaimed British-Iranian screenwriter and Oscar nominee Hossein Amini is the feature interview guest from London, England, for a chat about writing, focus, and his lineage through the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties.

The revolution of 1979 is often called, ‘The Islamic Revolution,’ as it culminated with the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran. But was it really a victory for religion? Or has the Islamization project self-destructed? More specifically, in the years after the revolution did Iran become a more religious and spiritual society, or did it continue its journey into secularism, but…a different kind of secularism? Iranian-Australian social scientist and philosopher, Dr. Mahmoud Pargoo, author of the fascinating new book, “Secularization of Islam in Post-Revolutionary Iran,” joins Jian Ghomeshi from Sydney to discuss the largely unsuccessful attempts by Khomeini to achieve ‘de-secularization’ in the aftermath of the revolution, and the growing secularization of discourse and culture in Iran today despite the stated mission of its theocratic leaders.

A remembrance of iconic Iranian novelist, poet, and activist, Dr. Reza Baraheni, with his son, Director Arsalan Baraheni, joining Jian from Toronto to speak about his late father’s life and legacy. Plus a feature interview with multidisciplinary artist and futurist Ash Koosha in London (UK) on his mission to build virtual musicians. And the Roqe on-air team discuss “wall newspapers”, World Cup births, and the Letters of the Week relating to the annual Nowruz Home Video.

The debut of a new piece based on the Roqe theme. Dance is banned in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This song is dedicated to the dancers and artists inside Iran. - Nowruz 2022

Vocals and Piano: Rana Mansour

Lyrics by Shaya Shoja

Music by Jian Ghomeshi

Click here to watch the beautiful video for this song, shot by dancers inside Iran:

https://roqemedia.com/

“The Shah and the Quiet Revolution” - Part 23 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. What exactly are the roots of the anti-modernist movement in Iran? How might we assess the seeds of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 far before the late-1970s? And in what way were the Pahlavis unwittingly complicit in the revolution that dethroned them? Iranian-American sociologist, political scientist, and author of the recent book, “Iran’s Quiet Revolution: The Downfall of the Pahlavi State,” Dr. Ali Mirsepassi, Director of the Iranian Studies Initiative at New York University, joins Jian Ghomeshi from New York to discuss his fascinating thesis that it was, in fact, a convergence of anti-modern, spiritual and nativist discourse in both the Islamist revolutionary movement AND the Pahlavi state that created the conditions for the overthrow of the Shah in ’79.

A feature interview with Iranian-British boxer, Alireza “Razor Ali” Ghadiri. Ali joins Jian from London, England, to share his harrowing story of a youth full of tragedy and difficulty in Iran, his asylum in the UK as a teen in 2016, and his remarkable rise to becoming a big buzz young fighter in Britain with a bout coming up at Wembley Arena. Plus the Roqe Team discusses Nowruz rituals and Reza and Kyan’s odd recent encounter at a Persian hair salon.

“The Growth of Cinema in Pre-Revolutionary Iran” - Part 22 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. Iranian film has been celebrated internationally for its artistic significance and cultural importance in recent decades. But what do we find if we look at the genesis and growth of modern cinema in Iran back to the mid-20th Century? And more specifically, how can we assess the influence of Western culture and Hollywood films on what developed in Iran in the pre-revolutionary years? Professor and Director of the Film Studies Program at Michigan State University, Dr. Kaveh Askari, author of the new book, “Relaying Cinema in Midcentury Iran: Material Cultures in Transit,” joins Jian Ghomeshi from East Lansing, Michigan, for a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation about how access, technology, and Western influence affected the development of a unique and powerful film culture in 20th Century Iran.