We talked to Leandro Bracamonte from Buenos Aires, Argentina about his experience living in Iran. Leandro is a certified professor of Persian Language and has established the Salman Farsi institute, with students from various countries.    In the first part of the interview, Leandro told us about how he became interested in the Persian language, in Iran, and how he decided to move to Iran and gain first-hand experience living in the Islamic Republic. 

  #Iran #islamicrepublic #islam #shia #argentina #latinamerica #persian

We talked to Dr. Ken from Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Ken has a Ph.D. in Malay Studies (Political History) from the National University of Singapore. Ken spent two years in Iran as a postdoctoral research fellow at Alzahra University, Tehran. 

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9:45 We talked about an international tribunal held in Malaysia for the U.S. and UK war crimes in Iraq, back in 2011, which found George W. Bush and Tony Blair guilty. 

45:00 We talked about the notion of social justice in Malaysia, Iran, and the U.S.

We talked to Fatemeh Khateeb, an Iranian-Kenyan activist and co-founder of the International Tabassom NGO. Fatemeh's father, a Kenyan national, studied in France and Switzerland before he was arrested for his activism. Fatemeh and his father were recently reunited in Kenya after ten years. She tells us about her father's story. 

Fatemeh is now on a visit in Kenya, helping an orphanage called Children of Paradise (you can read about the orphanage and donate here: https://gofund.me/cdd4de8c).

20:00 Fatemeh talks about her father's story of resistance and struggle

22:00 Moment Fatemeh and father reunite after 10 years Kenya.

We talked to Janice Webster, from Melbourne, Australia. Janice is a Ph.D. student in Iranian Studies at the University of Tehran, Iran. She developed an interest in the Persian language and pursued her interest in Iranian studies in the largest Persian-speaking country, Iran. 

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00:09 Does Freedom of Expression exist in Iran?

00:12 Iranian people's level of political awareness!

00:16 What was the massive gathering on Valiasr Street, Tehran in July about?

00:18 ماجرای ساندیس چیست؟

00:20 Does it feel safe driving around Tehran?

00:27 Tehran's Public Bike system

00:29 Tehran's Traffic

00:35 What are Tehran's late nights like?!

00:40 Automation system in Iran vs. in Australia!

1:30 What happens if you talk to random strangers on the bus or metro in Tehran??

1:36 Iran's economic challenges: what is inflation like in Iran?

Benjamin is from California, the United States. His love for the Persian Language and Literature took him on a journey to Tajikistan where he married his Tajik wife.   

Benjamin then moved to Mashhad, Iran to get a degree in Persian language and Literature at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad! Benjamin and his wife lived in Iran for 5 years, during the entirety of Trump's presidency and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic!    

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00:22: Benjamin tells us how he and his wife met!  

00:30: Benjamin talks about a time during Obama's term in office when Iran-US tensions were high and fear of a US war on Iran stroke many including him.   

00:31:  He then talks about the JCPOA, aka the Iran Nuclear Deal, and its impact on his experience in Iran.  

00:58: Benjamin talks about where he and his wife had their twins born!  

1:16: Benjamin talks about his experience with Iranian Persian vs Tajik Persian   

 1:40: Benjamin recites a Persian poem!

Kirsteen is a Scottish researcher currently residing in Iran! She tells us about her journey to Iran where she lives with her family and her cats!    Zeinab Kirsteen studied at Oxford University, UK and has lived in different countries including Germany, the UK, and Australia.   In this interview she speaks about her life in Iran and why she has ended up in Qom.