As the Gregorian year draws to a close, people around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, a holiday attributed to the birth of Jesus Christ. While rooted in Christian tradition, in democratic countries today, Christmas is often observed in a non-religious way, serving as a global moment of joy and solidarity among people of all faiths.
But in Iran, under the rule of the Supreme Leader, personal beliefs remain tightly controlled and repressed by the state.
In this special episode, journalist and researcher Fred Petrosian speaks with Elham Binaei, an entrepreneur, tech executive, and activist for the rights of Christian citizens in Iran, now based in Norway. Together, they explore the condition of the Christian community in Iran, the compounded discrimination faced by Christian women, and their leadership roles within their communities.
Ravi gives voice to the lived experiences of women in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where, under the constitution of the Supreme Leadership regime, they are denied their fundamental rights. To achieve sexual equality, we must build a national solidarity rooted in democratic values, so that we may move from a theocratic and authoritarian system toward a secular and democratic one. Only within such a framework can true sexual equality emerge and our country move toward progress and prosperity.
The HamAva podcast series is committed to fostering national dialogue around universal values: democracy, secular governance, human rights, and sexual equality.In such a space, we can move collectively toward a free and dignified Iran, for all Iranians, regardless of belief, opinion, sexuality, ethnicity, or background.