Debat | LUCIS Discussion Panel

Iran: Beyond the Headlines

Datum: woensdag 5 februari 2020
Tijd: 19:30 - 21:00 uur
Toelichting: Entrance is free. Coffee and tea at 19.15 and drinks after
Locatie: Kamerlingh Onnes Building
Steenschuur 25
2311 ES Leiden
Zaal: A1.44 (Lorentzzaal)

Asghar Seyed-Gohrab together with Carolien Roelants, Sico van der Meer, Shervin Nekuee, and Carolien Omidi will discuss the implications and historical background of current events in Iran.

The liquidation of general Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s attack on an American base in Iraq, the tragic downing of the Ukrainian plane, the increased US sanctions, and the ongoing protests have attracted the world’s attention to Iran.
This discussion panel will reflect on the history and future of Iran, including the implications for the regime’s legitimacy, its international relations, and its position within the Middle East. How should we interpret the recent demonstrations that renounce the theocracy? What is the role of the media? And what does the future hold?

Everyone is invited to join the discussion! Coffee and tea from 19.15 hrs and free drinks following the discussion.

Carolien Roelants is a journalist and, for thirty years, was the Middle East Editor for the NRC. She has written several books about the Middle East, including Dwars door het Midden-Oosten (Across the Middle East) and Saoedi-Arabië: De revolutie die nog moet komen (Saudi Arabia: The Revolution That is Still to Come), together with Paul Aarts. She continues to write a weekly column on the Middle East for the NRC and NRC Next.

Sico van der Meer is a Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute. His research focusses on non-conventional weapons such as Weapons of Mass Destruction and cyber weapons from a strategic policy perspective. Before joining the Clingendael Institute, he worked as a journalist and as a Fellow of a think tank on civil-military relations.

Shervin Nekuee is a sociologist and publicist, who fled from Iran at the age of nineteen. His publications include De Perzische paradox: Verhalen uit de islamitische republiek Iran (The Persian paradox: Stories from the Islamic Republic of Iran). He is especially interested in the geopolitics of the MENA region and has worked for several Dutch and international NGO’s and think tanks.

Carolien Omidi is a journalist, author, and expert on Iran, where she has lived and worked for seventeen years. She is as a correspondent for numerous Dutch and Belgian media, including de NOS, de Groene Amsterdammer and het Parool and has written columns for de Volkskrant and Trouw.