THE CHALLENGE OF PLURALISM IN IRAN

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As Iran moves toward reintegration with the global system, the country's rich mix of ethnic religious and cultural minorities are asking for greater national pluralism.

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Join us on June 15th for a symposium on the history and aspirations of Iran's diverse population groups. What is an optimal response from democratic governments, media and civil society?

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Speakers include prominent members of the Ahwaz-Arab, Azarbaijani, Baha’i, Baluch, Kurdish, Sunni, Turkman, and other minority groups. Also, hear from Dr. Shirin Ebadi Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and other prominent Iranian and American human rights defenders. 

                                

 

PROGRAM AGENDA

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM                
Registration and Continental  Breakfast 

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM               
Welcome and Overview 
Speakers
Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Chair, Ibn Khaldun Center, Cairo Egypt
Message from Nobel Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi

                               
 9:45 AM  – 11:00 AM             
Ethnic and Cultural Minorities in Iran
Moderator: Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Chair, Ibn Khaldun Center, Cairo Egypt

Speakers 
Dr. Karim Abdian, Executive Director, Ahwaz Human Rights Organization
Dr. M. Hossein Bor, President, American-Baloch Council
Habib Azarsina, President , Azerbaijani Community - USA
Ava Homa, Kurdish writer, editor, and university lecturer

11:00 AM  - 11:15 AM           Coffee Break

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11:15 AM –12:30 PM           
Religious Minorities in Iran
Moderator: Neil Hicks, Director, Human Promotions, Human Rights First                          Speakers
Jewish perspective -  Dr. Haideh Sahim
Sunni perspective - Dr. M. Hossein Bor, President, American-Baloch Council 
Bahai perspective -  Anthony Vance, Director of Public Affairs, Baha’is of the United States

 

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM             

Lunch with Keynote Speaker
Dr.  Mehrangiz Kar, Prominent Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and author of Crossing the Red Line      

 

1:45 PM  – 2:30 PM              
Challenges of Pluralism and the Nation State
Moderator:  Dr. Karim Abdian, Executive Director, Ahwaz Human Rights Organization
Speakers
Dr. Ali Al-Taie, Sociologist & Author of “Ethnic Identity Crisis in Iran”
Aram Hessami, Professor
Salah Bayaziddi, US Representative, Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan

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2:30 PM –  4:00 PM              
Role of International Civil Society, Media, and Governments
Speakers
Mona  Silavo, AHRO Representative at EU parliament, Brussels
Joe Stork, Middle East Chief, Human Rights Watch 
Elahé Sharifpour-Hicks, Executive Director, Partners for Rights

 

4:00 PM  – 4:30 PM              
Looking Forward, Closing Remarks  
Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Chair, Ibn Khaldun Center, Cairo Egypt