JENNIFER UTZ

VIDEOJOURNALIST

Underground Rock in Iran - Podcast

rock

For many of us, listening to our favorite music, choosing which band to see over the weekend, or if you’re a musician, simply having the ability to play when and where you want is just a way of life.

But in Iran, these rights have been stripped from its citizens for decades. Western influenced music has been banned from radio stations, and listening to and playing any music that hasn’t been approved by the government is illegal and, if you’re caught, you face severe consequences.

But more than 65 percent of Iran’s population is under the age of 25, and there’s a youth culture eager to break free. So, what we may consider “underground music” is literally just that in Iran.

> Listen to the Podcast.

Podcast 47 - LGBT Rights in Iran

Most of us remember President Ahmadinejad’s infamous 2007 comment that homosexuals do not exist in Iran. In this Weekly Rights Podcast, we talk to Hossein Alizadeh, the Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Hossein talks about what it’s like to be gay in Iran, and how the regime uses homosexuality as part of its oppressive policies. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind podcast!

Podcast 46 - Iran's Assault on Free Speech

My latest podcast.

What does the recent increase in the arrests of journalists in Iran have to do with the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran? Mehrad Vaezinejad, a Middle East analyst based in London, explains that the two are actually related. We also speak with Niousha Masoumi, a friend of Dokouhaki, who tells us more about her and the work she did in Iran as a blogger and journalist.

In this Weekly Rights Podcast, Mehrad talks about the Iranian authorities’ “campaign of fear,” the latest victims of which are the recent arrests of journalists Parastoo Dokouhaki and Marzieh Rassouli. A friend of Rassouli, he talks about these arrests mean for the situation of human rights in Iran. Niusha explains further what Parastoo’s and Marzieh’s arrests mean for Iranian society in the upcoming election. If you want to learn more about these two journalists, don’t miss this podcast!

Iran Podcast 45

My latest podcast on the “99 Campaign”

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard of the Occupy Wall Street movement, brought together under the banner of ‘the 99%’. Today, we talk to Ali Abdi, Iranian student rights and LGBT activist, about “Campaign 99.” Campaign 99 is a global solidarity movement that listens to the stories of Occupy Wall Street supporters, and in exchange, shares the stories of Iranian prisoners. Ali talks to us about the Campaign started, and how it’s grown since then. Don’t miss this unique and informative podcast!

For more information about the 99 Campaign, visit the Facebook page, or go to the website.

Iran Podcast 44

My latest podcast on Iranian refugees

The idea of ‘being a refugee’ can evoke many different images in people’s minds.  Refugees from Iran are perhaps not what one may immediately think of as ‘typical’. To start with, there’s a relatively wide range of reasons behind people’s decision to flee – from religious persecution to the ongoing witch-hunt for dissidents and political activists.  What happens once they cross the border also varies quite a bit.  While the luckier ones eventually get resettled and can start to rebuild their lives in another country, many end up in permanent limbo – or even back where they started.

We wanted to get a clearer picture of what the Iranian refugee situation looks like today. On today’s show, the Campaign speaks with Faraz Sanei, Middle East and North Africa Researcher at Human Rights Watch.  Over the past year he has traveled to Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey where he met with Iranians who fled the country seeking safe haven.

Iran Podcast 43

My latest podcast on Internet censorship in Iran

We all use the internet. But what does it mean to use the internet in a country where freedom of speech is under assault? This week, we talk to Mehdi Yahyanejad, the founder of the Balatarin, the Persian language version of Reddit or Digg. Mr. Yahyanejad talks about the importance of Balatarin for human rights activism and social mobilizing. He also tells us the many different ways the Iranian government blocks and censors what people post on the internet. Don’t miss out on this enlightening podcast!

Iran Podcast 42

Hear my latest podcast on a recent resolution made at the UN

Ever wonder why UN human rights resolutions on Iran are important? In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast, we talk to Dokhi Fassihian of United 4 Iran, a global network of human rights activists. Ms. Fassihian talks about the recent resolution passed by the UN on the situation of human rights in Iran. She tells us that this year’s resolution is significant because of the increasing international support and the newly-appointed Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and she discusses the Iranian government’s lack of cooperation with UN human rights mandates. Enjoy this stimulating discussion on the relationship between Iran and the UN!

Iran Podcast 41

My latest podcast on Iran Human Rights

In this week’s podcast, we explore the topic of U.S. military intervention in Iran. We discuss the recent IAEA report and the increased talk amongst senior U.S. officials about bombing Iran. We talk to Columbia University Professor Hamid Dabashi about the effect of military action on the situation of human rights in Iran. Dabashi explains why the threat of a military intervention is dangerous for Iran and harmful for human rights defenders.

Iran Podcast 40

I have REALLY enjoyed working for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. For nearly a year, I’ve produced a weekly podcast (available on iTunes) that highlights the myriad of major human rights violations faced by the citizens of Iran. I am honored that each week, I have the opportunity to speak with outstanding activists, professors, authors, and filmmakers. And the people in Iran - dissidents, activists, and normal citizens fighting for their rights are of the most courageous in the world.

Here’s my podcast with Maziar Bahari.

In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast, we examine the Iranian government’s crackdown on independent and documentary filmmakers and actors. We talk to Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian filmmaker and journalist, about the arrests of six independent documentary filmmakers accused of collaborating with BBC Persian. Bahari also describes his arrest after the June 2009 presidential election, when he spent three months in prison in largely incommunicado detention.