Roya Hakakian

Shahrzad Elghanayan, granddaughter of Habib Elghanayan, recounts her grandfather’s rise from Tehran’s Jewish ghetto to industrial titan. Roya Hakakian, Iranian-American writer, traces centuries of Iranian Jewish life and shifting loyalties. They explore Iran‑Israel cooperation before 1979, Habib’s Plasco empire and execution, and how revolution reshaped Jewish life and regional alliances.

Roya Hakakian, a writer and human rights advocate who chronicled Iran's politics, discusses the current protests shaking Iran. She highlights how this wave is unique, with broader societal participation and more assertive demands like 'Woman, Life, Freedom.' Roya reveals the regime's weakened state post the June war and traces the shifts in its support base over decades. She critiques the clerical elite's corrupt practices and analyzes the significance of the 'red-green alliance.' Ultimately, she explores the regime's potential collapse and prospects for reform from within.

Roya Hakakian, Jewish-Iranian writer and investigative journalist, recounts state-sponsored killings and landmark trials tied to Iran's regime. She describes the Mykonos assassinations, the Mykonos trial's legal impact, Tehran's hit lists and targeting of Kurds, and how diplomacy masked covert violence. Short, vivid scenes and legal drama drive the conversation.

Roya Hakakian, an acclaimed author and journalist specializing in Iranian history, shares her insights on the 1979 Islamic Revolution. She reflects on life in pre-revolutionary Tehran and her family's experiences with antisemitism. Hakakian discusses Khomeini's rise to power, the pivotal shift from liberal ideals to religious extremism, and the international misinterpretations of Iran's revolutionary movements. She emphasizes the ongoing repercussions of the revolution, the regime's surprising resilience, and how it continues to influence global narratives today.

Roya Hakakian, an Iranian-American author known for her works on Iran's complex history, shares her insights with Michael. They discuss life in Iran, revealing the struggles for freedom amidst oppression and the courage of its citizens. Roya delves into Khomeini's legacy and its lasting impact on contemporary movements, while also addressing the regime’s international reach and its implications for U.S. foreign policy. The conversation highlights the ripple effects of the 1979 revolution and explores the troubling dynamics of Iran's future leadership.

Roya Hakakian, an author and journalist, joins Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, a former Iranian official turned peace advocate, to discuss Mahallati's controversial time at Oberlin College. They delve into Mahallati's complex past and the students' unawareness of his role in a regime linked to human rights abuses. The conversation covers the intricacies of post-9/11 peace efforts, the haunting legacy of Iran's mass executions in 1988, and the ethical dilemmas facing academic institutions when vetting their faculty.

Marlin Stutzman, a Republican U.S. congressman, discusses potential U.S. support for Iranian protesters as tensions rise. Roya Hakakian, a human rights advocate, provides a historical framework for understanding the current upheaval in Iran. Eyewitness Kiarash shares harrowing accounts of mass casualties and a digital blackout, urging global action against what he calls genocide. Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn advocates for stronger European intervention, emphasizing a moral duty to support the Iranian people's fight for freedom.

Roya Hakakian, a Jewish-Iranian poet and journalist, sheds light on the current wave of protests in Iran. She contrasts today’s demands for the removal of the supreme leader with past protests like the 2009 Green Movement. Discussions delve into the impact of Mahsa Amini's death and the regime's geopolitical weaknesses. Hakakian highlights the complexities of foreign intervention and the challenges of regime change, pondering who still supports the government and the potential for exile options for its leaders.

Roya Hakakian, an Iranian-American writer and refugee, shares her compelling experiences of growing up Jewish in Iran before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. She reflects on the complexities of Persian Jewry, tracing its rich history and the drastic shift towards theocratic repression. Roya discusses the resilience of a largely secular society amidst authoritarian rule and the ongoing struggle for a democratic future in Iran. Their conversation reveals the hopeful potential for change as well as the enduring tension between cultural identity and political reality.

Roya Hakakian, an Iranian American Jewish journalist and author, shares her gripping journey from Iran to the U.S. She delves into the stark realities of the 1979 revolution and the misplaced alliances that led to current turmoil. The discussion covers the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the exploitation of Palestinian struggles by corrupt leaders, and the fight for women's rights in Iran. Hakakian's insights bridge historical injustices with modern challenges, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in global conflicts.