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15 september 2025

Woman Life Freedom (fully booked)

Three words that bring hope in a country where the authorities aim to repress the people rather than advance human rights. On this evening we bring a mix of poetry, music and in-depth conversation, while highlighting the unjust imprisonment of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, human rights defender Narges Mohammadi and poet Mahvash Sabet.

People who stand up for human rights in Iran risk their freedom and their life, as Iranian authorities use a brutal strategy of suffocating repression, unfair trials where they hand down lengthy prison sentences and even the death penalty, and hostage-taking. Women and girls have taken a central role in the uprising of 2022.

On this evening we place a spotlight on the unjust imprisonments of Prof. Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize Narges Mohammadi and poet Mavash Sabet, a member of the persecuted Baha'i community in Iran. A mix of poetry, music and in-depth conversations. As special guest we will welcome Vida Mehrannia, the partner of Dr. Djalali.

Narges Mohammadi is an Iranian writer, journalist, and human rights activist. In recent years, she has been arrested multiple times and imprisoned. In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Op 25 september bevestigde Amnesty dat Ahmadreza Djalali, na drie maanden gedwongen verdwijning nog in leven is en weer contact opnam met zijn echtgenote Vida Mehrannia. Hij werd overgebracht naar de Evin-gevangenis.
Mavash Sabet is an Iranian teacher and poet. She was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She is imprisoned in Evin Prison in Tehran. From her cell, she writes poetry.

Practical information:

Date: September 15, 2025
Time: 19:00-21:30
Location: Beursschouwburg Brussels
(August Ortsstraat 20-28, 1000 Brussels) – Gouden zaal

This event will be in English, with fragments in Farsi for which written translation into English will be provided.

The programm:

7:00 PM - Doors open
7:30 PM - Start of the event
7:35 PM - Empty chair for Mahvash Sabeth (explanation + excerpt)
7:45 PM - Musical intermezzo
8:00 PM - Broader context by Iran expert + short interview with Vida
8:30 PM - Empty chair for Ahmadreza Djalali (favorite poem)
8:35 PM - Empty chair for Narges Mohammadi (explanation + excerpt)
8:45 PM - Q&A
9:00 PM - Drinks and music
10:00 PM - Doors close

Speakers

Vida Mehrannia, wife of Ahmadreza Djalali, has been searching for over nine years for ways to free her husband and bring him back home to her and their children.
Aya Sabi is an author and columnist. She received the Fintro Audience Award for her novel Half Leven. She is taking on the role of ambassador for Narges Mohammadi.
Nassim Papayianni is a Senior Campaigner on Iran at Amnesty International. She works on a wide range of human rights issues in Iran, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
Alicja Gescinska is a Polish-Belgian writer and philosopher. Through her columns and opinion pieces, she is a prominent voice in the public debate in Flanders and the Netherlands. Since 2022, she has been the chair of the writers’ organization PEN.

This event is a collaboration of Amnesty International Vlaanderen, Amnesty International Belgique fracophone, PEN Vlaanderen and PEN Belgique francophone

The event is now fully booked

registration is closed, we hope to welcome you at a future event.