Arash Azizi – författare

'A document of real optimism.' GuardianA window into the new Iran in the making, demanded by its activists, artists and citizensThe 2022–3 Women, Life, Freedom protests set Iran aflame. Today, the fire still burns, as Iranians all across the country down their tools and take to the streets to demand social and economic justice: the right to a normal life.In What Iranians Want, Arash Azizi shows us how Iranians nurtured the flame of resistance since the very inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979. From mass strikes in Kurdistan to Hijab burnings, for decades Iranians have put their lives on the line to demand a better future – an end to crushing poverty, political liberty and greater social equality.Ayatollah Khamenei’s order is built on sand. They may crush protestors in blood today but tomorrow Iranians will rise up again and proclaim their freedom.

‘An excellent contribution to our knowledge of Iran and Soleimani.’ Kim Ghattas, author of Black WaveWhen the US assassinated Qassem Soleimani, he was one of the most powerful men in Iran. Known as ‘the shadow commander’, he enacted the wishes of the country’s Supreme Leader across the Middle East, establishing the Islamic Republic as a major force in the region. But all this was a long way from where he began – on the margins of a nation whose ruler was seen as a friend of the West.  Through Soleimani, Arash Azizi examines how Iran came to be where it is today. Providing a rare insight into a country whose actions are often discussed but seldom understood, he reveals the global ambitions underlying Iran’s proxy wars, geopolitics and nuclear programme.

'A document of real optimism.' GuardianA window into the new Iran in the making, demanded by its activists, artists and citizensThe 2022–3 Women, Life, Freedom protests set Iran aflame. Today, the fire still burns, as Iranians all across the country down their tools and take to the streets to demand social and economic justice: the right to a normal life.In What Iranians Want, Arash Azizi shows us how Iranians nurtured the flame of resistance since the very inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979. From mass strikes in Kurdistan to Hijab burnings, for decades Iranians have put their lives on the line to demand a better future – an end to crushing poverty, political liberty and greater social equality.Ayatollah Khamenei’s order is built on sand. They may crush protestors in blood today but tomorrow Iranians will rise up again and proclaim their freedom.

''A document of real optimism.'' Guardian An indispensable account of the Women, Life, Freedom uprising as it unfolded in real time On Tuesday 13 September 2022, all Mahsa Amini has planned is a day shopping in Tehran. Her birthday is next week. But she is arrested as she comes out of the subway – the Guidance Patrol deem her hijab inadequate. On Friday she is pronounced dead. By Sunday, women have taken to the streets across Iran, setting their headscarves on fire and cursing the Supreme Leader. Months later, workers down their tools and businesses close. The battle cry everywhere: Women, Life, Freedom. Arash Azizi guides us through the new history being written on the streets of Iran. From an International Women’s Day celebrated inside Iran’s most notorious prison to mass strikes in Kurdistan, ordinary Iranians remain prepared to fight for a better future. The 2022–3 uprising may have been crushed in blood. But millions of women in Iran today walk with their heads uncovered. Their revolution – Women, Life, Freedom – was, is and will be.

‘An excellent contribution to our knowledge of Iran and Soleimani.’ Kim Ghattas, author of Black WaveWhen the US assassinated Qassem Soleimani, he was one of the most powerful men in Iran. Known as ‘the shadow commander’, he enacted the wishes of the country’s Supreme Leader across the Middle East, establishing the Islamic Republic as a major force in the region. But all this was a long way from where he began – on the margins of a nation whose ruler was seen as a friend of the West.  Through Soleimani, Arash Azizi examines how Iran came to be where it is today. Providing a rare insight into a country whose actions are often discussed but seldom understood, he reveals the global ambitions underlying Iran’s proxy wars, geopolitics and nuclear programme.

‘An excellent contribution to our knowledge of Iran and Soleimani.’ Kim Ghattas, author of Black Wave When the US assassinated Qassem Soleimani, he was one of the most powerful men in Iran. Known as ‘the shadow commander’, he enacted the wishes of the country’s Supreme Leader across the Middle East, establishing the Islamic Republic as a major force in the region. But all this was a long way from where he began – on the margins of a nation whose ruler was seen as a friend of the West. Through Soleimani, Arash Azizi examines how Iran came to be where it is today. Providing a rare insight into a country whose actions are often discussed but seldom understood, he reveals the global ambitions underlying Iran’s proxy wars, geopolitics and nuclear programme.