The laureates

Can you introduce yourself ? 

My name is Asal Abasian, and I am an Iranian journalist and a queer feminist. I have worked as a reporter and journalist for print media in Iran for more than 10 years, during which time I contributed to Sharghdaily, one of Iran’s most widely read daily newspapers.

Nevertheless, in October 2021, I was forced to flee Iran after being interrogated and threatened by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) because of my activism as an LGBTQI journalist. So, I initially left Tehran for Istanbul, where I worked as a freelance journalist with Iranian media outlets based abroad, such as the BBC Persian Service and Radio Zamaneh.Finally, last January, I arrived in France as a recipient of the 2023 Marianne Initiative, and I am now continuing my fight from Paris.

Can you tell me more about your project and your association ?

I am currently in the process of establishing my nonprofit organization, “Beyond Borders LGBTQ+ Home for Persian Communities,” in France.

The goal of this initiative is to strengthen educational resources related to the struggles of LGBTQ+ people in Persian-speaking countries. In particular, the organization will offer a digital platform providing access to international resources—translated into Persian—that focus on the rights of LGBTQ+ communities in areas such as education, civil rights, and the right to health care.

This platform aims to become the very first Persian “queer” digital library, with a particular focus on the theme of intersectional feminism.

How did the Marianne initiative help you bring your project to life? Which activities were most helpful to you during the program?

The Marianne Initiative was a tremendous opportunity for me; it allowed me to expand my network of human rights defenders through organized meetings with French and international civil society actors. I am very grateful to the committee for selecting me, and to the support teams for making this experience possible for international human rights defenders.

Did you stay in touch with other laureates ?

Since the program ended, I have stayed in regular contact with the other awardees, particularly with two of them, whom I now consider friends. We are planning to develop a joint international project between our respective organizations.

September marked the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death and the ensuing feminist protests in Iran. In your opinion, how has the situation regarding women’s rights evolved in Iran? 

In my view, what matters most in the widespread protest movement that followed the murder of Mahsa Amini is the unceasing struggle of Iranian society. Protesters opposed to the Islamic Republic, together with Iranians who have been forced to flee the country, form a powerful alliance. Now more than ever, we must fight for respect for human rights and against all forms of inequality in Iran.

I regained hope for my country’s future after the protests that followed Mahsa Amini’s death, during which people chanted the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” loud and clear.