Roya Hakakian: Memoir of a Jewish Girlhood During the Iranian Revolution скачать в хорошем качестве

Roya Hakakian: Memoir of a Jewish Girlhood During the Iranian Revolution

This week on the Quillette Podcast, Iona Italia is joined by writer, academic, and journalist Roya Hakakian. Roya is the author of three acclaimed books. Assassins of the Turquoise Palace (2011) recounts the murders of Kurdish-Iranian activists in Berlin, while A Beginner’s Guide to America for the Immigrant and the Curious is a moving tribute to her adopted country. Beyond her books, Roya’s work spans investigative journalism, Persian-language poetry, and human rights advocacy—she is also a founding member of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. In today’s conversation, Iona and Roya revisit her first book, Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran. This deeply poetic, funny, and moving memoir tells the story of Roya’s childhood in Tehran’s small but vibrant Jewish community, tracing her experiences under the Shah, through the Islamic Revolution, and into a period both sinister and absurd. We hope you enjoy this insightful discussion. 🔗 Read transcript here: https://quillette.com/2025/08/22/podc... 🎧 Subscribe for more Quillette Podcast episodes 00:00 Introduction to Memoir Writing Journey 05:23 The Flawed Legacy of the Shah's Regime 16:57 The Complex Atmosphere of Fear and Censorship 20:21 The Allure of Ayatollah Khomeini 28:27 Historical Context of Khomeini's Rise 32:14 Evolution of Political Islam 35:09 Relevance of Hakakian's Memoir 39:11 Martyrdom and its Political Utilization 43:00 Personal Struggles Amidst Chaos 48:44 Jewish Identity in Revolutionary Iran 57:43 Jewish Presence in Iran 01:01:41 The Golden Era for Jews 01:04:35 Religious Impositions in Schools 01:10:30 Resistance and Totalitarian Growth 01:15:25 The Evolving Status of Jews 01:20:26 Youthful Naivety Amidst Turmoil 01:25:35 The Pain and Resilience of Mothers 01:30:00 Cultural and Personal Trauma 01:35:00 Humor Amidst Dictatorship 01:40:00 Persian Identity and Resistance ------ Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91