Sarina Esmailzadeh

I’m not able to record this today, but I wanted to get it published as it is on my mind. What to say on my birthday. I’m blessed to turn 70 today. This morning, I was about to leave for a boxing class when I saw the above video. It cut so deeply into my heart, the minute I got back from the class, I sat down to write this. I thought, what better way to remember my birthday than by remembering the brave youths murdered by the Iranian regime. Meli Imani is the young woman in the video, singing the song Khodafez (Goodbye) in the streets during the January protests in occupied Iran. In the video, Imani sings while the sound of the “Morality Police” can be heard approaching. In Iran, it is illegal for women to sing in public. None of the young women killed by the regime would have been able to attend a boxing class as I did today. So many things we take for granted in the West. Unless you have lived under tyranny as I have done, you cannot comprehend it. I suppose that’s why this speaks so deeply to me, and I write so much about it. And so, our foolish, privileged American youth, who can’t survive without $4 bottled water and that’s just the beginning of all they are blessed with, ignore those who they should stand up for and instead protest for Hamas and call them “resistant fighters”. The young people remembered in the video below here are the REAL MARTYRS, murdered by the Satanic Iranian regime. Not evil men like Yayha Sinwar, who was known as the Butcher of Khan Yunis BY HIS OWN PEOPLE because he liked to strangle them with his hands. What has happened to the West that we are so lost? Who cannot see the evil in this man while the good in these young men and women whose deaths he would have celebrated. By the way, music, musical instruments and singing are haram in Islam . Every single so-called “moderate” Muslim who argues otherwise is disobeying the Quran and the commands of the Prophet Mohammed who says Allah gave him the commands. Music is the closest we get to God. That is why these young people sing and dance. That is why tyrannical regimes hate them for it. Look how free they are when they dance and sing. How powerful their spirits are and how it inspires us to be the same. Imagine for a moment a world without music. This is one of the reasons why I will always say Allah is NOT the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Allah is not the God of Jews and Christians. Read the Psalms and 2 Samuel and many other portions of the Bible. David danced before the Lord. He was a talented singer and a musician. Imagine a world where you know if you dance and sing you could be killed. But you dance and sing anyway. Below is a heart wrenching video of some of these beautiful youth who were that brave: The death of Mahsa Amini ignited the protests. As a result, the Islamic regime went on a killing spree to strike terror into the hearts of the youths who took to the streets at this cold-blooded murder. But they did not stop protesting, even though they knew it could mean their lives. Let’s say their names and pray for their families. Masha Jina Amini 2000-2022: The young woman who ignited protests across Iran. She was not an activist. She simply came to Tehran to visit her brother and was picked up by police for not wearing her hijab properly. She was beaten in the police van and shortly thereafter began to lose her vision. She died in the hospital. Sarina Esmailzadeh 2006-2022: Died on 23 September 2022, of severe beating on the head by security forces. She was 16 years old. Mershad Shahidi 2002-2022: A celebrity chef, he was killed by security forces before his 20th birthday, reigniting protests across the Islamic Republic. Nika Shakarami 2005-2022: Nika vani

Cosa significa "resistere" attraverso una canzone nel 2026? In questo episodio di Musica Narrata , ti guido in un viaggio profondo tra storia, semiotica e attualità discografica, partendo dalle radici di Bella Ciao fino ad arrivare alle barricate digitali dei Muse . Mentre l'Italia si prepara a celebrare il 25 Aprile , analizziamo come la musica di protesta si sia evoluta: dal fango delle trincee partigiane al "consumismo come anestesia" denunciato dai nuovi The Strokes , passando per il grido degli U2 in memoria di Jina Mahsa Amini e la "voce ruvida" di Bruce Springsteen . 🔍 In questo episodio scoprirai: Il mistero di Bella Ciao: Perché non esiste un deposito SIAE originale e come un'aria yiddish di New York è diventata l'inno della Resistenza (e della Casa di Papel ). The Strokes - Reality Awaits: Analisi del nuovo singolo Going Shopping e la critica di Julian Casablancas al sistema Amazon. Semiotica della voce: Perché il timbro graffiato di Springsteen e quello nasale di Bob Dylan sono "armi" di autenticità politica. Donne, Vita, Libertà: Il tributo degli U2 a Sarina Esmailzadeh e Jina Mahsa Amini nel nuovo EP Days Of Ash . La guerra di Piero vs Masters of War: Due modi opposti (ma ugualmente potenti) di raccontare l'orrore del conflitto. Resistenza digitale: I Muse e la lotta contro il controllo dei Big Data in Uprising . "La musica non ferma le bombe, ma costruisce la trincea della nostra coscienza collettiva." In chiusura, una riflessione necessaria sul silenzio degli artisti italiani rispetto ai colleghi internazionali (da Roger Waters a Robert Del Naja), con il monito finale di Giorgio Gaber : perché la libertà non è uno spazio libero, ma partecipazione. 🎵 Playlist della puntata: Modena City Ramblers – Bella Ciao The Strokes – Going Shopping Bruce Springsteen – War (Live a Los Angeles, Settembre 1985) U2 – Song Of The Future Fabrizio De André – La guerra di Piero Bob Dylan – Masters of War The Clash – The Call Up Muse – Uprising Giorgio Gaber – La Libertà Ascolta Musica Narrata su Radio Hinterland 94.600 FM il mercoledì alle 23.00, il venerdì alle 20.00 e la domenica alle 16.00 per un approfondimento sincero e di qualità sul presente e il futuro della musica.

U2 ha vuelto tras una larga pausa con un EP sorpresa de seis canciones, Days of Ash (Días de Ceniza en español), editado justamente el miércoles de ceniza del 18 de Febrero de 2026. En él, abordan temas políticos conflictivos en todo el mundo, como las redadas de ICE (El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos), las revueltas iraníes, la guerra en Ucrania y los asentamientos israelíes en Cisjordania. “Ha sido emocionante tenernos a los cuatro juntos de nuevo en el estudio durante el último año”, declara Bono en un comunicado. “Las canciones de Days of Ash tienen un tono y una temática muy diferentes a las que incluiremos en nuestro álbum más adelante este año. Estas canciones del EP estaban impacientes por salir al mundo. Son canciones de desafío y consternación, de lamentación. Seguirán canciones de celebración; estamos trabajando en ellas ahora… porque, a pesar de todo el horror que vemos normalizado a diario en nuestras pantallas, no hay nada normal en estos tiempos de locura y exasperación, y debemos hacerles frente antes de poder volver a tener fe en el futuro.” El EP arranca con "American Obituary", dedicado a Renee Good, quien fue asesinada por agentes de ICE en Minneapolis durante una protesta. "Renee Good nació para morir libre", canta Bono. "Madre estadounidense de tres hijos/Séptimo día de enero/Una bala por cada hijo, ¿sabés?”, continúa. En una nueva entrevista con la revista de fans de U2, Propaganda —que se relanza como una revista digital única y también estará disponible en formato impreso en ciertas tiendas del hemisferio norte, claro está, Bono habla de la canción. “El ritmo de la letra es un guiño a una de mis canciones favoritas de Bob Dylan, ‘It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’”, dice. “En esa canción, el niño le canta a la madre, y en la nuestra, la madre le canta a sus hijos: ‘Te amo más de lo que el odio ama a la guerra’.” - “The Tears of Things”, una joya que nos regala U2 ya en 2026, toma su título del libro de Richard Rohr de 2025, The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage (Las lágrimas de las cosas: sabiduría profética para una era de indignación). Es una conversación imaginaria entre Miguel Ángel y su estatua, David, que refleja el conflicto en curso entre Israel y Gaza. “Si ponés a un hombre en una jaula y la sacudís el tiempo suficiente”, canta Bono, “un hombre se convierte en la clase de ira que no se puede encerrar… Las lágrimas de las cosas, que el desierto se descongele”. En la entrevista de la revista Propaganda, Bono afirma que la banda se ha acercado a Richard Rohr y encuentra un profundo significado en sus escritos. “Es un místico, un pensador profundo”, afirma Bono. “[Su libro] sugiere que los más grandes profetas judíos encontraron la manera de superar su rabia y su ira ante las injusticias de su época, hasta que terminaron en lágrimas”. - La brillante “Song Of the Future” (“Canción del Futuro”) es un homenaje a la iraní Sarina Esmailzadeh, de 16 años, quien fue asesinada a golpes por las fuerzas de seguridad iraníes tras participar en el movimiento Mujeres, Vida, Libertad 2022. “Aquí, de nuevo, tenemos una clase sacerdotal de hombres cuya interpretación subjetiva del texto sagrado se convierte en un garrote para golpear en la cabeza a cualquiera que discrepe”, dice Bono. “Todos recreamos a Dios a nuestra propia imagen hasta cierto punto, pero lamentablemente, es mucho más probable que creemos un Dios de fuego y azufre que un Dios de ‘amor y misericordia’, como dijo Brian Wilson”. - “Wildpeace” es un poema del poeta israelí Yehuda Amichai leído por la artista nigeriana Adeola Fayehun, con música compuesta y arreglada por el productor Jacknife Lee. “Me cuesta escuchar la voz de [Fayehun]”, dice Bono. “Me conmueve profundamente y, de alguna manera, evoca otros conflictos en el continente africano con solo el brillo de su voz dolorosamente hermosa… Sudán, Dios muerto”. “One Life at a Time” se inspiró en el documental ganado

In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen White delves into U2’s Days of Ash EP and breaks down the contrast between “American Obituary” and “One Life At A Time,” explores the tribute to Sarina Esmailzadeh in “Songs of the Future,” and asks whether U2’s latest release is truly their most political work or a carefully calibrated one.

Sarina was a passionate and beautiful young Iranian girl who loved to teach cooking and just be herself on YouTube, telling funny stories to her many viewers. She went out on September 22, 2022 with her friends to join the protests in Karaj and was brutally murdered by security forces. This podcast is dedicated to Sarina on International Women's Day.

With the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls approaching, we’re shedding light on the disturbing reality of violence against women and girls in Iran . It’s crucial to underscore that what women endure isn’t just sporadic; it’s state-sponsored and institutionalized violence. Those opposing the regime face vicious violence. Last year, the regime callously killed young women on the streets, surrounding and fatally beating them with batons. Nika Shakarami , Sarina Esmailzadeh , Sarina Saedi, Mahak Hashemi, Ghazaleh Qassemi, Sadaf Movahhed—just a few among many who met this fate. Kidnappings and abductions of female protesters, even doctors aiding them, resulted in rape and torturous deaths. Dr. Ayda Rostami's family revealed her horrifying injuries—her eye enucleated, nose and cheek bones smashed. It's meant to instill fear and deter protests, rather than addressing the public's grievances. Repression and economic crises persist, fueling discontent, yet these brutal methods are the regime's response. They knowingly pay the price for freedom. Like the previous generation who resisted the regime's repression in the 1980s. Thousands of women from the opposition MEK and other groups were killed under torture or executed by firing squads. From 10 and 13 years olds to elderly mothers, and pregnant women . This ruthless history persists in today's methods of torture, echoing the regime's brutal past, impacting Iran's history and fostering a spirit of resistance among the younger generations. Support the show

Today’s guest is Azadeh Nikzadeh, an Iranian writer, director, producer, and women’s rights activist. Azadeh’s current project is a short film, inspired by the true story of Sarina Esmailzadeh, a young teenager who was brutally murdered by security forces during a women's rights protest in September 2022, that aims to shed light on the struggles of Iranian women and their fight against state-led violence. In this episode, Alon and Azadeh discuss the current status of women’s rights in Iran, the current protests in Iran against mandatory hijab, and what role the international community can play in the fight for democracy and freedom in Iran. Full bio Azadeh Nikzadeh is a Middle Eastern writer, director, producer, and women’s rights activist. Her brand is rarely-heard human rights and women empowerment stories and the misuse of religion to justify violence against women. Her films raise awareness of the plight of women's rights in the MENA region and Iran in particular. She speaks and advocates projects on systematic and state-led violence against women and the importance of storytelling and disseminating the real-life stories of women advocates to create global solidarity. She has been a speaker at various events including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 67th Session, the International Religious Freedom Summit for MENA region at Washington DC, and Women Creating Change Stand Up With Her Gala at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. She wrote and directed award-winning short films such as The Girl Sitting Here, Vida, and X, and produced feature documentaries including The Left Bank and The Credible Fear. She has won multiple fellowships and awards including Women Empowerment Fellowship, Asian Film Academy Fellowship from the Busan International Film Festival, Athena Film Festival Writing Lab, and Honorable Mention at the Charlotte Film Festival Social Justice Films. Her feature script DANDELION is a Sundance Writing Lab and Austin Film Festival Second Rounder. Azadeh is the founder of Burnt Generation Studios, an intellectual property development, and production company that develops and produces independent films with the mission to create and promote authentic narratives to build grounds for mutual understanding and shifts in the collective perspective of the audiences.

Jambo! Dr. Akumbu. Bringing you culturally relevant multifaceted conversations and reflections intersecting education, entertainment, and business, committed to DEIB and cultural capacity building. My guest is Dr. Aasiyah N. Ghazi, Indian-Pakistani-American She is a leadership consultant and associate Professor of leadership at the University of Arizona Global Campus. In this episode, we’ll reflect on Culture and Identity. We dedicate this episode to Nika Shakarmi (16) and Sarina Esmailzadeh (16), who lost their lives in the fight for their identity in Iran. We encourage you to ponder how one preserves their culture while creating an individual identity. Your support is appreciated. https://anchor.fm/dr-akumbu/support Contact Dr. Akumbu: https://ruthakumbu.wixsite.com/drakumbu or ruthakumbu@gmail.com Dr. Ghazi: aasiyah@aasiyah.com

Welcome to Episode 10 of The Week in Women. This week, we’re talking about ongoing feminist protests in Iran and Afghanistan, abortion back-and-forth in the US, and anti-feminism in South Korea. Plus, I’m in conversation with the incomparable Richard Reeves about his new book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About It . We talk about why boys and men are struggling, and why feminists should give a damn. A transcript of the news portion of the show is below; the interview will Richard will go out in transcribed form in a few weeks. If you want The Week on Women early, you can upgrade to a paid subscription, and get it a few days before everyone else. Thank you as always for listening! xx Jill TRANSCRIPT Hi, and welcome to the Week in Women. I’m your host, Jill Filipovic. The Week in Women is a rundown of the week’s gender and women’s rights news, and it’s available for subscribers early – so head to jill.substack.com and sign up for a paid subscription if you want the Week in Women before everyone else. I'm also adding transcripts to the news section of the show. So if you don't like to listen to podcasts and yet here you are, you can also get a basic rundown of the week's gender headlines in your inbox. And again, that will come early to paid subscribers. This week we are talking about the ongoing #MeToo trials, protests in Iran and Afghanistan for women's rights, and the state of abortion in the United States. I'm also in conversation with Richard Reeves, who is the author of a new book about boys and men and how they are following behind. But first, the headlines. #MeToo Trials Three men accused of sexual assault as part of the #MeToo movement are heading to court. Harvey Weinstein’s criminal trial starts in Los Angeles on Monday, and he faces 11 charges including rape and sexual assault. Weinstein was already convicted in New York and sentenced to more than two decades behind bars, an outcome he is appealing. His legal team has also raised concerns about the living standards in his California cell, which they say is unhygienic and medieval. Also heading to trials, but in civil court, are Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning director of the movie Crash who has also made a name for himself standing up against the Church of Scientology, and Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey. Both men have been accused of sexual wrongdoing, Haggis of sexually assaulting a woman in his industry, and Spacey of assaulting a 14-year-old boy who is now an adult man. The trials are being seen as a barometer for the progress of the MeToo movement. Iran protests Sixteen-year-old Nika Shakarami was beaten to death by police forces during protests in Iran, her family says. The official story is that she fell off of a building; her family says her injuries are more consistent with being struck repeatedly in the head. And other teenage girl, sixteen-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh, was killed in the protests as well – reportedly beaten to death by Iranian security forces. According to Amnesty International , these girls are two of at least 23 children who have been killed by the Iranian authorities as they crack down on protesters asking for greater freedoms. The youngest in the Amnesty report was an 11-year-old boy. And at least 144 protesters have been killed so far. The state has gone out of its way to cover up these deaths, often blaming them on falls or accidents, even while security forces continue to use extreme violence against protesters out in the open. Still, thousands of brave Iranians are returning to the streets, demanding an end to mandatory hijab and the end of this tyrannical regime. Afghanistan Protests Afghan women are protesting for their rights, too , after 53 students, most of them women, were killed in an attack on a learning center in Kabul. The attacker opened fire in the center before blowing himself up. The center largely serves ethnic Hazaras, a long-persecuted minority in Afghanistan, and protesters are standing up both for the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities, and for the rights of girls to attend school – something many have been banned from doing since the Taliban takeover. And of course the medieval misogynists of the Taliban have not taken kindly to women protesting. They’ve beaten women and girls, verbally abused them, and fired warning shots to force them to disperse. While some men have joined women in the streets, the crowds are overwhelmingly female. University professor Zahra Mosawi told Al Jazeera, “I have a message for those Afghan men who sit at home and just watch women on the streets. How long will you remain silent in front of all these crimes and persecution against women? If today you choose to remain silent, tomorrow you may be faced with the same persecution.” Antifeminism in South Korea The South Korean president sailed to victory thanks to a campaign of rank anti-feminism, intended to attract the votes of disaffected, conservative, and increasingly misogynist South Korean young men. Now in office, he has set in motion a plan to dismantle the nation’s gender equality ministry . Doing so, he says, will help women’s rights. “Abolishing the gender ministry is about strengthening the protection of women, families, children and the socially weak,” he said. The country’s liberals are pushing back, and have vowed to not let him scrap the gender equality ministry without a fight. Abortion in the States In US abortion news, Planned Parenthood has announced that it is opening a mobile abortion clinic in Illinois to serve women who live in states that ban the procedure. Moreso than ever before, people in the US who need abortions are being forced to travel, often for long distances. This new clinic, Planned Parenthood hopes, will increase access for women as close to home as legally possible. In Indiana , the state supreme court has said that the state may not enforce its abortion ban for now, while the court considers the ban’s constitutionality. That’s good news for people who need abortions in the state, and clinics have now resumed making appointments. But it has been a bit of whiplash. And this is part of the problem with these slapped-together abortion bans: At least some of them are likely legally unsound, but as the courts deliberate, women and our futures are left in limbo. In Ohio , the state is appealing an order from a judge to block the implementation of their abortion ban, which, if implemented, would criminalize abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. An appeals court will now review the decision, and determine if the law can go back into effect. And in New Hampshire , Don Bolduc, the Republican nominee for a Senate seat, says the standard practice of discarding some embryos after in vitro fertilization procedures is “disgusting” and suggests he might support banning the practice. It’s crucial to emphasize here that, while this admission is startling, it is not in any way out of line with what every single so-called “pro-life” organization in the US supports. IVF is not currently on the top of the anti-abortion To Do list. But trust that if they continue to succeed in scaling back reproductive rights, they’ll get to it. SHOWNOTES: Redshirt the boys: Why boys should start sch