(New York, NY) — On Monday, December 21, PEN America in partnership with Ms. Magazine hosts a public conversation marking the premiere of the documentary NASRIN, telling the story of Iranian women’s rights activist and PEN America Freedom to Write Awardee Nasrin Sotoudeh.
Acclaimed author Margaret Atwood will introduce the conversation alongside PEN America’s Karin Deutsch Karlekar. The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof will then hold a discussion with human rights advocate Kerry Kennedy, Iranian artist and activist Parastou Forouhar, NASRIN filmmakers Jeff Kaufman and Marcia Ross. The program will feature a video message from Nasrin’s husband, Reza Khandan.
“The new documentary film NASRIN is an inspiring portrait of an indefatigable human rights advocate, who has dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of the marginalized and insisting on the rule of law,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of free expression at risk programs at PEN America. “We hope that this discussion, comprising a stellar array of Iranian and international expert voices, will help shine a light on the crucial relevance of Iran’s women’s movement, bring Nasrin’s personal story to life, and encourage supporters everywhere to join in solidarity to help free Nasrin and other political prisoners in Iran.”
WHAT: PEN America and Ms. Magazine Present: Nasrin Sotoudeh, the Mandela of Iran
WHEN: Monday, December 21 at 3pm ET/12pm PT
WHERE: Virtual (register here)
WHO: Margaret Atwood, PEN America’s Karin Deutsch Karlekar, The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof, Iranian artist and activist Parastou Forouhar, filmmakers Jeff Kaufman and Marcia Ross, and Sotoudeh’s husband Reza Khadan
Imprisoned two years ago on charges of collusion, spreading propaganda, and insulting Iran’s supreme leader, Sotoudeh was sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes in 2019. Most recently, Sotoudeh staged a 46-day hunger strike in August-September and was temporarily furloughed in November. Even after a diagnosis of COVID-19, currently raging through Iran’s prisons, Sotoudeh was returned to prison earlier this month.