KICK IN IRAN - Panel and Film Screening Tonight

Tonight I'm on a film panel with director Fatima Abdollahyan at the University of London (SOAS). Abdollahyan released this film in (2010), just after Taekwondo fighter Sara Khoshjamal-Fekri was the first Iranian woman in history to qualify for the Olympic games in 2009. The film reminds us how far we came when we had 8 female Olympians from Iran in London's 2012 Olympics, although none of them won medals. At what disadvantage are women training in Iran?

The documentary (82 mins) follows Khoshjamal-Fekri and her coach Maryam Azarmehr as they prepare for Beijing Olympics 2009. Her qualification represented a big step for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran who want equal rights and freedoms, as women do in every country. Despite taking part, some in Iran still consider it morally wrong for women to compete. Panel chaired by Saeed Zeydabadi-Nejad, SOAS. 

Tickets: £5 and £3 students.  

7-9pm, Russell Square: College Buildings in the Khalili Lecture Theatre

Nearest tube: Russel Square, Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street.