Event highlights jailed wildlife experts’ plight

An event co-hosted by an Edinburgh researcher is to focus on Iran’s threatened wildlife and the vital work of its environmental scientists.

Attendees will hear about researchers who have been jailed for work that seeks to safeguard vulnerable species and ecosystems.

A stellar line-up of experts will participate in the 5 June event, jointly organised by Professor Nacim Pak-Shiraz of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.

They will reflect on Iran’s unique wildlife and climate-related challenges, and help raise awareness of the jailed scientists’ plight.

Panel discussions

The evening will feature two panel discussions chaired by environmental researcher and award-winning artist-photographer Patricia Macdonald, who is an Honorary Fellow at Edinburgh College of Art.

The first – titled Setting the Landscape – will give an overview of Iran’s wildlife, its significance and the work of its environmental scientists.

Leading voices in ecological conservation will reflect on the diversity of the country’s wildlife and outline the range of initiatives being undertaken by environmentalists.

The second – called Love and dedication – will celebrate stories and memories of Iran’s imprisoned campaigners while stressing the urgent need to defend persecuted environmentalists.

Rarely seen

Event organisers will share a selection of rarely seen photographs of the wildlife and landscapes that jailed environmentalists were focused on before their arrests.

Included in these images will be dramatic shots of the Asiatic cheetah, which is the most important endangered cat species in the world.

Iran’s diverse ecosystems – which stretech from the Zagros Mountains and Dasht-e Kavir desert to the Caspian Forest and Persian Gulf – are home to an abundance of wildlife.

Among the country’s critically endangered species are the Baluchistan bear, Persian fallow deer, Caspian seal, Siberian crane and Caspian Sea wolf.

Jointly supported

The event is supported by Greenpeace, the University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH).

Welcome messages will be given by political prisoner and curator Aras Amiri and Greenpeace UK’s co-Executive Director Will McCallum. There will also be live music by Iranian saxophonist Omid Amiri.

Rira: The Call of Iran’s Environmental Prisoners takes place from 5.30 to 7.45pm on 5 June – online and in-person at Inspace, University of Edinburgh, 1 Crichton St EH8 9AB.

Emotional implulses

The title, Rira, features in a poem by Persian modernist poet Nima Yushij. There is no exact English translation but the word conveys the strong emotional impulses felt when depicting scenes from nature.

“We would encourage anyone who cares about nature, wildlife, climate justice and freedom to come along,” said Professor Pak-Shiraz.

“We hope that Rira will not only increase awareness about Iran’s environmentalist prisoners, but also raise new questions among the climate justice community of the UK.”

Related link

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies