Join the Conversation: The Omnipresence of Government Censorship in Iran

Moniro Ravanipour is an Iranian author and writer-in-residence at the City of Asylum Las Vegas. Ravanipour was detained and interrogated by the Iranian government after a reading of one of her eight published books.

Only held for a day, Ravanipour returned to everyday life until her books were banned throughout Iran in 2006. Soon after, Ravanipour and her family fled their country and took shelter in the United States.

In this interview at City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, Ravanipour discusses censorship in Iran and how it affected all aspects of her life.  For her the idea of censorship has a whole different meaning now that she can experience the extent of the freedom of expression in the United States.

She also discusses how her fiction and other writings were affected by the grief of the Iranian elections and governmental turmoil since her exile in the United States.

Ravanipour asks for the help of the international community:

“After this green movement, I see the future much more clear than before. I’m sure that the government won’t give up, but neither will the green movement. We need intellectual help from the world. I’m sure the future will be clear and full of light.”

What help could the United States offer to the Iranian people to help spur change in their current government?

Share your thoughts below.

Read Brian’s bio.