On 29 October, THFxFEMALE EDITION will focus on the struggle for self-determination, which began long before the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement and continues to this day.
More than four years after the start of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, the event looks back at Iran’s history from a female perspective. In her new book, Shila Behjat tells the story of the poet Tahirih, who rebelled against religious rules as early as the 19th century and was executed in 1852.
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Tempelhofer Feld
Women, Life, Freedom: How has the resistance developed?
In a four-part ARTE documentary, the German-Iranian director Armin Ghassim explores Iran’s history over the past hundred years from a woman’s perspective and reports on his research. Actress Setareh Maleki joins the discussion to share her perspective on the current situation of women in Iran. She witnessed the protests in Iran in autumn 2022 and processed her experiences on screen under the direction of Mohammad Rasoulof in the political drama *The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree*. Together, the panel will address the question: How has the resistance developed since 2022 – and how does it manifest itself in everyday life today, for example when women walk through major cities such as Tehran with their hair uncovered, despite the headscarf requirement?
Guests:
- Shila Behjat, a German-Iranian author and journalist, explored the Women, Life, Freedom movement in her book *Women and Revolution* (2025). Her new book, *Tahirih – The Poet and the Price of Freedom*, is due to be published at the end of October.
- Armin Ghassim is a journalist and filmmaker, the recipient of awards including the Grimme Prize and the Helmut Schmidt Journalism Prize. He works in investigative and documentary journalism, reporting primarily on international conflicts and political developments
- Setareh Maleki is an Iranian actress who rose to fame through her role in the Cannes-award-winning and Oscar-nominated drama *The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree*.
Presenter:
Shanli Anwar, a journalist, has discussed many aspects of the Iranian freedom movement – with a focus on its impact in Germany – for the WDR COSMO podcast “Iran im Herzen”. She was awarded the Stuttgart Presenting Prize in 2024 for the podcast.
Additional information
Accessibility
- There are two disabled parking spaces available on site (a valid disabled parking permit is required).
- The THF TOWER is fully accessible.
Dates
October 2026
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