Social media in Iran: ‘Good Shia kids’ can be cool, too
You can be an observant Muslim and also want to have fun on social media. In Iran, more and more young conservatives
Author: Ershad Alijani
‘We fear bombs more than the Taliban,’ says Kunduz resident
The Taliban attacked the northeast Afghan city of Kunduz on Monday, taking control of the city centre and army strongholds. According to one
In Iran, changing sexes is legal But it’s not easy
In Iran, changing sex is legal. But it’s not easy. Our Observer Saman Arastou explains what it’s like to be transsexual in the Islamic Republic.
Iranian women defy Supreme Leader’s biking ban
In a recent fatwa, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banned women from riding “bikes in public places.” But this left a good number of Iranian women unconvinced
Transgender Iranians take to the stage to raise awareness
In a conservative society like Iran, talking about what it is like to be transgender is still considered shocking and taboo. But a theatre group is
Why Iran keeps making anti-American propaganda videos
More than a year after the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 countries, Iran’s state television has aired a new music video full of
Take a ride with the cyclist who brings books to isolated Afghan kids
A few months ago, we wrote an article about our Observer Saber Hosseini, a teacher who cycles out to remote villages in Afghanistan to give books to kids.
Iranian cyclists protest town’s ban on women riding bikes
Hundreds of people marched their bikes through the streets of Marivan, a town in western Iran last Tuesday in protest at the decision by local authorities
Fury as Iranian town bans women from cycling
Hundreds of people marched their bikes through the streets of Marivan, a town in western Iran last Tuesday in protest at the decision by local authorities
Marriage of 6-year-old girl in exchange for goat shocks Afghans
A video of a crying 6-year-old Afghan girl is being widely shared on social media in Afghanistan. Her name is Gharibgol, and she was sold
Ershad Alijani 